Nearly 2,000 residents filled a town hall on Long Island with Democrat Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin — an uncommon occurrence for an in-person political forum in a predominantly Republican county where GOP members have been steering clear of such gatherings.
The turnout was so large that an additional space was required alongside the main venue, the Patchogue Theater. This event underscored the mounting frustration among Suffolk County residents, who feel neglected by their Republican representatives.
“My friends, we are being governed by morons,” Raskin, a constitutional lawyer, addressed the audience. “Yet, the more challenging the struggle, the more triumphant the victory.”
“I know I’m not your first choice — it would have been better to have your own representatives here,” Raskin added, referring to local GOP Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino.
Republican pols have been dodging local public town halls in favor of tightly controlled teleconferences or private events after several heated meetings in recent months.
Raskin, who sits on key House committees, told the attendees that if Republican lawmakers won’t host in-person events, he’ll gladly travel to their districts and speak further with their constituents himself.
The congressman spoke and took questions on a slew of issues affecting the region — from proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare to the SALT cap, tariffs, taxes and inflation.
Addressing the crowd in the Republican stronghold, Raskin said that while he primarily identifies as a “progressive liberal,” he also considers himself a “conservative” in the sense that he wants to conserve the Constitution, the environment, Social Security, individual rights and religious freedom.
He acknowledged that Democrats haven’t done enough to earn the vote of the working class.
Trump won Suffolk County with about 55% of the vote in 2024 — a 10-point lead over Kamala Harris, according to data from the Suffolk County Board of Elections.
Some residents said they left the event feeling inspired and hopeful, while others simply felt angry that their own congressmen won’t hold similar events.
“Where I live out east, Congressman LaLota doesn’t have town halls,” said Jim Casey, a senior citizen who attended the rally. “He held one phone town hall in March, and he only took eight questions.”
Casey and others told The Post they believe lawmakers who back the current economic agenda may be dodging accountability as prices rise because of tariffs.
Garbarino held a virtual town hall in early April that drew more than 10,000 people, according to his office, though it is not clear how many constituents had the chance to speak.
“I wish our representatives had the balls to face us in person and say the things they had to say to our faces like this guy did — and he’s not even from here,” said a resident who asked not to be identified, referring to Raskin.
Raskin’s Patchogue appearance follows a nationwide tour he and other Dem progressives — including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crocket and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — have launched in recent months, targeting Republican strongholds in a bid to win over working-class voters.
Still, not everyone welcomed the visit. Protesters circled the venue in trucks draped with Trump flags, blasting the song, “Sweet Victory.”
“The Patchogue Theater should have never allowed that communist to speak there,” said a resident who did not attend the event and asked not to be identified.
Before the forum, LaLota released a statement calling Raskin a “hyper-partisan” liberal who is “completely out of touch with Suffolk County.”
Raskin fired back by saying that if drawing nearly 2,000 people in LaLota’s own district is considered “out of touch,” then Republicans may be in for a rude awakening come November.
