Bay Area Democrats turn to town hall meetings — even in GOP territory — to connect to voters

SANTA CLARA — The day before U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna set out on a three-stop “Benefits over Billionaires” town hall tour of Republican-held congressional districts, hundreds of the Democrat’s own constituents packed a school gym filled with frustration.

In Khanna’s 17th Congressional District, which stretches across parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties, nearly 49% of registered voters are Democrats — no party preference is the second-highest group at 30%. But the tone of Khanna’s monthly town hall on March 22...