California Threats and Harassment Initiative: A Literature Review Contextualizing the Environment of Threats and Harassment of Local Elected Officials in the United States between 2013 and 2024

Given the attention dedicated to violence targeted against national figures and representatives, this literature review focuses on the less prominent, but nonetheless critical, issue of threats and harassment directed at locally elected officials. In particular, it considers school board officials, members of city councils, community college boards, elected sheriffs, city and district attorneys and mayors in Southern California as well as across the United States. It draws on traditional media coverage, academic and think tank discussions of the scope of threats and harassment faced by local officials, the drivers of threatening and harassing behavior, and their impact on local officials and the democratic process. In addition, this literature review provides an overview of current recommendations for reducing the level of threat to local officials and improving civil discourse.