On Saturday, July 19, 2025, California Representative Ro Khanna brought his "Benefits over Billionaires" tour to Goose Creek, South Carolina, aiming to energize southern voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The event, held at Goose Creek High School, was more than just a typical town hall—it evolved into a candid and intense discussion about the future of the Democratic Party and its strategy to regain ground in Republican-held districts.
Khanna, who represents California's 17th congressional district, was joined on stage by Illinois Representative Jonathan Jackson and South Carolina State Representative J.A. Moore. Together, they addressed a crowd of over 100 attendees, many of whom expressed deep frustration not only with President Donald Trump's policies but also with what they perceive as a lack of decisive action by Democrats to counter those policies.
The focus of the conversation was the recently signed "One Big, Beautiful" bill, a sweeping GOP domestic policy package that enacts nearly $1 trillion in cuts over the next decade to federal health care programs including Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, more than 11 million Americans could lose their health insurance due to new work requirements and budget cuts under this legislation.
State Rep. J.A. Moore highlighted the local impact of the bill, stating, "Here in South Carolina, what that is going to do is take away $15 billion [for Medicaid]. Over a million South Carolinians — that’s 20% of us — rely on that for our healthcare." Moore didn't mince words, emphasizing the dire consequences: "This ain’t no game. People will die. Rural hospitals will close because of this." The crowd responded with palpable concern, underscoring the seriousness of the issue.
But the town hall quickly shifted from a critique of Republican policy to a pointed examination of the Democratic Party itself. Attendees repeatedly asked how Democrats plan to win back voters, especially in areas like Berkeley County, a Republican stronghold where Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris by 16 points in the 2024 election.
One attendee, wearing a Harris-Walz t-shirt, voiced a sentiment echoed by many: "At what point do we stop playing by the same rules? When do we start taking advantage of those loopholes that exist? Not playing dirty, but accepting that the rules are different." This question struck at the heart of the party’s strategic dilemma.
Khanna responded thoughtfully, acknowledging the need for a smarter, more effective approach. "We need to fight, but we need to fight smartly," he said. He called for Senate Democrats to change the cloture rules—the mechanism used to end filibusters—if they regain control of the chamber. "We left too much on the table last time because we had the filibuster, we had the Senate cloture rule, we had a number of senators who were holding up the entire Democratic Party’s agenda. That cannot happen." The audience applauded, signaling strong support for this stance.
Khanna also urged Democrats to focus less on changing minds about Trump himself and more on breaking his base. He pointed to a growing rift between Trump and his loyal MAGA supporters over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case as a potential opening. The Justice Department's recent announcement that no further evidence would be released in the Epstein sex trafficking investigation has sparked fury among Trump’s defenders, fracturing his base.
Khanna has been a vocal advocate for transparency on the Epstein files, co-sponsoring a bipartisan discharge petition with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie to force a House vote on releasing the documents. Several Republicans, including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kentucky Rep. Lauren Boebert, have signed on. "It’s not just the substance which is awful," Khanna said. "Are you protecting the rich and the powerful, or are you protecting our children?" This framing aims to position Democrats as champions of justice and accountability.
Beyond these immediate political battles, Khanna articulated a broader vision for the Democratic Party, which he calls "new economic patriotism." This vision focuses on job creation, lowering costs for families, and ending "dumb wars." "That’s what [the Democratic Party] stands for," he said. "It stands for rebalancing an economy that’s out of whack, that’s allowed wealth to pile up in a few places, and left too many people out of economic dignity."
Khanna also highlighted the importance of reconnecting with Black voters in the South, a crucial segment of the Democratic base. He acknowledged that the party "did not do enough in speaking to the economic aspirations and anxieties of the African American community" during the 2024 elections. Addressing issues like wages, job creation, and the rising costs of child care and health care is essential not only for the upcoming midterms but for the party’s long-term vitality. "The Black South is the heart and soul of our party," he said.
Throughout the event, Khanna was pressed to explain why Democrats seem unable to stop or counteract policies like the "Big Beautiful Bill." Audience members repeatedly asked for a concrete plan rather than rhetoric. Marie Fitzpatrick, a visitor from New York, demanded, "What’s the plan?" This question underscored the impatience and urgency felt by many Democrats and independents alike.
Khanna and Jackson also challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents Berkeley County, to attend the town hall and defend her vote on the GOP bill. Khanna questioned her support for tax breaks benefiting billionaires in Silicon Valley while cutting Medicaid and food assistance, which he argued harms constituents in both their districts. Jackson encouraged attendees to continue calling Republican leaders like Mace, Senator Tim Scott, and Senator Lindsey Graham to hold them accountable and force them to articulate their positions publicly.
Despite the sharp critiques, Khanna emphasized that the path forward for Democrats involves building a majority through strategic engagement rather than simply opposing Trump. "We win and fight not by yelling," he said. "We win and fight by breaking his base and building a majority because the ultimate goal is to win that power on behalf of the people."
Khanna’s visit to South Carolina is part of a larger two-day swing that includes an event with Congressman Jim Clyburn, a key figure in the state’s Democratic politics, and a meeting with the NAACP in Columbia. Another town hall is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, in Greenville, within Republican Rep. Williams Timmons’ district. These efforts reflect a growing recognition among national Democrats that winning back power requires bold, localized engagement in Republican-leaning areas.
As Khanna reflected on his political journey, he recalled studying the speeches of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, famously urging people to "Keep hope alive." Yet, as the Goose Creek town hall made clear, hope alone won’t be enough to turn the tide. Voters want clear plans, smart strategies, and tangible results. For Democrats aiming to reclaim the U.S. House and revitalize their party’s connection with diverse communities, the stakes could not be higher.
