Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) held his second town hall in a week on Sunday that was just as rowdy as the first.
Lawler’s event in Somers, New York, is the latest example of Republican town halls going sideways as frustrated attendees have used the events to air their grievances with lawmakers vocally. As a result, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) told members that they should cease holding in-person town halls to stop encouraging such actors.
Both town halls required attendees to RSVP and prove they lived in New York’s 17th district, which is a highly contested congressional district. Lawler has held the district since 2022 and widened the gap in winning votes in his second election last year. The district hadn’t elected a Republican candidate since 1980 and also voted for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Attendees were asked not to record the event. A sign at the door asked everyone there to “be respectful of one another, of staff, and of the Congressman.”
“This is what democracy looks like,” Lawler opened the town hall, prompting laughter from the audience.
One woman, Emily Feiner, was removed from the event and carried away by police. It remains to be seen whether she was arrested. A source familiar told the Washington Examiner that Feiner is a “known agitator.” The audience chanted “let her stay” as officers carried her off and began a new chant of “shame” once she was escorted out.
While press photographers captured the altercation, Jennifer Cabrera, chairwoman of the Westchester Putnam chapter of the Working Families Party, recorded Feiner’s removal and was subsequently asked to leave.
For a second time, Lawler found himself defending Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last week, he admitted that he disagreed with Kennedy’s stance on vaccines, but on Sunday, he celebrated the secretary’s fight against petroleum-based dyes as the audience yelled out at the mention of Kennedy.
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As the 2026 election approaches, rumors swirl that Lawler will jump into the race for governor of New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) is wrapping up her first full term as governor in her second election to the position next year. Her first true election proved to be a close battle as Republican candidate Lee Zeldin lost to her by fewer than 10 points, which was the narrowest victory in the gubernatorial race since 1994. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is also rumored to run for the office.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is another representative defying the policy against town halls as he campaigns to become Florida’s governor. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have endorsed Donalds.