Whatever Gallego decides to do, it’s clear that for now he’s the canvas onto which many Democrats are projecting their hopes as their disappointment in Sinema continues to grow. Recent polling has been bad news for her, Sen. Bernie Sanders said he is open to a primary and Gallego has said there are others, the Arizona Democratic Party has censured her, and major political players like EMILY’s List have started to distance themselves. “Right now I’m really questioning things that she’s doing,” said Debbie Nez-Manuel, the Arizona Democratic National Committeewoman and a citizen of the Navajo Nation. “I agree with the decision to [censure her], and it’s really important to hold our elected leaders accountable. I agree. I agree that we took the right steps. We need somebody who we elected to be there for us. That’s really important.”

For many Democrats, the hypothetical matchup between Gallego and Sinema has become a way to vent frustration.

And this is the context hanging over Gallego and nearly everything he does, including his town hall. “I like Ruben a lot. I’m hoping he’ll primary Sinema. I’m really unhappy with her,” said Lynda Caglio, a retired paralegal from Phoenix, who said she supported previously supported Sinema. “I don’t think she’s representing Arizona, … and she just wants to be her own little rock star.” Caglio, who said she was upset that Sinema is “aligning herself too much with the Republican agenda,” was the very first town hall attendee I spoke with. She brought up Sinema entirely on her own. She was not the only one.