‘We need fighters’: Voters at town hall share frustrations, demand action from Democrats

Amna Nawaz:

In our coverage of town halls during the congressional recess, we have been reporting on the latest pushback Republicans have seen when they're facing their constituents.

Tonight, a Democratic perspective and how a representative from Virginia is handling concerns from voters.

Our Lisa Desjardins reports.

Lisa Desjardins:

For usually sleepy Warrenton, Virginia, a throng drawn here by a congressional town hall and by more, a thirst to respond to President Trump.

Calvin Hickey, Constituent, Virginia's 10th Congressional District: If you had told me five, six years ago that this would be the state we'd be in, I'd say no, that's just incomprehensible to me.

Lisa Desjardins:

This is a Republican area, but we found no current Republican voters here, instead, a spectrum of former Republicans, independents and progressives.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA):

Nice to see you here.

Lisa Desjardins:

Their Democratic congressman, Suhas Subramanyam, has been in office all of 76 days. He has an advantage over Republicans facing these crowds. These voters want him to lead them.

Jennifer Coates, Constituent, Virginia's 10th Congressional District: He's saying that we're going to fight back, whether it's through the courts or in Congress. And I really like that he's standing up for us.

Lisa Desjardins:

That us includes many military veterans and some federal workers.

Beth Siders, Constituent, Virginia's 10th Congressional District: It's hell, sleepless nights.

Earl Siders, Constituent, Virginia's 10th Congressional District: We don't know what's going to happen the next day. Every day, you talk — you turn around, there's another executive order dismantling everything that this country's really stood for all these years.

Lisa Desjardins:

Inside, Subramanyam addresses that.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam:

We're not in normal times anymore. And I will say that, right now, the American people, I think, want us to fight. They want us to be bold and they want us to act.

(Cheering)

Lisa Desjardins:

They largely agree with their congressman, but want more, for some, insight.

Man:

I'm here because I'm scared. I'm not an intelligent, knowledgeable person. I'm just a guy. And I see what's happening. What are the Republicans scared of?

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam:

I think the most courageous Republicans right now are the ones that are retired, right? They retire and then they speak out, right? But we need some more people who are in office right now speaking out and being able to be principled.

Lisa Desjardins:

But others want something less vague. For Matt Lee (ph), he's concerned that Democrats aren't doing enough to support members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Matt Lee, Virginia:

How can anybody feel like this party has their back when the lowest tier of marginalized people is just, we will gladly toss them out?

(Applause)

Lisa Desjardins:

There is one moment of disagreement and it comes from recent news.

Man:

On this vote, the yeas are 217, the nays are 213.

Lisa Desjardins:

When all House Democrats but one, Jared Golden of Maine, voted against a short-term spending bill to keep government open, including Subramanyam.

Man:

So I just wanted to say that I'm a little bit disappointed in that decision and I was hoping that you would vote more like Jared Golden.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam:

It was the worst C.R. I have ever seen in recent history because it basically let the administration take money and move it around however they'd like and spend it however they'd like, right?

Lisa Desjardins:

Many told us they did not like how Senate Democrats responded.

After the town hall, a theme. Those here like their new Congressman, but they want action. These three women are all organizing for the progressive group Indivisible.

Woman:

We need fighters, and I think that the constituents really do need to push their elected Democrats to fight more.

Lisa Desjardins:

What did you get from the crowd and as far as how they see Democrats in general?

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam:

I think most people thought that I'm fighting, but, at the same time, they want us to do everything we can and understand that this is not a normal time, and so we have to take every opportunity and every piece of leverage to give them a voice.

Lisa Desjardins:

In a northwest corner of Virginia, those opposing Trump are speaking up and heading out, looking for not just what to say, but what to do.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins in Warrenton, Virginia.