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Democrats’ closed-for-COVID office policy emerges as ‘do-nothing Congress’ campaign issue

Congressional Democrats are suffering increasing criticism for keeping their district and state offices closed to constituents because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Democrats’ election rivals say taxpayers miss out on services and access to their representatives because of long-lasting COVID-related office closures, despite pandemic fears having largely subsided more than two years after the outbreak started.

“When you poll the public, a large majority have a negative view of Congress or say the institution isn’t responsive,” said Matthew Foldi, a Republican candidate vying for Maryland’s sixth congressional district. “Voters literally expect so little from their members of Congress and now some have taken that to the extreme by being unwilling to open their offices to constituents.