(5-7 minutes read time)
The United States’ 2026 midterm elections have been plagued with political violence, especially against women who are running for election or re-election. On August 2nd Congressional candidate Marcy Kaptur and her campaign manager were on their way to church when involved in a serious collision where the at-fault vehicle fled the scene.[i] On August 14th, 2026, Congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia was knocked unconscious and raped by two strange men.[ii] On October 23rd, Congressional candidate Heidi Kuhn and her husband Matte were injured in a three-car vehicular collision on the Inter-State highway.[iii] [iv] Additionally, on October 24th Alaskan Senatorial candidate Mary Peltola and her family were on their way to the Alaska Federation of Natives’ annual banquet when they were stopped at a red light and hit from behind, slamming them into another vehicle.[v] Each of the incidents involved women – all political candidates who are Democrats.
Across the globe on October 19th, Australian Independent MP Helen Haines was the victim of a brutal vehicular assault outside her office, where a man in a Land Cruiser rammed MP Haines, pinning her up against her own car, before reversing and ramming her a second time; both her legs amputated as a result of her critical injuries.[vi]
While all of these incidents are still under investigation, their commonalities have sparked widespread speculation across social media. Were all of these deliberate acts of political violence against women based on their political beliefs? If so, then prosecutors should be charging the offenders with hate crimes as both ‘sex’ and ‘political beliefs’ are protected characteristics under the general principle of non-discrimination found in international human rights law. As this principle is expressed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Articles 2 and 3, the State has an obligation to investigate and prosecute, if merited. The rights violated may include the right to political participation, under Article 14 of the ICCPR.
Article 2 (ICCPR)
1. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
2. Where not already provided for by existing legislative or other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its constitutional processes and with the provisions of the present Covenant, to adopt such laws or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in the present Covenant.
3. Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes:
(a) To ensure that any person whose rights or freedoms as herein recognized are violated shall have an effective remedy, notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity;
(b) To ensure that any person claiming such a remedy shall have his right thereto determined by competent judicial, administrative or legislative authorities, or by any other competent authority provided for by the legal system of the State, and to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy;
(c) To ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted.
Gender non-discrimination is reiterated in Article 3 of the ICCPR.
Article 3 (ICCPR)
The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.
Additionally, intentional harm to parliamentarians may violate the right to work, provided for in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Article 6, paragraph 1[vii]. This applies to the 174 Member States Parties to the ICESCR, though does not apply to the United States who never ratified this Covenant.
Article 6 (ICESCR)
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right to work, which includes the right of everyone to the opportunity to gain his living by work which he freely chooses or accepts, and will take appropriate steps to safeguard this right.
Only thorough, independent investigations will quell the suspicion that has been raised by these incidents and their commonalities during this controversial election period.
Injuries notwithstanding, harassment and intimidation of women in politics have become unacceptably widespread. When Heads of State themselves use misogynistic language, and refuse to investigate and prosecute, the result enables a sense of permissiveness to the public. Furthermore, when social media platforms amplify this rhetoric and tacit acceptance of violence against women, that speech may amount to incitement to violence, contrary to the restrictions on freedom of expression under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; all parties should be held accountable for violating the rights of others if such speech is found to have a direct causal link.
Article 19 (ICCPR)
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.
3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
The rhetoric of the U.S. midterm elections must not risk further escalation of the already disproportionate impacts of misogynistic abuse, threats and violence against women of any political leaning. The United States must uphold their legal commitments to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This is crucial to the protection of a free and fair election and the protection of your own political rights.
Read more on the Backsliding of women’s rights and threats to political participation from January 1, 2026, by International Law for Women.
[i] Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur hospitalized after hit-and-run accident; Cheyanne Daniels; Politico; August 2, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/02/marcy-kaptur-hospital-accident-01021904
[ii] Arizona congressional candidate says she was raped while repairing campaign sign; Sarah Moon; CNN US; October 8, 2026. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/08/us/arizona-congressional-candidate-rape-investigation
[iii] https://kuhnforcongress.com/heidi-talks/videos/thank-you-for-your-care-and-concern/
[iv] Congressional candidate Heidi Kuhn reportedly injured in car crash; Courtney Anderson; ABC 24; October 24, 2026. https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/elections/heidi-kuhn-car-crash/522-1e67e0df-2d32-42e4-b708-29fd4976ae23
[v] Peltola postpones campaign stops after Saturday car crash; Jalen Beckford; Politico; October 25, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/25/peltola-car-crash-postpones-campaign-stops-01134902
[vi] Australian politician who was hit by car has lost both legs; Associated Press World News; Rod McGurick and Charlotte Graham-McLay; October 21, 2026. https://apnews.com/article/australia-legs-helen-haines-lawmaker-c7c1691a1e308b2bdbede5e4d56d2852
[vii] International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 1966; United Nations. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-economic-social-and-cultural-rights