Political violence in the United States is no longer confined to online rhetoric or distant political clashes—it’s reaching straight into the homes of public officials. From city mayors to members of Congress, elected leaders are finding themselves and their families targeted in ways unseen in modern American politics.

U.S. Capitol Police revealed that in 2024 alone, they investigated over 9,000 threats against lawmakers—an 18% increase from the prior year. The numbers highlight a dangerous escalation that is now playing out in neighborhoods across the country.

In Utah, Democratic State Sen. Stephanie Pitcher described how the harassment has gone beyond hateful emails. Colleagues have dealt with stalking serious enough that highway patrol officers had to be stationed near their homes. “It’s terrifying,” she admitted, noting that threats once dismissed as online ranting are now treated as real and immediate dangers.

Those fears became chillingly real this summer in Minnesota, where gunman Vance Boelter disguised himself as law enforcement and launched a coordinated assault on multiple lawmakers. Authorities say he shot State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, and then murdered Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. His “night of terror,” as prosecutors described it, marked one of the most direct political assassination attempts in state history.

In North Carolina, the unease is also palpable. Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell recalled the disturbing moment she spotted a truck idling outside her home at 3 a.m., just days after the Minnesota shootings. She called police, fearing the same fate could strike her family. Around the same time, another man was arrested for threatening to kill 41 lawmakers over a dispute involving local legislation.

Federal prosecutors have since indicted Boelter on multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, stalking, and firearms charges. While Minnesota does not impose the death penalty, the federal case could carry one. Officials say his actions were planned political assassinations designed to spread fear.

The rising violence has forced leaders in Washington to bolster protections. Capitol Police now monitor threats nationwide, coordinating with local departments to protect lawmakers back home. Congress has even approved funding for surveillance systems, alarms, and reinforced doors in members’ personal residences. Yet most state-level officials lack such protections, leaving them dependent on state police for support when threats become credible.

The escalation has fueled fierce debate about responsibility. Some Democrats have pointed to President Trump, accusing him of creating an environment where political violence is normalized. Trump’s allies argue that left-wing rhetoric and years of vilification have equally fanned the flames, emboldening radicals who now see violence as a political weapon.

Regardless of the blame game, the trend is unmistakable: political violence is surging, and America’s lawmakers are now living under a cloud of fear. From big cities to small towns, the question is no longer if public officials will face threats—it’s how long before the next attack turns deadly.