The Democratic Party launched today a new initiative aimed at pushing vulnerable Republicans to join Democrats in opposing a Trump-backed congressional budget bill that is expected to include cuts to Medicaid.
The DNC plans to partner with the DCCC, the House Democratic campaign arm, to specifically target four House Republicans: Tom Barrett, R-Mich., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., all of whom are in toss-up districts.
Bacon, Lawler and Fitzpatrick represent the only Republican-held districts in the country that former Vice President Kamala Harris won during the 2024 election, according to the Center for Politics. Barrett’s seat was previously held by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and is rated a “Republican toss up” by the Cook Political Report.
“The American people are furious at Trump and Republicans’ dangerous attacks on their health care and vulnerable Republican Representatives Barrett, Bacon, Lawler, and Fitzpatrick will seal their political fate if they go along with Trump’s disastrous budget,” DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement.
Democrats plan to host town hall-style events in the lawmakers’ districts and direct voters to “make their outrage known” by calling and emailing the lawmakers.
The party said it has already held more than 100 town hall events nationwide in the last two months alone, but this new effort will additionally encourage Democratic voters to host their own community events in a bid to further galvanize its base. Doing so will also help build “grassroots power for critical elections still ahead,” Martin added.
The Democratic initiative will be a part of the party’s “Fight to Save Medicaid” month of action intended to “pressure vulnerable Republicans to stand up for their constituents.”
Alabama Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of the DCCC, said the four Republicans “will face voters’ wrath if they cave to Trump’s budget demands.”
“To keep the pressure up, the DNC will host a new round of People’s Town Halls in these vulnerable Republicans’ districts, while employing state-of-the-art organizing tactics to activate supporters and put direct pressure on Republicans ahead of budget reconciliation votes,” she said in a statement. “This will be an all-out blitz by the Democratic Party to save health care for millions of Americans.”
