Political violence escalates in the U.S., forcing lawmakers to quit

Political violence in the United States has escalated sharply since 2016, affecting elected officials across parties and reshaping the landscape of public service. Recent incidents involving Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal and former Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene underscore the growing toll of intimidation and threats on political life, culminating in Greene’s resignation in November 2025.

Surge in political violence

Political violence in the United States has increasingly become a defining feature of contemporary political life, rather than an isolated or fringe occurrence. According to WIRED, incidents targeting elected officials, activists, and institutions have risen sharply since around 2016, reversing nearly two decades of decline following the 1990s.

Threats against Pramila Jayapal

Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal, a member of Congress from Washington, and her husband were targeted in Seattle by individuals who drove past their home shouting racialized and political threats, according to WIRED. One of the individuals later returned armed with a loaded handgun, with a round already chambered. Jayapal described the incident as evidence of a broader shift in American politics, where intimidation is increasingly framed as a legitimate form of political expression.

Threats against Marjorie Taylor Greene and her resignation

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia faced hundreds of death threats during her tenure as one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal allies, WIRED reports. The nature of these threats shifted after Greene publicly broke with Trump. Following Trump’s characterization of her as "Marjorie Traitor Greene," she reported escalating threats against her family, including against her son and alleged assassination attempts. In November 2025, Greene resigned from Congress, citing the toll these threats took on her family.

Patterns of political violence

Right-wing violence has been the most frequent and deadliest form of political violence in the U.S. since 2016, according to WIRED. It has targeted elections, federal institutions, and public officials, often driven by white supremacist and ethno-nationalist ideologies. Left-wing violence, by contrast, has been more common in mass protest settings, such as the 2020 George Floyd protests, and typically involves property destruction and confrontations with police. While left-wing incidents tend to cluster geographically, right-wing violence has been more likely to result in mass casualties.

Challenges in tracking and addressing violence

The U.S. legal framework complicates efforts to track and report political violence. The FBI does not provide a simple annual count of domestic terrorism incidents because the country does not criminalize "domestic terrorism" as a stand-alone offense. This gap fuels public confusion and allows for partisan cherry-picking of data, according to WIRED. Despite this, FBI directors have consistently warned that domestic violent extremism, particularly from right-wing ideologies, remains a persistent and elevated threat.

Defining political violence

The rise in political violence reflects broader societal tensions, but defining and measuring it remains contentious. Political violence is broadly understood as the use or credible threat of physical force for political ends, including coercion, intimidation, or symbolic acts. It excludes ordinary criminal activity, interpersonal disputes, or lawful protest, even if such protests become disruptive or unlawful.

The lack of a unified definition or federal statute means incidents are often interpreted through partisan lenses, further polarizing public discourse.

What this means

LazyFounders analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

This trend is a warning sign for founders and operators, particularly those building businesses in highly polarized sectors like civic tech, media, or public policy. Political violence isn’t just a security issue—it reshapes the operating environment for anyone whose work intersects with governance, advocacy, or public discourse.

For startups, this means accounting for elevated risks in physical security, employee safety, and even brand reputation. Companies may need to invest in threat assessment protocols, remote work policies, or contingency plans for office locations in volatile areas. Beyond logistics, the normalization of intimidation as a political tool could also chill collaboration between teams with divergent views, making culture-building and retention harder.

The resignation of a sitting member of Congress over safety concerns also signals a broader erosion of institutional trust. For founders, that’s a reminder that stability—whether in regulation, market access, or public sentiment—isn’t guaranteed. Businesses that assume continuity in policy or social norms may find themselves unprepared for sudden shifts.

Key takeaways

• Political violence in the U.S. has become a recurring feature of contemporary political life, affecting officials across the spectrum.
• Right-wing violence has been deadlier and more frequent than left-wing violence since 2016.
• Left-wing violence often manifests in mass protests and property destruction.
• The lack of a federal "domestic terrorism" statute complicates tracking and reporting of political violence.
• Persistent threats can force public figures to step down, disrupting political and institutional stability.

FAQ

How has political violence in the U.S. changed since 2016?

According to reports, political violence in the U.S. declined for nearly two decades after the 1990s but began rising sharply around 2016. This surge has included both right-wing and left-wing violence, with right-wing incidents being more frequent, deadlier, and more likely to target federal institutions or result in mass casualties. Left-wing violence has often occurred in mass protest settings and involved property destruction or confrontations with police.

Why did Marjorie Taylor Greene resign from Congress?

Greene resigned in November 2025, citing threats to her family. She had previously reported hundreds of death threats, particularly after publicly breaking with former President Donald Trump and being targeted by his rhetoric.

How does the FBI track political violence?

The FBI does not provide a simple annual count of domestic terrorism incidents because the U.S. does not criminalize "domestic terrorism" as a stand-alone offense. This lack of a unified legal framework complicates efforts to track and report political violence consistently.

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