Where Are They?: Ro Khanna Tears Into GOP Lawmakers Ducking Town Halls
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India-West News Desk
FREMONT, CA – Rep. Ro Khanna of California like some of his fellow Democrats, is taking a grassroots-driven approach to politics, bringing his progressive message directly into Republican strongholds.
In a recent op-ed for MSNBC, Khanna detailed his visits to three GOP-held districts in California—Districts 22, 40, and 41—as part of a broader campaign to engage voters, resist Republican budget cuts, and lay the groundwork for Democrats to reclaim the House in 2026.
“In America, our leaders shouldn’t hide from the people they represent,” Khanna wrote. Criticizing GOP lawmakers for avoiding public forums, he contrasted their behavior with his own effort to hold town halls in areas where Democrats have historically struggled. Each of his events reportedly drew around 1,000 attendees, an unprecedented turnout in these deeply conservative areas.
Khanna said many residents were eager for answers—angry not only at Republicans but also at national Democrats. “People were also emotional and angry about how this administration is impacting their lives,” he wrote in his MSNBC oped. “Though they were upset with their own Republican members of Congress, they were also fed up with the Democrats in Washington who are failing to fight back.”
A major focus of his message was Republican-led efforts to cut Medicaid and education funding. In the 22nd District, where 64% of residents rely on Medicaid, Khanna criticized the district’s Republican representative for not showing up to face constituents. “It’s deeply disappointing that their own member of Congress wouldn’t show up to discuss his vote on a budget that would cut this program,” he wrote.
Khanna’s op-ed also functioned as a rallying cry for Democratic leaders. He called on them to push harder, organize more effectively, and present a bold alternative to Republican policies. He stressed the need to embarrass GOP representatives into flipping their votes on budget reconciliation, arguing that storytelling from affected constituents could be a powerful tool. He also urged Democrats to develop a clear organizing plan targeting 30 competitive Republican districts, hire organizers, direct volunteers, and empower local leaders to spread accurate information about Republican policies.
He highlighted a woman in Bakersfield who has been delivering food to her neighbors while explaining the effects of GOP proposals cutting food assistance programs like SNAP. Khanna said these grassroots efforts must be supported and replicated by the Democratic Party. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of recruiting new candidates and investing in them early.
But perhaps most importantly, Khanna said Democrats need to offer voters a hopeful, forward-looking vision. He called for concrete proposals including a higher minimum wage, Medicare for All, $10-per-day childcare, construction of 10 million new housing units, and investments in advanced manufacturing to revitalize working-class communities.
“As Republicans hide from voters, Democrats cannot remain passive and squander this moment,” Khanna warned. “We must acknowledge voters’ fury, help them organize and offer concrete policies for a better country.”
Khanna plans to continue his red-district tour in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Nevada, and Ohio, betting that direct engagement and grassroots energy can help Democrats reclaim lost ground and re-energize the party’s base in 2026.
