Fear of Political Violence Looms Large Over Campaigns

“This cycle, concerns about violence have caused some recruiting conversations to pause, and some to end,” one Democratic strategist said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a stop of the 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally at Folsom lake College

Stephen Lam/AP

Charlie Dent remembers decades ago when he could campaign in his House district in Pennsylvania without even thinking about security.

Then Gabby Giffords was shot in 2011, a gunman opened fire on Republican members in 2017 and any candidate with a social media account became a target of threats. Dent became used to holding political events with a cop on hand.

“Today it’s only gotten worse,” Dent, who left office in 2018, told NOTUS. “Now these members, they’re worried about going anywhere in public, especially after what happened yesterday.”