Elected officials are all too often the targets of intimidation

The attack on former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., is antithetical to our American values. No person should be the subject of violence. No elected official or candidate should be attacked, threatened, or intimidated because of their office or the political positions they hold.

Individuals who stand for public office understand that they are putting themselves in the public eye and expect a certain degree of scrutiny. However, as National League of Cities CEO Clarence Anthony said, “It’s too easy to forget that our local leaders are also human. Along with their titles of ‘mayor,’ ‘council member,’ or ‘commissioner’ — they are also ‘parent,’ ‘friend,’ ‘neighbor,’ and so much more.”

Unfortunately, the violence we witnessed is not an isolated incident. With increasing frequency, elected officials, and their spouses and children, are targets of threats and intimidation. Local officials, who are on the front lines in their communities, who talk to their neighbors at the grocery store, are frequently the targets of this incivility.

In May 2024, CivicPulse and Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative found that 50% of local officials surveyed were insulted, 37% were harassed, 18% were threatened, and 2% of local officials were attacked within the previous three months. Women and people of color consistently report higher levels of insults, harassment and threats.

Individuals serving in local office here in the Northwest have and do experience threats and violence. Crowds marched on Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s home in 2020. I know of multiple local council members whose political opponents used police incident reports to harass and intimidate when the official was a bystander or not even a participant. I know of children of elected officials who were vilified. I’ve been a part of council meetings where we had to recess because of hostile behavior, and I’ve witnessed vile, bigoted and racist speech during public comment. Like many of my colleagues across the region, I’ve been called names to my face.

The threats faced by elected officials discourage public discourse and harm the public good. Elected officials who are threatened or harassed are less likely to work on controversial topics or run for reelection. I know many great community leaders who have stepped away from public service because of the current political climate and I know other great community members who do not ever want to subject themselves to the current political climate.

Our democracy needs elected officials and candidates who are willing to roll up their sleeves and solve our community’s problems. Our elected leaders ought to come together to address the challenges of creating more affordable housing, addressing our climate crisis, and developing a robust economy that works for everyone, instead of having to worry about their, or their family’s, physical or mental well-being.

On my council in Shoreline, we disagree without being disagreeable. We are not in lockstep on issues that come before us, but our disagreements are about what is the best policy choice for our residents, and are not personal. We can land on opposite sides of a contentious issue and then find common cause on the next issue. 

I remain optimistic that as a nation, we will continue to work together to build a more perfect union. In that effort, we must not turn a blind eye to hate and intimidation. We must remain passionate about our politics; we can hold our leaders accountable, but we must always remain civil with our neighbors, our friends and our colleagues.