'We Want You to Show Fight': Dems Get an Earful at Town Halls as Spending Bill Fallout Continues

The fallout from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision to back a GOP-backed spending bill continued this week as Democratic lawmakers faced angry constituents at town halls around the country and a group of youth-led organizations on Thursday released an open letter calling on Schumer "to fight for our generation or step aside for someone who will."

Last week, Schumer (D-N.Y.) caused a stir when he pivoted to support a Republican-led continuing resolution that cuts nondefense spending by $13 billion, among other objections from Democrats. The pivot—for which he was joined by nine other caucus members—drew sharp backlash, including from House Democrats, who had largely been united in opposing the measure when it cleared that chamber on March 11.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), who held a town hall in a suburb outside of Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, drew applause when he suggested that Schumer should step aside as minority leader. "I respect Chuck Schumer. I think he's had a great, long-standing career. He's done a lot of great things, but I'm afraid that it may be time for the Senate Democrats to pick new leadership as we move forward," Ivey said, per NBC News.

However, Ivey still faced some testy interactions with constituents about how Democrats will respond to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, according to NBC News.

"We need to see 'hell no,' one person told Ivey. "And thank you for being polite with us, but when it comes to fighting these fights, we need you to be a little bit less polite, a little bit more hell no, instead of a little bit no."

"We want you to show fight, and you are not fighting," said another attendee, according to footage captured by CNN. "The message that was sent by Democrats in Congress with the [continuing resolution] catastrophe was clear. It's not that you're in the minority, it's that you aren't even working together on a shared strategy," the person said, prompting applause from the audience.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego held a town hall on Monday in order to talk to constituents about potential cuts to Medicaid—but multiple people at the town hall aired their concerns that Democrats do no have a plan to push back on Republicans who go after the program, according to the local outlet ABC15.

"We're trying to shield to ourselves before we're wounded and we don't know how," said one attendee, who shared that she has a daughter with special needs who relies on Medicaid, per ABC15 Arizona. "Would you mind telling your colleagues in Washington that when you're burning down this house, there are people still inside, my daughter is inside?"

Another person at the town hall in Arizona said he wants more action and less talk from Democrats, and that he would like to see Schumer step down from his role as minority leader.

In Oregon, per Politico, a town hall goer told Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Janelle Bynum on Sunday that he is "so pissed off right now at the leadership in the United States Senate that they are not willing to step up and fight."

GOP lawmakers, for their part, have also faced angry crowds at town halls, with constituents showing up to express concerns about Trump's efforts to slash federal programs and personnel.

The dissatisfaction with Democratic Senate leadership and pleas to do more were echoed in the open letter from youth-led groups.

In a statement on Thursday accompanying the letter, Sohali Vaddula, vice president of College Democrats of America, said that the groups "demand that Democrats stand up for their values and push back against Republican extremism—not enable it."

In addition to College Democrats of America, the open letter to Schumer was also sent from the groups Sunrise Movement, Gen Z Against Trump, United We Dream Action, and Voters of Tomorrow.

The groups urged Democrats to prove they are on their "side" by meeting with their communities and showing up to protests. They also want Democrats to "obstruct the MAGA agenda" in any way possible.

"Use every tool available—filibusters, procedural delays, and strategic disruptions. If Republicans want to destroy our future, make them feel the consequences of their actions," they urged.

"Democrats, this is your wake-up call," they wrote in conclusion. "If you refuse to fight for our future, we will find leaders who will. The choice is yours."