Overwhelmed by threats—and fearing for her personal safety Satya Rhodes-Conway the current mayor of Madison, Wisconsin in the US, announced on October 23 that she was dropping her bid for reelection. "The price of being in public office has gotten too high,” she said.

Globally, women in public life face alarming levels of political violence, including tech-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, with little protection or recourse. While research finds chillingly high rates of violence against both women and men in politics, women are at greater risk and face more sexualized and gendered violence.

After Australian MP Helen Haines was deliberately hit by a car, doctors had to amputate both of her legs. In South Africa, a bloody campaign season included the killing of party activist Jeanette Magugu and a brutal home invasion against mayoral candidate Nhongo Solo .…