Update Notice

Reported threat and harassment incidents against local officials declined from July to August. The latest Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) update adds over 40 new events, including nearly 20 for the month of August, bringing the total number of events captured so far in 2025 to approximately 350.

Threat and harassment incidents against local officials rose from August to September. The latest Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) update captured 70 new events, including almost 60 for September, bringing the total number of events recorded so far in 2025 to over 400. This spike in incidents was driven primarily by an increase in threats against officials in the aftermath of the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk.

Threats and harassment against local officials decreased from September to October. The latest Threats and Harassment Dataset (THD) update adds nearly 80 new events, including 25 for October, bringing the total number of events captured so far in 2025 to over 470. Following the spike in threat and harassment incidents targeting officials in the aftermath of the September shooting of Charlie Kirk, community-specific and personal legal issues reemerged as the primary drivers of incidents in October.

The latest BDI-CivicPulse survey of 400 local elected officials and 200 school board officials continue to show a high baseline of both hostile experiences and worry about future hostility through the first quarter of 2025, negatively affecting their willingness to take part in key activities like participating in public events. New survey questions also reveal that local officials are seeking expanded resources to mitigate these risks and their impacts.