Anna Liss-Roy at WP (h/t George Van Cleve):
Abusive messages, fear of physical violence and violations of privacy are the cost of elected office in the United States in 2025, according to nine Gen Z and millennial state lawmakers interviewed by The Washington Post. Democrats and Republicans who represent districts in a range of states recounted terrifying instances of threats and abuse while in office that have forced painful conversations with partners, put neighbors on edge and stoked fears for their safety.
The shooting that this month took the lives of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and injured another state lawmaker and his wife, has only further shaken a rising generation of lawmakers. Already exhausted by threats, polarization and online harassment, some are wondering: Is it worth it?
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They are installing home security systems and increasing safety measures for events. Some carry firearms, or have them easily accessible. They are asking for their publicly listed addresses to be taken down. The more vocal and visible that lawmakers are on social media — the more they engage with controversial topics — the more of a target they say they become.
“It really does make you just want to be like, ‘Why am I doing this?’” said Aaron Pilkington, a Republican state representative in Arkansas. “Why would I put my family at risk over this?