Local white male conservatives targeted for harassment, study finds

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A new report from researchers at the University of San Diego shows just how frustrating political life has become for local elected leaders.

“This year, we’re really seeing white, conservative, rural residents take the issue of threats and harassment even more seriously, especially when it comes to their personal reactions, such as calling the police or deciding to leave government offices,” said John Porten, senior Research Manager at the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice.

Porten examines the threats and harassment faced by everyone from school board members to county supervisors and district attorneys.

The biggest takeaway from his research, based on polls, interviews and social media posts in 2023, is an increase in vitriol directed at white male conservative elected officials in rural areas.

“Last year, I think it was mostly liberals and women who were concerned about this issue, and this year we got a lot of indications both from our survey and from our interviews that rural Conservative men are starting to think more seriously about this issue. – he said.

For their study, Porten and other researchers interviewed elected officials in San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

They released a report called the California Threat and Harassment Initiative.

It said some leaders received threatening emails and photographs of their homes, after which cars drove around their premises for hours.

Others have reported experiencing them personally and have received restraining orders.

Porten said women still receive 10 times more hate and threats than their male peers.

“We continue to think that women are actually being subjected to harsh rhetoric and harassment that may simply be intended to make them think twice about pursuing public service,” he said.

The report found that 67% of elected leaders now believe that threats and harassment are a normal part of public service.

You can find a PDF of the report below: