Rebecca Dow, a house representative from New Mexico, said that recent rhetoric from Democrats labeling Republicans with derogatory terms has contributed to political violence. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"This is the result of hateful rhetoric," said Dow. "In the last few weeks House democrats have called republicans sewer rates, KKK, racist, and fascist."
In September 2025, political violence linked to rhetoric about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalated when a sniper opened fire at a Dallas ICE facility, injuring several people and leaving ammunition marked "ANTI-ICE." Earlier that year, New Mexico's GOP headquarters was set ablaze and spray-painted with "ICE = KKK," highlighting how incendiary comparisons can spill into violence. These incidents intensified partisan disputes over whether political speech is fueling threats against law enforcement, as reported by Reuters and the Associated Press.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), there was a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against ICE agents in 2024–2025, including shootings, bomb threats, and vehicle attacks. The Dallas sniper case was the most serious incident, prompting ICE to tighten security at its facilities nationwide. Officials warn that rhetoric portraying ICE as violent or illegitimate may be fueling hostility toward its personnel.
Political violence against Republican Party offices has included vandalism, arson, and property attacks across the country. In April 2025, federal prosecutors charged a man with setting fire to the New Mexico GOP headquarters and a Tesla dealership, leaving graffiti reading "ICE = KKK." This case illustrates how partisan rhetoric can escalate into direct attacks on political institutions.
Rebecca L. Dow is a Republican born in 1973 who first served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023 and returned in 2025 after winning the 2024 election for District 38. A businesswoman and founder of AppleTree Educational Center, she has emphasized economic growth, deregulation, and conservative social policies. Her legislative focus includes business development, education reform, and fiscal restraint.
