(LibertySociety.com) – An increase in violent crime across several Democrat-led districts could mean losing elections to Republican competitors in November. According to the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) reports, murder rates in major cities across America increased 5% between 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately for Democrats, some of the increases in crime occurred in Blue districts.
Experts blame pandemic pressures and policing changes for the uptick in crimes, but voters could reach for change to stop the climbing numbers no matter the reason. Five districts, in particular, are “toss-ups” between the Left and the Right, and Democrats currently in control could struggle to hold onto their leadership seats in 2022.
Democratic Districts in Peril
Starting in the Northcentral portion of the United States, Iowa’s Democrat-led 3rd Congressional District saw an alarming increase in shootings during 2021. Although fewer people died from gunshot wounds in the district, the number of shootings nearly doubled since 2020. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA) took control of the area during the last administration, but only received a tiny 1.5 percentage point advantage over the competition at the time.
Two districts in Michigan may see a change in power: the 5th and 8th Congressional Districts. Experts believe Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) of the latter is most vulnerable to losing her seat, as the city of Lansing in her region saw an increase in homicides halfway through 2021. In Representative Dan Kildee’s (D-MI) 5th district, murders increased by a sharp 12% during the same year.
Staying in the same general area, Peoria in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District, served by Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), experienced an increase in homicides during 2021. Law enforcement blamed the uptick in crime on a lack of leadership support.
In Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, overseen by Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA), murders skyrocketed by an alarming 60% throughout 2021. She recently addressed the increase, calling for tighter gun control to stop the violence, but voters might have a different idea and choose to change their leadership instead.
Promises Broken
When politicians campaign for congressional seats, they usually promise voters and residents they’ll make their communities better and safer places to live. The increase in violence across many regions shows many failed to deliver on that promise, which could mean citizens will look to others for solutions. Considering Democrats lead some of those areas, that could be good news for Republicans looking to gain seats in Congress, shifting the power back to Conservatives in America.
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