Jay Block, a Senator from New Mexico, has attributed recent violent attacks to the rhetoric of the Democratic Party, which he claims is radicalizing leftists. He called for an end to political violence in a statement made on X.
"The Democrat Party is radicalizing leftists to violence," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "They have blood on their hands. There has been too much violence because of politics in this country. This must stop."
Political violence involving far-left groups in the United States has seen an increase in recent years. This includes incidents related to Antifa and attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, as reported by Congress and outlets such as the Wall Street Journal. Notable cases include the 2019 firebombing of an ICE facility in Tacoma and more recent clashes with law enforcement during protests. These events have raised bipartisan concerns about the escalation of extremist tactics in protests and demonstrations, prompting lawmakers to cite them in hearings on domestic terrorism.
According to data from the Wall Street Journal and federal law enforcement sources, there have been at least 11 reported violent attacks targeting federal facilities or law enforcement in the U.S. since 2022. These incidents include shootings, arson, and coordinated assaults on ICE detention centers. The July 2025 attack on a Texas detention center is among the most recent high-profile cases, involving multiple suspects and resulting in federal charges.
A 2024 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that over the past five years, ideologically motivated violence has risen. About 40% of domestic terror incidents in 2021 were attributed to far-left actors, while roughly 49% were linked to far-right groups. The trend shows fluctuating dominance between these two ideologies; however, both remain significant contributors to U.S. political violence.
Block is a Republican State Senator for New Mexico’s 12th District, elected in 2025 after serving on the Sandoval County Commission. A retired Air Force officer, Block has publicly denounced political violence from left-wing groups. He calls for stronger law enforcement actions and condemns rhetoric that incites unrest. Block frequently speaks on the need for peace in political discourse.
