The rise of violent rhetoric and threats against politicians has led federal election campaigns and committees to spend more than five times the amount on security measures in the 2023-2024 election cycle than during the 2015-2016 election cycle, according to a new report.
Roughly $41 million was spent on personal, event-related or cyber security for federal candidates in the latest general election, according to Public Service Alliance, a nonpartisan group that offers security resources and discounted third-party services to officials.
That is a massive jump from the 2015-2016 election cycle, when campaigns and committees spent an estimated $8 million on security measures.
Security spending increases correlate with research indicating violent rhetoric targeting public officials is on the rise – a 241 percent increase between 2021 and 2025, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found.
It also correlates with data that found there was roughly a 90 percent increase in federal charges involving threats to a public official between 2016 and 2025.
During the 2024 election cycle, President Donald Trump was notably the target of two assassination attempts – one of which resulted in the death of a rally-goer and injuries to the president’s ear. As a result, security had to be increased at rallies.
More than $1.8 million was spent during the election cycle on event-related security measures, up from $570,000 a decade ago.
Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign was also the target of cybersecurity attacks, allegedly from foreign actors. Just under $1 million was spent on digital-related security during the election cycle.
Most people believe violent rhetoric toward politicians is tied to increasingly polarizing politics in the United States, Pew Research found. Liberal and conservative ideologists blame the other side for extreme views that encourage radical action.
Yet despite research indicating violent rhetoric leads to violent attacks, some politicians continued to use harsh language to talk about their opponents.
Last year, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, admitted to sending violent text messages, graphically calling for his opponents’ death.
Democratic lawmaker Jasmine Crockett was criticized for telling rallygoers to “fight back” against the Trump administration and that she would “be in [Elon Musk’s] face.”
While campaigning for president, Trump asserted it would be a “bloodbath” if he weren’t re-elected, proposed “one really violent day” to end property crime and constantly depicted liberals as “evil,” calling them “enemies from within.”
In 2025, major political figures faced violent attacks that became international news. It led to a largely bipartisan campaign condemning radical rhetoric from both sides of the aisle.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, and his family survived an assassination attempt after a perpetrator set his home on fire in the middle of the night.
Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and the former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, was assassinated alongside her husband at their home.
John Hoffman, a Democratic Minnesota state senator, and his wife survived an assassination attempt at their home the same night Hortman was killed.
Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated while holding an event for his organization, Turning Point USA, on a college campus.
Approximately $305,400 was spent on home-related security in the 2023-2024 election cycle.
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