In New York, a GOP congressman is shelled with questions about Trump
during raucous town hall
[May 05, 2025]
By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE
SOMERS, N.Y. (AP) — Voters in U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler’s suburban New York
swing district unloaded a barrage of criticism on the Republican during
a raucous town hall Sunday night, peppering him with questions around
President Donald Trump’s aggressive agenda before devolving into a
chaotic chorus of boos as attendees were removed by law enforcement.
The town hall in Somers, a leafy section of Lawler’s Hudson Valley
district, began to teeter off the rails soon after it began.
The first crack emerged when Lawler, in his opening remarks, told the
packed out prep school auditorium “This is what democracy looks like."
Laughter crept through the crowd.
A little while later, the congressman's mention of federal health
secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drew loud jeers.
“So you want, for instance, petroleum-based dyes to continue?” Lawler
asked in response.
Republicans, in some instances, have made themselves scarce in their
home districts following President Donald Trump’s first few months in
office, as party leadership expresses wariness of viral blowback against
Republicans in vulnerable seats.
Lawler, a moderate who last year won a second term and has openly
expressed interest in running for governor, has instead sought to put
himself in front of voters, holding a previous town hall late last month
and has plans for more in the coming weeks.
On Sunday, Lawler’s staff required people to RSVP and set up a series of
ground rules, including that attendees live in the district, not record
at the event, refrain from shouting or standing, and “be respectful of
one another, of staff, and of the Congressman,” a sign at the door read.
At one point, as Lawler was responding to a question about tariffs,
security and law enforcement began to surround a woman in the upper
stretch of the auditorium. The crowd chanted “let her stay, let her
stay" before law enforcement picked her up and carried her out. It was
unclear what exactly led to her removal.
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An audience member yells at U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., during a
town hall, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Somers, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jessica
Hill)
“Shame! Shame! Shame!,” the audience yelled.
Lawler tried to get back on track: “Folks, tariffs are way more
complicated than you want to make them.”
The crowd groaned.
“Folks, enough!,” Lawler said above the din.
Soon after, another person was removed. Then another.
In the audience, Jeanette Spoor, a 74-year-old retiree, said she
wanted to ask Lawler about the future of Social Security and
Medicaid but wasn't called on during the nearly two hour event.
“You’re not helping your constituents if you’re making it hard for
them to get help,” she said in an interview.
She added, “I have no hopes for this guy."
Another attendee, Kristi Thompson, 52, said she was bothered by what
she said were Lawler's long-winded answers that didn't address the
substance of the crowd's questions.
“He claims to be available to constituents but he isn't,” she said.
The crowd walked out during the final question of the night, which
was about protests against Israel. Lawler began to answer, but cut
himself off as the room emptied out.
“I appreciate everybody coming out tonight and taking the time to
ask your questions and hear my answers, whether you liked them or
not, or agreed with them or not, or whether you really actually
wanted to listen to them or not, but I very much appreciate you
participating,” he said as attendees exited.
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