Democratic lawmakers have faced backlash from their own constituents during recent town halls, as frustrated voters accused them of not "fighting" for their interests and compromising too much with Republicans.
Congressional Democrats organized town halls across the country to highlight their opposition to Republican-led budget cuts, Politico reported. However, their efforts were overshadowed by anger over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision to support a GOP spending bill to prevent a government shutdown.
Instead of rallying support against the GOP, town halls across the country in states like Arizona, Maryland, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont and New Jersey became tense as voters lashed out at their representatives. Calls for Schumer to step down dominated discussions, with some lawmakers, such as Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey and Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez, acknowledging the frustration and even agreeing that new leadership might be needed.
The anger was particularly intense at a Tuesday town hall in Maryland, where one woman stood in the balcony and shouted, "You're not fighting! We are suffering!" before being escorted out.
Others, like Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, urged voters to remain united and avoid what he called "distractions." Despite the outrage, Schumer defended his actions, insisting in a televised interview that his leadership was necessary during this critical period.
The discontent has led progressive groups to organize "empty chair" town halls in the districts of lawmakers who backed the Republican funding measure. Meanwhile, Schumer has launched a media campaign to repair his image, but he has avoided direct interactions with angry constituents, citing security concerns.
The divide within the Democratic Party continues to grow, as grassroots activists demand more aggressive action from their leaders.
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