Issue Brief: Interviews With Local Elected Officials Spotlight Acute Safety Concerns in the Wake of High-Profile Attacks

After the deadly attack in Minnesota, local officials tell BDI that they are experiencing a high level of fear and emotional strain, and that the burdens of public exposure are increasingly affecting their personal lives. Safety concerns are playing a significant part in decisions about remaining in office or seeking higher elected positions, particularly for women and younger officials. To push back, officials continue to call for short-term mitigation support, like improved security at public meetings and personal data protections, as well as long-term efforts to counter the normalization of hostility and hold perpetrators accountable.