At the beginning of February, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched an unprecedented accountability project called “March into ‘18”. With the goal of harnessing the existing grassroots energy and holding House Republicans accountable for their unpopular agenda, the DCCC invested in state parties to hire full-time, local organizing staffers in 20 targeted districts. Thanks to the these organizers’ work with other key allies on the ground, the House Republicans targeted by March into ’18 have faced a constant stream of negative coverage.
“From day one, there has been incredible energy on the ground in swing districts across the country, and the DCCC moved quickly to launch March into’18 to take advantage and hold House Republicans accountable,” said DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law. “As vulnerable Republicans continue to hide from their constituents, kowtow to President Trump and push a deeply unpopular agenda, that backlash will only continue to grow.”
Here’s a sampling of the coverage from each of the 20 districts (comprehensive coverage roundup available):
CA-10
- Sacramento Bee Editorial: Stop dodging voters, Republicans
- Modesto Bee: People at town hall challenge Denham to ‘show your face’ and speak with constituents about ACA repeal
- FOX Fresno: Save the Affordable Care Act Vigil Targeting Denham
CA-39
- CBS LA: OC Residents Demand Answers From Local Reps On Future Of ACA
- ABC LA: SoCal Protests Held At GOP Congressional Offices
- OC Register: Orange County emerging as battleground in movement to counter Trump
CA-49
- LA Times Editorial: Congress shouldn’t duck the public
- San Diego Union-Tribune: Protest vigil outside Issa’s home draws 200
- NBC San Diego: Hundreds Gathered for Vista Town Hall Over Healthcare Concerns
- CNN: Constituents search for ‘missing’ representatives
CO-06
- Denver Post: With Congress out of session, many in Colorado ask: Where are the town halls?
- Aurora Sentinel: Rep. Coffman announces ‘listening tour’ to hear ACA concerns — but no public meetings
- NBC Denver: Congressman Flees Town Hall When Constituents Show Up to Discuss ACA Repeal
FL-26
- USA Today: Some members of congress keep angry public at phone line’s distance
- TC Palm: GOP town halls giving constituents chance to vent
- CBS Miami: Anti-Trump Protesters Take Fight To Local Leaders Who Didn’t Hold Town Hall
IA-01
- Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa Democrats target Blum in early launch of 2018 campaign
- ABC Cedar Rapids: Constituents ask Rep. Blum to meet in public
- ABC Cedar Rapids: Blum’s constituents protest in Dubuque to demand a town hall
IL-06
- Courier News Editorial: Troubled times call for congressmen to open doors to constituents
- Northwest Herald: U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam overseas as town hall held without him
- Chicago Tribune: Rep. Roskam turns down League of Women Voters request for public forum
- CBS Chicago: Hundreds Protest Rep. Peter Roskam In Palatine
KS-03
- Kansas City Star Editorial: Cowardly members of Congress should show up and face the public at town-hall meeting
- Hays Post: Kansas Members Of Congress Say They Won’t Be ‘Bullied’ By Activist Protesters
- The Topeka Capital-Journal: Democrats launch unusually early effort to oust Rep. Kevin Yoder in 2018
- ABC Kansas City: Yoder skips ACA town hall in his district
MN-02
- Hastings Star Gazette: Lewis constituents call for town hall
- Northfield News: Cannon Valley Indivisible hosts town hall for Jason Lewis without him
- FOX Minneapolis: Congressman Lewis Not At Town Hall
MN-03
- Star Tribune: Plymouth meeting without U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen draws hundreds
- Sun Sailor: Protesters call on Rep. Paulsen for more accessibility
- FOX Minneapolis: Constituents hold town halls ‘with or without’ their congressmen
NE-02
- Omaha World Herald Editorial: Lawmakers should hold town halls and face all they serve
- Omaha World Herald: Few town halls are on the agendas of Iowa, Nebraska lawmakers; meetings elsewhere in U.S. have been volatile
- ABC Omaha: Nebraska, Iowa federal office holders face heat from voters
- ABC Omaha: Bacon exposed for town hall hypocrisy
NY-22
- Utica Observer-Dispatch Editorial: Tenney needs to reconsider decision on public forums
- Rome Sentinel: Tenney changes mind on town hall meeting
- Time Warner Cable News: Congresswoman Responds to Call for Public Town Hall Meetings
- ABC/ NBC Binghamton: Group to hold ‘Where’s Tenney?’ town hall, denies claim they are ‘paid protestors’
NY-24
- Post Standard Editorial: Katko’s criticism of Maffei boomerangs
- Time Warner Cable News: Protester Call on Katko to Host Town Hall
- Auburn Citizen: ‘Where’s Katko?’: CNY group challenges GOP congressman, wants town hall meeting
- Auburn Citizen: Auburn protesters’ message for Rep. John Katko: Listen to us
PA-06
- Times of Chester County Editorial: Congress members can’t hide from the voters
- Phoenixville Patch: Town Hall To Be Held In Phoenixville; Rep. Costello Declines Invite
- Times Herald: Calling event a ‘political stunt,’ Costello won’t attend town hall in Phoenixville
- ABC Philadelphia: Costello skips town hall organized by his constituents
PA-07
- Delco Daily Times Editorial: Voices not going silent on ACA concerns
- Philadelphia Inquirer: Dems seek to harness Trump rage in suburban Philly
- WHYY Radio: ACA defenders target GOP Rep. Pat Meehan with citizen ‘town hall’
- NBC Philadelphia: Meehan’s constituents hold ACA rally and ask him to hold town hall
PA-08
- The Intelligencer Editorial: Telephone town hall a disappointment
- Bucks County Courier Times: Protesters rally outside Brian Fitzpatrick’s office to save Affordable Care Act
TX-07
- Houston Chronicle: Demonstrators to rally, urge Culberson to meet with constituents
- Texas Observer: Houston Congressman John Culbertson’s Town Hall was a Private, GOP-only Affair
- Texas Tribune: Most Texans in Congress not planning in-person town halls over recess
- FOX Houston: Protesters demand town halls with Culberson
TX-23
- San Antonio Express-News: As political climate heats up, South Texas congressmen face constituents
- Texas Public Radio: Citizens Pressure Representative Hurd To Hold Town Hall Meeting
- ABC San Antonio: Protesters gather at Rep. Will Hurd’s office for 4 days demanding town hall
- CBS San Antonio: Congressman Hurd among national Republicans not holding public town hall
TX-32
- Austin American Statesman: In Texas, Trump resistance offers town hall theater to mixed reviews
- NBC Dallas: Sessions Won’t Hold Town Halls
- CBS Dallas: New Grassroots Democratic Groups Strive For Tea Party Success
VA-02
- Virginia Pilot: Large crowd frequently shouts at Rep. Scott Taylor during contentious town hall meeting
- Williamsburg Yorktown Daily: Scott Taylor draws over 900 at raucous Yorktown town hall
- ABC VA Beach: Scott Taylor hosts packed town hall in Va. Beach
- WAVY TV: Boisterous crowd voices concerns at Rep. Taylor’s first town hall in Va. Beach
En Español
- La Opinión: Trump se reúne con empresariado para fomentar creación de empleos
- EFE: Demócratas lanzan campaña bilingüe para defender el Obamacare en el Congreso
- Primera Hora: Para largo los avances demócratas en el Congreso
- InfoMás: Congresistas republicanos enfrentan protestas en reuniones municipales
- La Opinión: Los republicanos deben dar la cara
- Univision: Los rabiosos ‘town hall’ donde algunos muestran su frustración a congresistas republicanos
Univision: Las protestas contra Trump se trasladan a los ‘town halls’ contra los legisladores republicanos - Diario de las Américas: De regreso a casa, congresistas republicanos son cuestionados por votantes anti-Trump
- Hoy Los Angeles: Demócratas lanzan campaña bilingüe para defender el Obamacare en el Congress