Left-wing attacks surpass right-wing incidents in US domestic violence tally, CSIS finds

A Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis released Friday shows left-wing terrorists were responsible for more domestic attacks in the United States this year through July 4 than right-wing extremists, marking the first such balance since 1994. The five left-wing attacks tallied through that date contrasted with a single right-wing incident—the June murder of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. The CSIS study notes that several other episodes occurred after that date or were excluded because they were driven by factors outside clearly defined domestic political ideologies.

The CSIS briefing, produced by the center's extremism and terrorism program, uses a defined taxonomy to categorize acts of political violence by motivation. The numbers do not reflect overall levels of extremist activity or acts whose motives remain disputed. The tally covers only incidents that CSIS could classify as domestic political violence within the United States and whose timing aligned with the July 4 cutoff.

As of July 4, the data show a shift in the balance of political violence within the nation, though researchers cautioned that the sample is small and sensitive to changes in classification. In addition to the Hortman case, several other high-profile incidents—such as arson of a governor's residence and other violence tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict—were not included in the count because investigators attributed them to broader geopolitical tensions rather than domestic political ideology.

These exclusions include the arson of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home, the murder of two Israeli Embassy workers in Washington, D.C., and the firebombing of a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, which injured 15 demonstrators. Officials said the incidents were motivated by the Israel-Palestine conflict and not strictly attributable to left- or right-wing U.S. politics.

CSIS acknowledged the data do not capture every violent incident with political overtones and emphasized the need for ongoing review as new cases emerge, including episodes not clearly tied to one political wing. The study is intended as a snapshot within a defined period and is expected to be updated as CSIS’s review continues.

Observers cautioned against drawing broad, long-term conclusions from a short-term dataset. Analysts emphasize that shifts in categorization, reporting practices, or the discovery of additional information can alter the counts in future updates. More details and methodological notes are expected as CSIS completes its review.

The findings touch on a timely and evolving area of U.S. politics, where assessments of domestic extremism and political violence are under increased scrutiny from policymakers, law enforcement, and researchers. The CSIS report underscores the importance of transparent methodology when comparing incidents across ideological lines and the need for continual monitoring as part of national security discussions.