Candidates silent, party leaders split amid spate of political violence

With Election Day around the corner, local party leaders differ in their concerns about the safety of politicians and party members, even amid recent acts of political violence nationwide.

As recently as Wednesday, a U.S. Senate candidate from New Hampshire was reported to have nearly been punched before a debate. Last week, a man was accused of wielding a hammer and badly injuring Paul Pelosi, the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., after breaking into their home.

Local Republicans have downplayed the issue of violence and threats against politicians, but Democrats say their concerns are longstanding and heightened by the recent incidents.

“I think we’re always concerned about folks’ safety,” said Sam Hens-Greco, chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. “That is the baseline concern you have at any time. When we talk to our committee members or people in the field, we always say, ‘Look, it’s like any other time: ‘If you don’t feel safe, if you think something’s amiss, you don’t hesitate and call the police.’

“I don’t think anybody would dispute that there’s a heightened sense of concern about safety.”

Local Republicans say the spotlight on politically charged violence is nonsensical.

“I have very little concern about that,” said Bill Bretz, chair of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee. “I think it seems to be a part of the national narrative. I don’t think that people are stoked to that level of activity, certainly not people who are active in the party.”

Sam DeMarco, chair of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County, did not respond to requests for comment.

Cases related to “concerning statements and threats” against members of Congress soared from about 4,000 in 2017 to about 9,600 in 2021, according to U.S. Capitol Police data reported by Reuters. Many incidents grab national headlines.

Last week, Joshua Hall, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of making interstate communications with a threat to injure after he threatened to kill congressional staffers and assault U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., claiming he had several AR-15s.

Locally, Richard Ringer, a Democratic candidate for the open 51st state House seat in Fayette County, told state police he was assaulted by an attacker in his back yard about 5 a.m. Oct. 31, PennLive reported. Ringer told police he heard what he thought was a group of people trying to break into his home. He confronted a man near his garage and was punched in the head about a dozen times and was knocked unconscious, he told authorities.

Two weeks earlier, Ringer told police, his home had been vandalized.

Michelle McFall, chair of the Westmoreland County Democratic Committee, said committee members have received “menacing” letters, and one committee member was attacked at a polling location last year.

“There’s always a concern,” she said. “In Westmoreland, what’s happening with Pelosi and the threats against Swalwell, I don’t think that’s new to us. When I’m talking to people, I say it’s hard to be a Democrat in Westmoreland County. We are targets. It’s measurably true.”

McFall said she encourages voting by mail because of potential safety issues at the polls.

Political candidates in high-profile races in Pennsylvania, however, had no interest in talking about safety concerns ahead of Tuesday’s general election.

Democrat Josh Shapiro’s gubernatorial campaign declined to comment. The campaign of Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, Shapiro’s opponent, did not respond to email and phone inquiries.

The campaigns of U.S. Senate candidates Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican, also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

State police spokesperson Myles Snyder said police do all they can to ensure the safety of candidates and elected officials.

“We take any potential threats seriously and remain confident in the level of protection given and investigations conducted by our members,” Snyder said.

The list of politicians who have been threatened or attacked includes candidates or politicians of both major political parties.

In July, a man reportedly attempted to stab U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican New York gubernatorial candidate, on stage at a campaign stop, according to NBC News.

The threats also have made their way to the U.S. Supreme Court. A man was charged with the attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice in June. Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, Calif., is accused of carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home and threatening to kill him, The Associated Press reported.