WESTFIELD, INDIANA — It was not a warm homecoming for Rep. Victoria Spartz.
The third term House Republican faced constituents at a rowdy town hall outside Indianapolis – a role reversal for her and how she operates on Capitol Hill, where she is often a bomb thrower and a thorn in Speaker Mike Johnson’s side.
The event, which was moved from its original location to a convention center in Hamilton County to accommodate a larger crowd, was made up mostly of Hoosiers who challenged Spartz on everything from the Signal-gate saga to potential cuts to Medicaid and Social Security to Elon Musk.
“If you just came here to scream then we’re not going to have a conversation,” she told the audience at the beginning of her two-hour town hall.
Her town hall comes just a few weeks after National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson told House Republicans to avoid in-person town halls to avoid protesters and negative press. At one point she noted her colleagues were advised not to hold town halls but she wanted to hear from constituents.
She was asked about Signal-gate — when senior administration officials used Signal to discuss war plans — and a member of the audience asked if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz should resign.
“No, I will not demand their resignation,” Spartz responded. The audience booed in response.
At another point, Spartz was asked if she’s going to vote to increase the federal deficit.
“No I am not,” she said.
Spartz repeatedly defended her decision to ultimately support the budget framework that would enact President Donald Trump’s massive tax, energy and border security agenda. House Republicans adopted the resolution along party lines — and Spartz was a holdout until the vote was on the floor and leadership pressured her to flip — but the final legislation could contain cuts to Medicaid and Social Security, something Spartz said during the town hall she wouldn’t allow.
There were multiple questions about Musk and government funding cuts as well.
“I know that you’re frustrated with Elon Musk,” Spartz told the audience, before adding: “He helps to show transparency.”
Spartz repeatedly asked the audience to stop shouting and allow for discourse as dozens of people kept booing and shouting when she answered questions.
At another point after a question about Trump’s executive orders, the audience began shouting and chanting to her: “DO YOUR JOB.”
Despite the combative audience and tough questions, Spartz took the wide-ranging questions.
NOTUS surveyed the audience after the town hall ended but was unable to find any supporters of the congresswoman in the crowd. There were also protesters outside the event shouting “do your job!” But she was praised by one Democrat who attended who said it’s important to hear from members of Congress, especially after being told not to hold in-person town halls.
“I really applaud her for having the guts to show up. Because as one of her constituents, it’s really important for me to hear her. It’s really important for me to understand what her perspective is,” said Pam Fischer, who’s from Carmel, Indiana. “We have a difference of opinion on most of the issues. I’m impressed that she had the courage to show up.”
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Daniella Diaz is a reporter at NOTUS.