The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Archive: Intimidation of State and Local Officeholders with Maya Kornberg
May 11, 2025
Maya Kornberg, a Research Fellow at the Brennan Center's Elections and Government Program, discusses a new report on the alarming rise of intimidation against state and local officeholders. She highlights incidents of political violence, such as the January 6 insurrection and the attack on Paul Pelosi, revealing the dangers public officials face today. The conversation also covers the unique challenges faced by women and minorities, the role of social media in amplifying threats, and the urgent need for mental health support for those in public service.
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Pervasive Abuse Impacts Diverse Officials
- State and local officeholders widely face threats and abuse, with diverse demographics affected differently.
- Women and people of color experience uniquely targeted and more frequent abuse, including sexual and identity-based harassment.
Enhance Security Funding And Monitoring
- States should allow campaign funds for personal security like alarms and rideshares.
- Establish a centralized security agency for state and local officials to monitor threats independently from local law enforcement.
Intraparty Abuse Alters Politics
- Republicans report a greater increase in threats, mostly from within their own party.
- Fear of abuse influences legislators' willingness to address contentious issues like gun laws and reproductive rights.