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Research note: Rise in violence against U.S. mayors: 2017 to 2021

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  • Rebekah Herrick
  • Sue Thomas

Abstract

Background Although there is an emerging literature in the United States about violence against officeholders, to date there is no research examining trends in violence against U.S. politicians. Objectives To examine whether volence against US mayors increased from 2017 to 2021 and whether social and political factors help account for the rise. Methods we report the results of two surveys of mayors in the United States: one in 2017 and the other in 2021. We compare the results of the two surveys and report on mayors' perceptions of changes in the rates of violence. Results We find that psychological and physical violence against mayors have risen between 2017 and 2021 and that several momentous political events of those years are associated with mayors’ perceptions of increases in violence. In specific, levels of partisanship, the rise and conduct of the Trump presidency and its aftermath, and public reactions to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic were significantly associated with mayoral perceptions of rises in violence. Conclusion That violence against US mayors is high and increasing raises concerns about the health of our democracy as it may limit the pool of Americans willing to run for office.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebekah Herrick & Sue Thomas, 2023. "Research note: Rise in violence against U.S. mayors: 2017 to 2021," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 104(2), pages 81-91, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:104:y:2023:i:2:p:81-91
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13255
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sarah Birch & Ursula Daxecker & Kristine Höglund, 2020. "Electoral violence: An introduction," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(1), pages 3-14, January.
    2. Shana Kushner Gadarian & Sara Wallace Goodman & Thomas B Pepinsky, 2021. "Partisanship, health behavior, and policy attitudes in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Julia Elad-Strenger & Brian J Hall & Stevan E Hobfoll & Daphna Canetti, 2021. "Explaining public support for violence against politicians during conflict: Evidence from a panel study in Israel," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(3), pages 417-432, May.
    4. Michael Wahman & Edward Goldring, 2020. "Pre-election violence and territorial control: Political dominance and subnational election violence in polarized African electoral systems," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(1), pages 93-110, January.
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