The LGBTQ+ Victory Institute released a new report in May 2026 documenting a rise in intimidation, harassment, and political violence directed at openly LGBTQ+ candidates running for office in the United States. The report, titled “Threats on the Trail: Experiences With Political Violence Among LGBTQ+ Candidates in the USA,” surveyed 215 LGBTQ+ candidates who ran for office between 2023 and 2025 across 42 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., spanning races from school board to statewide office.

Among the findings: nearly two-thirds of respondents reported experiencing in-person harassment during their campaigns, and nearly 8 in 10 reported harassment online. Roughly 1 in 3 candidates said they had received death threats through online channels. The report also found that fewer than 1 in 10 candidates could afford private security, even as threats escalated, and that nearly two-thirds said the attacks had a negative impact on their mental health, with some describing lasting psychological effects.

“When LGBTQ+ candidates are driven out by threats and intimidation, our democracy loses the representation it depends on,” said Evan Low, President and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, in a statement accompanying the report. The organization has responded by expanding candidate safety training and mental health support resources for the 2026 election cycle; as of this summer, its affiliated Victory Fund has endorsed at least 249 LGBTQ+ candidates for office nationwide.