Evan Hunt Launches Monthly TX-03 Virtual Town Halls, Renews Debate Challenge to Keith Self

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

TX-03 Democratic candidate Evan Hunt held his first virtual town hall Wednesday night, launching what his campaign says will become a recurring monthly event across the district.

The online event covered topics ranging from healthcare and voting rights to Iran, affordable housing, immigration rhetoric, and concerns over AI-driven data centers in Texas communities.

Hunt said the virtual town halls will continue on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. alongside additional in-person events throughout TX-03.

“We wanted to do something virtual to make sure we were accessible to ALL folks across this large district, which covers nearly 4,000 square miles and about one million people,” Hunt said in a follow-up interview.

Hunt focuses on accessibility and voter engagement

At the start of the event, Evan Hunt described the town halls as an effort to create more direct and less scripted dialogue with voters.

“We’re trying to sort of figure out a way to do this so that we could eventually accommodate houndreds of people or more and also allow people to ask their questions and get them prioritized,” Hunt said during the forum.

Questions were submitted through Slido and ranked by audience votes rather than campaign screening.

Hunt used the event to introduce himself to voters while criticizing what he described as public frustration with government and political institutions.

“I don’t feel like our political system is meeting the needs of regular people,” Hunt said. “None of us feel like our voices are heard.”

Hunt said future events will likely receive expanded promotion through regional email and text outreach to voters throughout TX-03, including counties outside Collin County.

“I’ve gotten some really positive feedback, so I’m thrilled,” Hunt said. “I want to keep building on it.”

Healthcare, voting rights and affordability dominate discussion

Much of the discussion focused on healthcare costs, housing affordability, voting rights, and economic pressures facing younger families.

Hunt advocated for a stronger public healthcare option similar to Medicare for All while criticizing consolidation within the healthcare industry.

“It is a moral failure and a management failure that we don’t have universal healthcare in this country,” Hunt said during the event.

Hunt also called for lifting the payroll tax cap tied to Social Security and increasing federal support for public schools and special education programs.

On housing, Hunt criticized private equity firms purchasing large numbers of homes and argued government policy should focus more on helping middle- and lower-income buyers.

“We need to incentivize construction of low-income and middle-income homes,” Hunt said. “We have private equity buying up neighborhoods and driving the price up.”

Voting rights and redistricting also became recurring topics throughout the town hall.

Hunt criticized mid-cycle redistricting and partisan gerrymandering, calling for federal legislation limiting congressional redistricting to the normal census cycle every 10 years.

“We need to sponsor a bill that outlaws partisan out-of-cycle gerrymandering across our country,” Hunt said.

Hunt also voiced support for restoring Voting Rights Act protections and criticized the federal SAVE Act, arguing it could create additional barriers for voters.

Data centers and infrastructure concerns emerge as major issue

Another major focus of the town hall involved concerns over data centers and infrastructure strain across Texas communities.

Hunt argued local communities should have more input before large industrial projects are approved, particularly projects requiring major electricity and water usage.

“These things should go to a vote,” Hunt said while discussing data center proposals.

Hunt pointed to concerns over water usage, electrical grid strain, and infrastructure demands tied to the expansion of AI-related data centers across Texas.

He also criticized what he described as “sweetheart deals” between local governments and large corporations, arguing companies should contribute more toward infrastructure improvements tied to their projects.

Hunt renews public debate challenge to Keith Self

The town hall also included direct criticism of incumbent Congressman Keith Self, whom Hunt is challenging in 2026.

Hunt said he remains willing to publicly debate Self and criticized what he described as a lack of public engagement from the congressman.

“I’ve made it clear that I’m ready to debate Keith Self,” Hunt said. “He’s made it clear that he wants to ignore me at all costs.”

Hunt argued elected officials have a responsibility to engage publicly with voters and opponents.

“I think it’s a betrayal of our American values to shy away from public dialogue and debate,” Hunt said.

Closing the event, Hunt said the forums are intended to give voters a stronger voice in the political process.

“People deserve to be heard. They deserve to feel represented,” Hunt said. “Too many people in our country and especially in TX03 feel ignored or betrayed. It’s time for change.”

TX3DNews contacted Congressman Self’s office and campaign for comment regarding Hunt’s debate challenge and remarks made during the town hall but did not receive a response prior to publication.