As the August recess continues, last week, Democrats across the country hosted town hall events, speaking to community members on the devastating impacts of Trump and Republicans’ Big Budget Betrayal that rips away health care, food assistance, and other lifelines that American families rely on.
Take a look at some of the coverage below:
In Colorado:
Colorado Politics: ‘Be courageous’: Gabby Giffords talks gun violence prevention with Colorado Democrats | TRAIL MIX
[Ernest Luning, 8/8/25]
“Gabby Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona who survived a 2011 assassination attempt, told a friendly audience in Thornton on Aug. 6 that it’ll take persistence over the long haul to end gun violence.
“‘Move ahead, do not look back. I hope others are inspired to keep moving forward, no matter what,’ said Giffords, a leader in the gun safety movement, at a town hall at Trail Winds Recreation Center organized by the Colorado Democratic Party. …
“U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, state House Majority Leader Monica Duran and state party chair Shad Murib echoed Giffords’ message throughout the roughly hour-long discussion, which was moderated by Murib.
“The Democrats also urged the crowd of about 100 to help defeat U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, the freshman Republican who represents the 8th Congressional District, in next year’s election. …
“Citing their own event, the Democrats on stage at the town hall also repeatedly called out Evans for declining to hold any in-person, public town halls since taking office in January.
“‘We are here in MAGA Republican Gabe Evans’ congressional district,’ Murib said, eliciting booing from the crowd, ‘and we decided to host this town hall here because he simply refuses to visit with his constituents. These are issues that matter to people, and he is not sitting down with folks to hear from them.’”
Colorado Times Recorder: Thornton Town Hall Focuses on Strengthening Gun Safety, Ousting Gabe Evans
[Megan Neary, 8/8/25]
“Giffords spoke as part of a Gun Violence Prevention town hall in Thornton on Wednesday, organized by proponents of gun safety laws and opponents of U.S. Rep. Gave Evans (R-CO), who represents the congressional district where the event was held.
“The panel also featured Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran (D-Wheat Ridge), and Giffords’ Vice President of Government and Political Affairs Vanessa Gonzalez. It was moderated by Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib. …
“Duran reflected on recent budget cuts, recalling her experiences as a domestic violence victim, a homeless single mother, and a survivor of gun intimidation.
“‘I know that when you go through any one of those life experiences, you rely on counseling, mental health counseling, you rely on different services,’ said Duran. ‘These cuts are gonna impact the ability for those who have gone through what I’ve gone through to be able to access the services that they need. And what I have often asked myself since this bill was passed to Gabe Evans, What are you thinking? What are you thinking when you’re thinking about your district, your constituents, the very people you represent? How does this even make sense?’
“Duran later added, ‘I want us to remind Gabe Evans that he’s not doing his job and he needs to be fired from his job, and we need to take that seat back and we need to make sure that everyone else in the nation understands that Colorado knows what it takes to lead and to just listen to our communities.’”
NorthGlenn Thornton Sentinel: Gun violence victim Gabby Giffords says she and other gun law advocates are not backing down
[Monte Whaley, 8/7/25]
“Former Congresswoman and survivor of gun violence Gabby Giffords offered a simple message to those in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District hoping to get meaningful gun laws passed on the federal level:
“‘Move ahead and don’t look back,’ Giffords told an audience of about 100 gathered at a Gun Prevention Town Hall with Giffords and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.
“Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib moderated the town hall. Also on hand was Giffords’s Vice President of Government and Political Affairs Vanessa Gonzalez and Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran. …
“Bennet said flipping the 8th Congressional seat – considered one of the most competitive in the United States – is key for the Democrats to wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives. ‘The work we do between now and next November could mean the difference in turning this around,’ Bennet said.
“Otherwise, health care programs like Medicaid and tax credits for health care will likely be stripped away by a Republican-controlled Congress, he said.
“‘We’ve got to keep working, we have to make sure we can save the House and it starts in this district,’ Bennet said.”
In Minnesota:
Marshall Independent: Walz, DFL candidates share concerns over SNAP, Medicare cuts during corn feed
[Sariah Cheadle, 8/8/25]
“Walz expressed concern over recent policies passed by the Republican-controlled Congress, especially for greater, rural Minnesota.
“‘They’re going to hurt access to our local hospitals. They’re going to hurt the things we know grow our economies and allow people to choose where they live,’ Walz said. …
In California:
Orange County Register: Former Rep. Gabby Giffords advocates for gun violence prevention at Laguna Woods town hall
[Lillian Ashworth, 8/8/25]
“Giffords encouraged the more than 450 guests gathered at the town hall to participate in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Voting, she said, is the most important way to defend against gun violence and protect children and others killed because of it.
“‘We can continue, or we can act,’ Giffords said. ‘We can vote, and we can be on the right side of history.’ …
“The 40-minute conversation, led by California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks, was largely critical of Republican lawmakers.
“‘The Republicans often talk about law and order,’ said Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine, ‘but they go out of their way to gut policies that keep communities safe.’”
In Iowa:
Associated Press: Hundreds cheer Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego as Democrats take offensive against Trump’s tax bill
[Thomas Beaumont, 8/9/25]
“Hundreds of people cheered Sen. Ruben Gallego at a town hall meeting in eastern Iowa Saturday as the first-term Arizona Democrat assailed the massive, Republican-backed tax bill signed by President Donald Trump as likely to make ‘America poorer and sicker.’ …
“For two hours, the audience of some 300 people applauded and at times stood cheering for the Arizona Democrat, one of several party figures who have been attacking the bill in congressional districts represented by Republicans. He was in Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ 1st Congressional District, among the most competitive in the nation in the past three congressional elections. …
“‘I came here because I work in health care and this bill will hurt health care,’ said Alexandra Salter, a physicians assistant from Davenport. ‘I think we are getting more vocal about it, because we need to speak up.’”
Newsweek: Ruben Gallego Fires Up Iowa Crowd With Attack on Trump’s Tax Bill
[Kate Plummer, 8/10/25]
“Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego fired up a crowd in Iowa on Saturday by attacking the GOP’s tax bill that is backed by President Donald Trump.
“Speaking at a town-hall meeting in Davenport, eastern Iowa, Gallego, a Marine veteran and Arizona’s first Latino U.S. senator, said the bill, known as the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ would make Americans ‘sicker and poorer’ because of its cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs. …
“Gallego told an audience of some 180 Democrats: ‘We are now sicker and poorer because of Donald Trump. We are now sicker and poorer because of [Iowa GOP Representative Mariannette] Miller-Meeks. We are now going to be sicker and poorer—and dead, according to [Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst]—because they made that choice.’”
New York Times: His Party Reeling, a Democratic Senator Tries a Message of Hope in Iowa
[Michael Gold, 8/10/25]
“Since outperforming his party in Arizona and winning a heavily contested Senate seat last year, Ruben Gallego has pushed national Democrats worried about their electoral futures to absorb his advice: Reach beyond the voters you’re comfortable with and make inroads with the ones you’ve left behind.
“With Congress in its August recess and his calendar open, he has followed his own guidance, taking his message to Iowa, where members of his party have lost considerable ground. …
“‘Don’t be afraid, and go to where they are,’ Mr. Gallego said on Saturday ahead of a town hall in Davenport, a city of about 100,000 in eastern Iowa.
“Then he stood in front of a favorable crowd of about 200 Democrats receptive to his attacks against the Trump administration and the bill to cut taxes and spending that Republicans passed this year.”
Arizona Daily Star: Arizona U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego takes on Trump policies in Iowa stop
[Thomas Geyer, 8/10/25]
“After touring the JBS Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Marshalltown, attending the Iowa State Fair and meeting with Johnson County Democrats, U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona made a stop here for a town hall meeting with local Democrats and their supporters on Saturday.
“Sharing the stage with Gallego were state Sen. Mike Zimmer and Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. …
“Gallego said Republicans are looking to gerrymander with mid-decade redistricting in states such as Texas to maintain their power base.
“‘They know what they’re doing is harmful to the people of Iowa and Arizona, so instead of trying to change course they’re trying to change voters,’ he said.”