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Fox News Reportedly Turned Down Swalwell Town Hall Request

Fox News (Shutterstock) Eric Swalwell (Joe Raedle : Staff)

Mike Brest Reporter
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Democratic California Rep. and presidential candidate Eric Swalwell reportedly wanted to participate in a town hall event on Fox News, but the network rebuffed his request.

“I would absolutely do a Fox town hall,” Swalwell said to CNN on Wednesday. “But they told us we can’t have one which is a little bit confusing to us because they have given them to people who are polling at the same place as us.”

CNN also reported that Swalwell found the network’s rejection to be “frustrating” because Fox News is “bemoaning that the Democrats won’t do the debates.”

Four candidates either already appeared in a town hall on Fox News or are scheduled to participate in one. Thus far, Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar have already hosted a town hall on the network. The ratings for Sanders’ appearance ranks first among presidential town halls this election cycle on any of the cable networks, while Klobuchar comes in at third.

Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks during a news conference regarding the separation of immigrant children. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks during a news conference regarding the separation of immigrant children. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images)

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to have a Fox News town hall on Sunday. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is scheduled to have one the first week in June.

According to the most recent Morning Consult poll, Sanders had 19%, Buttigieg 6%, Klobuchar 2%, and Gillibrand 1%. Swalwell comes in tied with Gillibrand, with 1%, proving his point that the network has scheduled a town hall for a candidate who is polling with the same support as he is. Gillibrand, however, has served two terms in the House and two in the Senate; Swalwell has only served in the House.

A Fox News spokesperson disputed Swalwell’s claim to CNN, but added that the door is still open for a future event. A Fox News spokesperson pointed The Daily Caller to that when asked to comment on CNN’s article.

Fellow presidential candidate Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on Wednesday that she would not host a presidential town hall on Fox News claiming it is “a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracists.”


California Sen. Kamala Harris made the same decision following Warren’s announcement, according to Yashar Ali.

Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney and former Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper disagreed with Warren’s decision with Delaney offering to take her time slot.

Swalwell’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

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