The member of Congress caught by a security camera kissing a staffer is instead embracing his constituents this August, topping a list of members throwing town hall events this recess.
Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) has scheduled 23 town hall-style events so far this month, four more than the second-leading member, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.).
McAllister's political future was clouded earlier this year when the socially conservative and married lawmaker was caught on tape in his district office in a long passionate embrace with a married staffer. The staffer was terminated after the scandal broke, threatening his reelection effort.
But town halls have helped cement McAllister's position in the upcoming election, with some political observers saying he is now the candidate to beat in a crowded field.
In all, LegiStorm has tracked 418 in-person town hall-style events scheduled in August, with many new events announced every day. Some 301 have been or will be held by Republicans as they seek to build on their strong position ahead of the November mid-term elections.
Of the 15 members included at the top of our list, 12 are Republicans. Only a pair of Democrats made the cut, DeFazio and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.) who caucuses with the Democrats, also made this list.
Of the six senators on the list, only Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) is up for reelection this November. Now that Roberts has dispatched a tough tea party challenger in the primary, he is expected to win handily. So too are almost all of the members at the top of the town hall list.
The top 15 members ranked by the number of town halls scheduled this August:
Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) 23
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) 19
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) 14
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) 14
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) 11
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) 10
Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho) 9
Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) 8
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) 8
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) 8
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) 8
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) 7
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) 7
Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) 7
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) 7
