Which states have the highest rates of left-wing and right-wing violence?

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

The analyses provided do not offer specific information on which states have the highest rates of left-wing and right-wing violence [1] [2]. However, they do suggest that right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and deadly than left-wing violence in the United States, with approximately 75% to 80% of U.S. domestic terrorism deaths since 2001 being attributed to right-wing extremism [3]. Additionally, the sources note that Americans are split on whether left-wing violence or right-wing violence is a bigger problem, with liberals and conservatives having opposite views on the issue [1]. The analyses also compare the use of political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and worldwide, finding that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the lack of specific data on state-level violence, which would be necessary to accurately answer the original question [1] [2]. Alternative viewpoints are also present, with some sources suggesting that the threat from right-wing extremists is more significant [3], while others note that Americans' perceptions of political violence are divided along partisan lines [1]. Furthermore, the sources do not provide a comprehensive analysis of the root causes of left-wing and right-wing violence, which would be essential to understanding the issue [2] [4]. The absence of a nuanced discussion on the complexities of political violence is a notable omission, as it oversimplifies the issue and fails to account for the diverse motivations and ideologies behind violent acts [2] [4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading in its implication that there is a clear answer to which states have the highest rates of left-wing and right-wing violence, when in fact, the analyses provided do not offer specific information on this topic [1] [2]. Additionally, the statement may be biased towards implying that left-wing and right-wing violence are equivalent problems, when the data suggests that right-wing extremist violence is more frequent and deadly [3]. Right-wing extremist groups may benefit from this framing, as it downplays the significance of their role in domestic terrorism [3]. On the other hand, liberal and conservative groups may also benefit from this framing, as it allows them to perpetuate their respective narratives about the threat posed by the opposing ideology [1].

Want to dive deeper?
What are the most common causes of left-wing violence in the US?
How does right-wing violence compare to left-wing violence in terms of fatalities since 2020?
Which states have the highest rates of extremist group activity?
How do law enforcement agencies track and categorize left-wing and right-wing violence?
What role does social media play in promoting or preventing left-wing and right-wing violence?