What we do with fear

Over the weekend, two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot in what officials are calling a targeted act of political violence. A beloved representative, Melissa Hortman, and her husband, Dan Hortman, were killed.

It was a political assassination. A sitting public servant was murdered for doing her job.

This is not a normal news story. It’s a chilling reminder of the growing threats political leaders face when they step into public life. And we can’t pretend it’s isolated.

Political violence is rising in the United States, and women are paying the price.

Since 2020, threats against women in politics, especially women of color, have surged, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. Women in politics get targeted more often and more severely than men. Threats to women are more likely to include their families.

This isn’t just about public figures. It’s about any woman who’s thought about stepping up and is now thinking twice. The abuse is happening at all levels, not just the national. Local school board members are reporting threats. Election workers. State legislators.

The research is clear: Women are being harassed out of leadership before they even begin.

At She Should Run, we’ve spent more than a decade helping women take their first steps toward elected leadership. One of the most consistent barriers to getting started we hear is this:

“I care, but I’m scared.”

And they’re right to be. The threats are real. The harassment is real. And now more than ever, the risk of violent attack is tragically, undeniably real too.

Political violence is about control. It is designed to intimidate. To make leadership feel like too big a risk. And in too many cases, it’s working. It’s shrinking ambition. It’s silencing voices. It’s convincing everyday women that speaking up just isn’t worth it.

But fear doesn’t get the last word. We can’t let this headline disappear. We can’t scroll past it. We have to face it and decide what we’ll do with it.

And we can take inspiration from something else that happened this weekend: Millions of Americans rose up in “No Kings” protests to demand change. Even in Minnesota, where the gunman remained at large and officials warned people to stay home. Even in Los Angeles, where the National Guard and the Marines were in force after days of anti-ICE protests. Even though extremist groups shared targets and tips for shooting protesters.

The nation faced its fears and raised its voice for something important. We can’t ignore that headline, either.

This week, we’re inviting our community to take a different kind of civic action: Stay present.

Start by facing the facts about the threats against women in politics.

Read one article or report about political violence and women. A few we liked recently:

• The Brennan Center for Justice: Report on political intimidation, especially of women
• NPR: Instagram doesn’t protect women politicians from threats
• Reuters: Political violence is not only at its worst since the 1970s, but it’s more likely than ever to harm people than property
• The Conversation: Why are women politicians targeted more?
• The Brookings Institute: One way to protect women election officials from harassment
• The New York Times: Like school shootings, political violence is becoming routine
• ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) tallies of political violence targeting women worldwide, filterable by country

Read one interview with a public official telling her own story:

• U.S. Judge Esther Salas (content warning: child loss)
• CA Representative Nancy Pelosi
• ME Secretary of State Shenna Bellows
• MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer
• Former AZ Representative Gabby Giffords

Next, acknowledge the moment we’re in. Understand what’s happening. If you’re afraid, so are we. Sit with your fear. Give it space.

Then write down your why. Why do you care about the state of the nation, your state, your town or city? Why do you believe this has to change?

You don’t have to share your why with anyone. Just say it to yourself. Remind yourself that your voice still matters, especially now.

We won’t tell women to be fearless. We will say this: Courage is contagious. And staying in this fight, even quietly, even shakily, is an act of resistance.

They want us to give up.

We won’t.