Rep. Nick Langworthy has never held an in-person town hall for constituents in New York’s 23rd Congressional District.
He refuses to attend voter-organized public meetings—then complains when residents and local media point out his absence.
Still, you can meet him—if you’re willing to pay.
$100 gets you into his June 30 fundraiser featuring Rep. Elise Stefanik, who’s eyeing a run for New York governor.
$500 gets you a photo with Stefanik and Langworthy. Maybe you can talk to him then
Rep. Langworthy Doesn’t Hold In-Person Townhall Meetings.
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY23) doesn’t like to meet with the people who elected him—unless they buy a ticket.
That’s the message constituents in Western New York are receiving after years of trying, and failing, to get Congressman Langworthy to attend an open, in-person town hall.
However, when it comes to high-dollar events with Republican elites, such as potential Republican nominee for New York governor Rep. Elise Stefanik, (Congressman Langworthy’s Luncheon with Special Guest Congresswoman Elise Stefanik), Langworthy is more than ready to show up, shake hands, and collect money for his re-election campaign – $100 per ticket, $500+ for a picture, at a to-be-disclosed location (presumably to make it harder for protestors to organize).
It wouldn’t be the first time that Republican politicians have disappointed their supporters. I remember thousands of MAGA faithful paid for travel and hotels to attend this past January’s inauguration, only to have it canceled when Republicans saw that attendance along the route would be so low as to be embarrassing.
The Empty Chair in Blasdell
In March, local residents organized a public town hall in Blasdell under the banner of “Good Neighbors Getting It Done in WNY.” They invited Langworthy to attend and speak with the people he represents. He declined.
Attendees left an empty chair with his name on it at the front of the room to symbolize his absence. That image was picked up by The Buffalo News, which reported on the congressman’s refusal to meet voters face-to-face. Langworthy didn’t respond with engagement. Instead, he appeared on local station WKBW-TV to complain, calling the town hall a “charade” and criticizing the Buffalo News’ coverage as unfair.
But he still hasn’t held an in-person event. Langworthy has never held in-person town halls. He holds carefully orchestrated telephone call-ins, where he responds to questions from purported constituents. Some of these “constituents” are obvious shills for Langworthy. They ask “softball” questions, allowing Langworthy to push his partisan agenda and Republican talking points. Rarely do real constituents get to ask real questions. When they do, there are fireworks, as happened when a caller expressed his displeasure at Trump’s blanket pardon for the January 6th insurrectionists.
Locked Doors in Corning
Two months later, Langworthy faced backlash again—this time in Corning, where constituents rallied outside his district office to protest his vote for the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill that gutted Medicaid and SNAP food assistance and had many other equally terrible provisions.
That legislation was passed in the House and the Senate, and President Trump signed it into law on July 4.
Dozens of residents—many of them seniors, caregivers, and working families—gathered to demand answers. They wanted a face-to-face meeting with their congressman to discuss how these cuts would affect the.
But Langworthy did not meet with his constituents. The doors stayed closed. Instead, Langworthy criticized his own constituents who had the temerity to question his judgment..
Langworthy invoked the Richard Nixon “silent majority” defense. According to WBNG, He said:
“There is a group of constituents who have gotten very loud since President Trump was elected, and they believe their voice counts larger than the majority in their district… ”
Langworthy continues to hide from a public meeting with the voters.
Always Absent—Unless You’re Paying
In June, after months of ignoring his constituents, Nick Langworthy finally announced an event where people can see him in person: a June 30 fundraiser featuring (“special guest”) Rep. Elise Stefanik, the far-right North Country congresswoman expected to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in next year’s election. Stefanik trails Hochul by more than 20 percentage points in recent polling.
But unlike a free town hall, this event comes with a price.
Checks are made payable to Langworthy for Congress. Tickets start at $100 to get in the door. Want a photo? That’ll cost $599. The location is secret, only revealed to attendees shortly before the event, a tactic meant to prevent protests.
The listing is available on the Erie County GOP website.
So while voters can’t get five free minutes of Langworthy’s time at an open forum, big donors can buy face time at a private luncheon.
That’s called pay-to-play.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Langworthy’s refusal to hold in-person town halls isn’t an oversight. It’s his strategy.
Since entering Congress in 2023—and now well into his second term—he hasn’t held a single traditional, open-format, in-person town hall. His few public appearances are carefully managed, featuring scripted speeches, party events, and TV soundbites, with nothing that risks genuine, unscripted feedback from the people he represents.
In Blasdell, he called the town hall a “charade.”
In Corning, he responded to peaceful protesters with sneers about “loud” constituents.
But when Elise Stefanik rolls into town with a donor list and a campaign to build, Langworthy is suddenly available—for a price.
That’s not just unresponsive. It’s cynical.
What NY-23 Deserves
The people of NY-23 aren’t asking for much. They want to talk about healthcare. Social Security. Prescription drug costs. They want Langworthy to explain why he voted to cut Medicaid and SNAP programs that tens of thousands of his constituents rely on.
They want to be heard.
Instead, their congressman is hiding behind a velvet rope that you can only cross if you bring a checkbook.
And maybe there’s a reason Langworthy’s more focused on fundraising than representation. His alliance with Stefanik, a national Republican powerbroker and likely candidate for governor, raises a fundamental question:
Is Langworthy angling to be her running mate?
A Stefanik–Langworthy ticket would bring the full MAGA agenda to Albany. It would also explain why Langworthy is more interested in building political capital than doing his job. He’s not planning to represent NY-23 forever. He’s planning his next move.
And make no mistake: Langworthy has the connections. As former chair of the New York State Republican Party, he helped shape the GOP’s bench of officeholders and potential candidates across the state. He knows how the internal machinery works. An upstate name like his is often necessary to balance a downstate or suburban candidate.
He’s Not Working for You
Langworthy doesn’t prioritize his 23rd congressional district. He prioritizes his ambition and his standing within the party.
That’s how he ends up voting for a bill that guts healthcare and food assistance – the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” (although Senator Schumer had it renamed), knowing full well it would hurt his constituents.
Why? Because he’s not trying to represent Western New York, he’s auditioning for a promotion.
Contact Rep. Langworthy
If you believe Rep. Langworthy should hold in-person town halls and explain his votes directly to the people he represents, let him know.
It’s easy to contact him.
Use the link below to send a message or visit one of his district offices and share your thoughts face-to-face.
Jamestown, NY 14701
References:
WKBW-TV: “A charade”: Congressman Nick Langworthy declines invitation to public town hall
The Buffalo News: Coverage of March 2025 Blasdell town hall (referenced in WKBW segment)
WENY News: Social Security Office in Big Flats to close in August; residents rally against it
Erie County GOP: Langworthy’s Luncheon with Elise Stefanik, June 30
