Marshall County Democrats raise concerns over halftime show at "Free" Super Bowl Party

Friday, January 23, 2026 at 1:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

The Marshall County Democratic Party has issued a statement cautioning residents about a "free" Super Bowl viewing party in a downtown venue, claiming the event is promoting an alternative halftime show with a specific political and ideological agenda from an organization called Turning Point USA.

The event, hosted by an unnamed "ambitious local member of the GOP and her husband," has been heavily advertised through social media and local radio, offering free food. However, the Democratic Party highlighted what it calls a lack of clear communication regarding the nature of the halftime entertainment.

"Many of us learned in 9th-grade economics that there is no such thing as a free lunch," the statement reads, implying that attendees should be aware of the underlying messaging.

According to the Democratic Party's statement, the viewing party will feature a faith-based alternative halftime program by Turning Point USA, themed around "faith, family, and freedom." This alternative show is reportedly being promoted in response to dissatisfaction with the selection of Bad Bunny as a performer for the official NFL Super Bowl halftime show.

The statement also addresses what it describes as "false claims about Bad Bunny’s citizenship" that have surfaced in public commentary surrounding the alternative event. The Democratic Party clarified that Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, and that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by law.

The Marshall County Democratic Party's intention is to ensure community members are fully informed about what to expect before deciding to attend. "Because this alternative programming includes political and ideological messaging, some attendees may not be aware of its nature when deciding whether to participate," the statement noted.

Concluding their remarks, the Marshall County Democrats affirmed their support for Puerto Rican community members and reiterated their opposition to "misinformation and rhetoric that targets individuals or communities based on race, ethnicity, or national origin."

The Super Bowl Party at The REES is being paid for by Sarah and Josh VanVactor, and is a free community event.