On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland visited Patchogue to address more than 1,100 concerned residents at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. The turnout was so massive that an overflow space was organized at the nearby 89 North Music Venue, which accommodated an additional 500 people.
Katheryn Casey-Quigley, Chair of Southold Town Democratic Committee, arranged for Raskin to visit Long Island. She wanted to give residents an opportunity to share concerns they feel Republican representatives have ignored. Raskin acknowledged this as he took the stage, saying, “I know I’m not your first choice.” He added, “It would have been better to have your own representatives here.” He was referring to Republican Representatives Nick LaLota (R-NY-1) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2).
“We’re in a constitutional crisis, and we’re going to get America through it,” Raskin said, as the crowd rose to their feet, erupting in thunderous applause and chanting “U-S-A.” Throughout the afternoon, he reassured Long Island residents that Democrats are actively resisting Trump and Musk’s assaults on American democracy. When a local resident asked Raskin if this Congress is a “Do Nothing Congress,” he replied, “in the sense that [Republicans] are not doing anything to stop Donald Trump from trampling the Constitution. They are certainly not doing anything to help anyone.”
Raskin called Republican lawmakers a “MAGA mind troop.” He said Democrats have been fighting to prevent Republicans from defunding social infrastructure programs like opioid treatment and domestic violence centers. Instead, Republicans want to increase funding by $81 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and family detention centers. “We tried to restore all that money. We said that nobody should be deported from the country without due process. They didn’t say a word against it, but they all voted no,” Raskin said. He added that the House Judiciary Committee ultimately voted to reject the Democratic amendment.
During a 45-minute session answering constituent questions, Raskin addressed concerns about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Social Security, Medicare, and Affordable Housing. He revealed that Trump has reversed his 2018 stance on DACA and no longer supports the program. Raskin also noted that a new Republican budget proposal includes a 44% cut to HUD and Housing America. He highlighted that millions of jobs have been lost and criticized Trump’s tariffs, calling them “stupid” and blaming them for starting a global trade war. Raskin warned that combined with continued mass deportations, the situation would worsen, plunging the stock market and dollar down and pushing the U.S. into a deep recession or depression.
Throughout the Town Hall, many attendees vocalized concerns about Trump’s friendly relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a worry shared by people across the country. “I would be fascinated to know what’s going on behind the scenes with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin,” said Raskin. He added that Trump has alluded to frequent talks with Putin. However, Raskin emphasized that the content of these conversations is not the main issue. Instead, he highlighted Trump’s public actions that suggest he wants the U.S. to become an autocratic, authoritarian state similar to Russia. He said that impeachment proceedings are not off the table.
At the end of the Town Hall, some attendees told Veris Media Group LLC they were still frustrated with Democrats for not addressing the ongoing attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community. Raskin briefly mentioned Republican comments about the transgender community early in the event. He said, “Trump says we saved $8.5 million at NIH that they were spending on creating transgender mice.” Trump was referring to $8.5 million in NIH research funding used to study various brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, PTSD, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and, to a lesser extent, gender identity. However, attendees said this rhetoric has fueled misinformation and anger toward the transgender community.
Not everyone welcomed Congressman Raskin’s trip from Maryland to Long Island. Veris Media Group LLC observed protesters outside the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts holding Pro-Trump signs and driving by with Trump flags and stickers on their vehicles. Congressman Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino also voiced their displeasure about Raskin’s visit. Veris Media Group LLC has not confirmed the origin of these comments and has reached out to both offices for a response but received no reply.
Congressman Raskin’s visit to Long Island is part of a broader trend of Democratic lawmakers traveling to Republican districts nationwide. Newsweek reports that since Trump took office, Republican lawmakers have faced criticism, protests, and anger from constituents. Many have stopped hosting Town Halls, leaving voters searching for alternative ways to voice their concerns. With the 2026 Midterm Elections approaching, will this momentum help Democrats regain support from working-class voters?