LGBTQ+ candidates face increasing violence – 1 in 3 says they've gotten death threats[/b]
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/05/lgbtq-candidates-face-increasing-1-in-3-says-theyve-gotten-threats/ 🔗Faefyx Collington (6 May 2026)
A new report from the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute shines a light on how common threats and harassment of LGBTQ+ candidates have become. That makes it harder for LGBTQ+ people to run and threatens the future of proper democratic representation.
"This report makes clear that political violence is not just increasing—it is reshaping who feels able to run for office in the first place," said Evan Low, President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. "No one should have to choose between serving their community and protecting their own safety. When LGBTQ+ candidates are driven out by threats and intimidation, our democracy loses the representation it depends on."
Almost two-thirds of LGBTQ+ candidates surveyed reported hate and harassment in person while campaigning, with a higher percentage reporting it on digital platforms, in some cases on a weekly basis. That harassment isn't just mean comments, with 14% of candidates receiving in-person death threats and 33% receiving death threats online.
Across the board, this is leading to LGBTQ+ people choosing not to run in the first place, and when they do, they face additional challenges that impact everything from their mental health to how they are able to spend their funding.
