Have democrats commited more acts of violence on republicans that the other way around in america?

Checked on September 22, 2025
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1. Summary of the results

The available analyses suggest that both Democrats and Republicans have been targeted by political violence [1]. However, the data does not support the claim that Democrats have committed more acts of violence against Republicans [2]. In fact, studies have shown that right-wing ideology has accounted for the majority of politically motivated murders in the US [2]. The data also suggests that right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and deadly than left-wing violence [3]. Additionally, polling data shows that most Americans believe political violence is a big problem, and few people think it is acceptable to feel joy about the death of a public figure they oppose [4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some key context missing from the original statement includes the fact that political violence affects both Democrats and Republicans [1] [5], and that social media and extremist rhetoric contribute to the rise in political violence [1]. Alternative viewpoints suggest that the current polarized climate [1] and the impact of symbolic targets, timing, and media coverage [5] also play a role in the perception and occurrence of political violence. Furthermore, historical context [1] and data on domestic terrorism deaths [3] provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue. It is also important to consider that liberals are more likely to defend feeling joy about the deaths of political opponents, but this is still a minority opinion [4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading as it implies that Democrats have committed more acts of violence against Republicans, which is not supported by the data [2] [3]. This framing may benefit those who seek to politicize violence and blame one side of the political spectrum [2]. On the other hand, those who seek to downplay the role of right-wing extremism in political violence may also benefit from this framing [3]. It is essential to consider multiple sources and analyses to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue and avoid perpetuating misinformation [1] [2] [4] [5] [3].

Want to dive deeper?
What are the most notable cases of political violence in the US since 2020?
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Can social media platforms be held accountable for inciting political violence in the US?
What role do extremist groups play in perpetuating violence between democrats and republicans?
How have politicians from both parties addressed the issue of political violence in their campaigns?