Democrat Rachel Wallace fields voter questions at Annville town hall
Matthew TothWeeks before her only scheduled debate with U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, Democratic challenger Rachel Wallace held a town hall in Annville Tuesday, Oct. 6, to address concerns and answer questions from residents in Pennsylvania’s 9th District.
More than 140 people filled the seats of the Allen Theatre to dialogue with the Pottsville Democratic challenger regarding issues leading up to the Nov. 3 election. Annville was the first of seven town halls Wallace is hosting throughout the 9th district, which includes Lebanon, Berks, Schuylkill and Columbia counties.
Wallace told the Lebanon Daily News after the town hall that residents want to find common ground, and not be so partisan.
"There's so much that we agree on," she said. "I think people are looking for how do we repair this sense that we are so divided, that we can't agree on anything, and meanwhile costs are going through the roof. There's real pain here in our part of Pennsylvania."
Wallace added that lowering costs and affordability issues are the top of her concerns, along with supporting legislation banning congressional stock trading, increasing local control over data centers, and additional funding for local communities.
"I don't need to be the person that writes the bill to lower health care costs, or get us out of Iran and lower the price of diesel and gas," she said. "Forget the party, I'm all in on those ideas."
Residents spent more than an hour talking to Wallace about issues including affordability, the war in Ukraine, Social Security reform, healthcare and political corruption. When residents questioned her about immigration and issues with ICE, Wallace said there should be a middle ground between border security and acting like "cruel menaces" when enforcing immigration policy.
"The way we are doing that right now is an egregious example of waste, fraud and abuse of our taxpayer dollars," she told residents.
When asked what she would do to stand up against President Donald Trump if she were elected, Wallace responded that she wants to work with Republicans across the aisle to build coalitions and push bipartisan bills.
"I'm going to be very clear with you; I am not running to impeach Donald Trump," she said to the Palmyra resident. "I'm running because I look at our part of the district and I want good things for us, and I want to get those things done. If next year I go to Congress and the whole year is about impeaching Donald Trump, I will be mad as hell."
Since March 24, 2025, local protesters called Mondays with Meuser have been lining the steps of the Lebanon County Municipal Building every Monday calling for the representative of Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District to meet in person with his constituents in Lebanon County in a town hall.
A majority of the residents at the Oct. 6 town hall were Monday with Meuser protesters, many of whom said they were looking for a congressperson who would treat them with respect and speak in an open forum with constituents.
"Right now we're not respected at all," South Lebanon Twp resident Joe Kristobak told Wallace. "Our voices are not being heard. We have people now who just don't care about us. All they care about is the money, and the power, and they don't listen to the individuals in this room. I don't what you to forget that."
Meuser and Wallace are scheduled to take the debate stage Oct. 20 at Penn State Schuylkill’s John E. Morgan Auditorium. Hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, this debate is the only one scheduled before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
Wallace has been calling on Meuser to debate since August, and said Oct. 6 that her eyes are "wide open" going into this debate with the incumbent congressman.
"This is a moment, and there are few coming up, that I think Dan will be held accountable," she said to the Lebanon Daily News.
Election dates
The 2026 midterm election is scheduled for Nov. 3. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 19. The last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is Oct. 27.
Residents looking for more information can visit the Lebanon County Voter Registration Office website at http://www.lebcounty.org/depts/Voter_Registration or contact them by phone at 717-228-4428.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at [email protected] or on X at @DAMattToth.