Gluesenkamp Perez feels heat at town hall

A line of more than 500 people wrapped around the Luepke Center in central Vancouver for U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s April 24 town hall. Most of them were there to criticize the Skamania Democrat for siding with Republicans on recent controversial votes. Many of them had voted for her.

Her vote for the SAVE Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections but that critics say could disenfranchise millions, was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said David Terry, 78, who attended the town hall.

“We’re ready to primary her,” he said.

Only about half the crowd fit inside the community center. Hundreds more stood outside looking in through floor-length windows, slapping posters, rapping on the glass and continuously chanting, “Vote her out!”

Constituents grilled the 3rd District congresswoman about where she stood on President Donald Trump’s actions and the deportation of undocumented immigrants without due process. But many of Perez’s answers were drowned out by roars of disapproval. Perez, usually a poised speaker, seemed occasionally flustered.

“Not hearing the answers that you want doesn’t mean that I’m not answering the question,” she said.

Although people in the crowd seemed to shout at each of her answers, the town hall was likely one of the most notable occasions of Perez openly criticizing White House actions.

SAVE Act

Many of those in line said they were there to hear Perez’s explanation for her vote on the SAVE Act, which could make it harder for married women who took their husbands’ last names to register to vote.

“The SAVE Act vote was unforgivable,” said LaDonna Kirkpatrick, chair of the 18th Legislative District Democrats. “She ran on protecting women.”

The moderator, Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole, read a question from an audience member asking Perez about her vote.

Perez said the bill was “a dumpster fire” and would not have become law. Still, she said Americans believe that only U.S. citizens should be determining the outcome of elections.

People shouted back that noncitizens voting in elections is a nonissue.

A study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that out of 23.5 million votes, there were 30 incidents of suspected noncitizen voting in the 2016 general election. That’s 0.0001 percent.

“While it is true that the number is small, it matters that people have confidence in this system,” Perez said.

Immigrants

When asked how she would ensure due process prior to deportation, Perez said due process has been violated under the Trump administration.

“It is so important that we are standing up for and protect due process, because that is that antidote to being taken over by a dictatorship,” she said.

The response led to a mix of claps and shouts.

“Had there been due process in this case in El Salvador, maybe we would be in a position to say whether or not the alleged allegations were true. But there wasn’t, and that’s the critical problem,” Perez said.

She was likely referring to former U.S. resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador for alleged but unproven connections to the gang MS-13. The White House admitted the mistake but has maintained that Abrego Garcia is a gang member.

Someone asked why Perez isn’t angrier about “illegally deporting immigrants.”

“Being angry, being loud feels good. But is it productive?” she said.

Trump, Signal, Al Green

Heat against Perez began to ramp up with her vote to censure U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, after he shouted and shook his cane at Trump during the president’s address to Congress almost two months ago.

Constituents wanted to know why.

“I want to be able to enforce those rules regardless of who is in the majority. … This is a binary question of whether or not the rules of decorum were broken or not. It’s not about a political agenda,” Perez said.

Later, she responded to a flurry of questions about the Trump administration’s actions, including the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed government contracts, as well as thousands of jobs.

The congresswoman has criticized DOGE in the past for “scapegoating civil servants.”

“What we’re seeing right now is not delivering real efficiency,” she said.

Perez was asked about the Trump administration’s use of Signal, an encrypted messaging service, to discuss sensitive war plans. She called for more accountability for “endangering the lives of American service members.”

Another person asked whether there is any growing discontent among Republican members of the House about the constitutionality and legality of the Trump administration’s actions.

“To me, it feels that there has been this slow realization that this is the new reality,” Perez said, leading to uproar.

Throughout the town hall, dozens of people walked out, some making lewd gestures at her.

Perez ended the town hall with a call for “building community.”

“I don’t need people to be nice to me. People are valid in being angry and frustrated with what’s going on,” Perez said. “But we have to be nice to our neighbors. We have to be nice to the people who disagree with us.”

Those inside joined those who remained outside and chanted “Vote her out!” after the congresswoman left through a back door.

Alexis Weisend: 360-735-4536; [email protected]; twitter.com/weisend_alexis