Tillis takes tough questions at Durham event

The group was protesting what they called a "secret private meeting" with the Republican senator.

Inside the event, there were a limited number of seats and attendees needed to sign up and pay to attend, but chamber officials said there was nothing secret or private.

"Obviously, we are in a very passionate time in U.S. politics, even at the state and local level. So, I thought that everything went as well as it could have gone," said John White with the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce.

The protesters said they want Tills to hold a public town hall meeting so that voters can voice their concerns about what is going on in Washington.

Many who attended the chamber event agreed.

"He needs to hear the passion and the anger and the worry and the anxiety of the people. It's not all of the people, but it's some of the people. It's his voters...he needs to confront that," said Steve Pogoloff.

Tillis said he wants to have a town hall meeting.

"I want there to be respectful dialogue where people aren't shouting at each other," Tillis said. "It turns off the people who are not politically engaged when they see that, because they can't make sense of it."

Tillis was confronted by constituents on everything from healthcare to immigration. He is listening and said he will continue to work to produce solutions.

"I think everybody is entitled to have a counter view, the only way that you learn is by talking to someone who doesn't have your view," he said.

While Tillis said he wants to have a town hall meeting, no date was set.