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List of assassinated American politicians

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Assassinations carried out against American politicians occurred as early as the 19th century, the earliest of which is believed to have been carried out against David Ramsay in 1815. Since then, several American politicians have been assassinated while being elected or appointed to office, or were candidates for public office. Out of these, four were president of the United States, the earliest of which being Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and the most recent being John F. Kennedy in 1963.[1]

List

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There are 61 assassinated American politicians listed. The most common method of homicide was with one or more gunshots.

Politician Portrait Party Year Office State Site Method Assassin Suspected motive Ref
Charles C. P. Arndt Whig 1842 Council of the Wisconsin territory Wisconsin Territory Madison, Wisconsin gunshot James Russell Vineyard Killed after an argument arising after saying Vineyard wasn’t telling the truth [2]
Charles Bent Nonpartisan 1847 Governor New Mexico Territory Taos, New Mexico (at home) arrows and scalping Tomás Romero; Pablo Montoya Targeted during Taos Revolt, a popular uprising against newly asserted US authority over the region after the Mexican–American War.
Tommy Burks Democratic 1998 State Senator Tennessee Cumberland County, Tennessee (at home) gunshot Byron Looper (the incumbent Putnam County Assessor) Killed by political opponent in 1998 State Senate race [3]
Charles Caldwell Republican 1875 State Senator and Militia Leader (Clinton Riot) Mississippi Clinton, Mississippi gunshot Unknown people in a white mob Assassinated by a white mob in Clinton, Mississippi [4]
Louis Cardis Democratic 1877 State Representative Texas El Paso, Texas gunshot Charles Howard Killed as part of the San Elizario Salt War, a dispute over salt mining claims between white and Hispanic settlers [5]
Anton Cermak Democratic 1933 Mayor of Chicago Illinois Miami, Florida (in motorcade) gunshot to lung Giuseppe Zangara Disputed; suspected of striking Cermak instead of intended target President-elect Franklin Roosevelt [6]
José Francisco Chaves Republican 1904 Superintendent of Public Instruction (former congressman and territory politician) New Mexico territory Pinoswells, New Mexico gunshots (through the window of his home) unknown assailant Unknown [7]
John M. Clayton Republican 1889 US Representative-elect Arkansas Plumerville, Arkansas gunshots (through the window of his home) unknown assailant Unknown, but killed in the context of a disputed election [8]
Linda Collins Republican 2019 State Senator Arkansas Pocahontas, Arkansas (outside her home) stabbed Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell Killed during an argument over money theft. [9]
Richard J. Daronco 1988 Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York New York Pelham, New York (at home) gunshot Charles Koster Assailant was the father of a plaintiff whose harassment suit was dismissed by Daronco. [10]
James E. Davis Democratic 2003 Councilman, New York City New York New York City (at City Hall) gunshots Othniel Askew Killed by prospective challenger for 2003 Council special election [11]
Henry Denhardt Democratic 1937 Lieutenant Governor (former) Kentucky Shelbyville, Kentucky (outside the Armstrong Hotel) gunshots E.S. Garr; Roy Garr Killed by brothers of his late fiancée whom he was charged with murdering [12]
Louis F. Edwards Democratic 1939 Mayor, Long Beach New York Long Beach, New York (outside his home) gunshot Alvin Dooley Edwards' political influence thwarted Dooley's re-election to post in a police union. [13]
John Milton Elliott Democratic 1879 Judge, Court of Appeals Kentucky Frankfort, Kentucky (after conversation on a public street) gunshots Thomas Buford (Henry County District Judge) Assailant was brother of a plaintiff who lost a farm after Elliott dismissed motion for stay of foreclosure [14]
James A. Garfield Republican 1881 (details) President of the United States Washington, D.C. (at railway station) gunshot to spine (died three months later) Charles J. Guiteau Targeted after assailant was rejected by Republican officials for a patronage appointment [15]
William Goebel Democratic 1900 Governor Kentucky Frankfort, Kentucky (outside Old State Capitol) gunshot to the chest Unknown political opponents Uncertain, but killed in the context of the disputed, fraudulent 1899 Kentucky gubernatorial election. [16]
Bill Gwatney Democratic 2008 Chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas (at his office at party headquarters) gunshots Tim Johnson Unknown; multiple theories proposed. [17]
Carter Harrison, Sr. Democratic 1893 Mayor of Chicago Illinois Chicago, Illinois (at home) gunshot Patrick Eugene Prendergast Assailant was rejected for appointment to a patronage post as corporation counsel. [18]
Thomas Haughey Republican 1869 US Representative (former) Alabama Courtland, Alabama (at a political rally) gunshot Collins (first name unknown) Assailant was a supporter of the target's rival for the Republican nomination for the Congressional race; both men exchanged verbal insults and engaged in fisticuffs before a weapon was brandished [19]
Thomas C. Hindman Democratic 1868 US Representative (former) Arkansas Helena, Arkansas (at home) gunshots through window Unknown assailants Unknown; multiple theories proposed. [20]
James M. Hinds Republican 1868 US Representative Arkansas Monroe County, Arkansas (on horseback) gunshot George Clark Killed by a Ku Klux Klan member as intimidation of Republican carpetbaggers [21]
Edward Dexter Holbrook Democratic 1870 Delegate to the US House of Representatives (former) Idaho Territory Idaho City, Idaho (outside the County Courthouse) gunshot Charles Douglas Killed by the brother-in-law of James Crutcher, as a result of a dispute between Holbrook and Crutcher for control of the Boise County Democratic Party [22]
Elisha G. Johnson Republican 1875 State senator Florida Near Lake City, Florida or Fernandina, Florida gunshot Unknown Break 12–12 tie in Florida Senate.
Hale Johnson Prohibition 1902 Mayor of Newton, Illinois, Presidential candidate Illinois Bogota, Illinois gunshot Harry Harris Killed while attempting to collect a debt owed to him by Harris [23]
Leon Jordan Democratic 1970 State Representative Missouri Kansas City, Missouri (outside a restaurant) gunshots Unknown Unknown, alleged to have been an organized crime contract killing [24]
John F. Kennedy Democratic 1963 (details) President of the United States Dallas, Texas (in motorcade) gunshots from sniper Lee Harvey Oswald Disputed [25]
Robert F. Kennedy Democratic 1968 (details) US Senator and a leading 1968 Democratic presidential candidate New York Los Angeles, California (at the Ambassador Hotel) gunshot Sirhan Sirhan Targeted as supporter of Israel in the Arab–Israeli conflict. [26]
George LeBreton 1844 (details) Secretary of State Oregon Oregon City, Oregon (in his office) gunshots Cockstock Killed by a native as part of Native American resistance to white settlement in the area [27]
Abraham Lincoln Republican 1865 (details) President of the United States Washington, DC. (Ford's Theatre) gunshot John Wilkes Booth, a renowned stage actor Assailant was a Confederate sympathizer who believed the war was still ongoing [28]
Russell G. Lloyd, Sr. Republican 1980 Mayor of Evansville (former) Indiana Evansville, Indiana gunshot Julia van Orden Assailant was mentally ill and believed she was being harassed by the city; she believed Lloyd was incumbent mayor [29]
Huey Long Democratic 1935 (details) US Senator and a potential 1936 U.S. presidential candidate Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana (inside the State Capitol) gunshots Carl Weiss Uncertain, but Weiss was affiliated with a political family that opposed Long's machine [30]
Allard K. Lowenstein Democratic 1980 US Representative (former) New York New York City (in his office) gunshots Dennis Sweeney Assailant had a history of mental illness and believed that Lowenstein had been plotting against him since their acquaintance at Stanford University [31]
Edwin Stanton McCook Republican 1873 Governor Dakota Territory Yankton, Dakota Territory (at a saloon used for a public meeting) gunshot Peter Wintermute Assailant had lost a fistfight with McCook over financing the Dakota Southern Railroad; he returned with a pistol, publicly humiliated by his loss [32]
William McKinley Republican 1901 (details) President of the United States Buffalo, New York (at Pan-American Exposition) gunshot Leon Czolgosz Assailant was aligned with anarchist movement and killed President as symbol of American inequality [33]
Mike McLelland Republican 2013 District Attorney for Kaufman County Texas Forney, Texas (at home) gunshot Eric Williams Killed by former justice of the peace who was convicted of burglary while in office [34]
Harvey Milk Democratic 1978 (details) City Supervisor (Councilman) San Francisco California San Francisco, California (in his City Hall office) gunshots Dan White, outgoing San Francisco City Supervisor Assailant had recently resigned from office due to financial setbacks; he changed his mind and sought reappointment; Moscone denied this request upon the advice of Milk [35]
George Moscone Democratic 1978 (details) Mayor of San Francisco California San Francisco, California (in his City Hall office) gunshots [35]
Albert Patterson Democratic 1954 Attorney General-elect Alabama Phenix City, Alabama (walking to his vehicle) gunshots Unknown Target was elected on promise to crack down on organized crime in the state, which was rooted in Phenix City [36]
John Patterson 1974 United States Vice Consul Mexico Hermosillo, Mexico blows to the head Bobby Joe Keesee Ransom of $500,000 [37][38]
Clementa C. Pinckney Democratic 2015 (details) State Senator South Carolina Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina gunshot Dylann Roof White supremacy [39][40][41]
John M. Pinckney Democratic 1905 US Representative Texas Hempstead, Texas gunshots Unknown Killed during riot instigated by opponents of alcohol prohibition [42]
David Ramsay 1815 State Senator and former Continental Representative South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina gunshots William Linnen Assailant retaliated after target had deemed him insane during criminal court inquiry [43]
George Lincoln Rockwell American Nazi 1967 Gubernatorial candidate Virginia Arlington, Virginia gunshots John Patler Assailant was angered by Rockwell expelling him from the American Nazi Party [44]
John Roll Republican 2011 (details) Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona Arizona Casas Adobes, Arizona gunshots Jared Lee Loughner Caught in crossfire as mentally ill assailant targeted Congresswoman Gabby Giffords [45]
Tomás Romero (Mexican) 1848 Mayor of Taos Pueblo New Mexico provisional government Taos, New Mexico (while imprisoned) gunshots John Fitzgerald Killed following capture for inciting Taos Revolt; assailant retaliating for his brother's death in this uprising [46]
Leo Ryan Democratic 1978 (details) US Representative California Port Kaituma, Guyana (on airport tarmac) gunshots Unknown members of the People's Temple Ambushed while investigating allegations of human rights abuses at the Jonestown compound [47]
John P. Slough Democratic 1867 Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court New Mexico Territory Santa Fe, New Mexico (at his office) gunshot William Ryerson (an incumbent Territorial Legislator) Killed after a public dispute in which each accused the other of corruption [48]
Solomon P. Sharp Democratic-Republican 1825 (details) Attorney General, State Senator-elect Kentucky Home in Frankfort, Kentucky stabbed (at home) Jereboam O. Beauchamp Killed over long-standing dispute based on political differences, and on Sharp fathering a child with the woman whom Beauchamp later married [49]
Joseph Smith Reform 1844 (details) Mayor of Nauvoo, presidential candidate Illinois Carthage, Illinois (while in jail) gunshots The Carthage Greys Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormons) targeted by an anti-Mormon mob for his growing political power [50]

[51]

J. Christopher Stevens Democratic 2012 (details) Ambassador to Libya Benghazi, Libya arson members of Ansar al-Sharia and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Unknown [52][53]
John W. Stephens Republican 1870 State Senator North Carolina Yanceyville, North Carolina (in the County Courthouse) gunshots Unknown, mobbed by estimated 8 to 12 men Killed by Ku Klux Klan member as part of intimidation of Republicans [54]
Frank Steunenberg Democratic 1905 Governor (former) Idaho Caldwell, Idaho (outside his home) bomb (set at his front gate) Harry Orchard; possibly others Killed by a mine owners' association informant in an attempt to cast blame on the Western Federation of Miners [55]
James Strang Democratic 1856 State Representative Michigan Beaver Island, Michigan (at a steamship terminal) gunshot Thomas Bedford Killed by a disgruntled former member of a Mormon sect led by Strang [56]
Mike Swoboda 2008 (details) Mayor of Kirkwood Missouri Kirkwood, Missouri (during a city council meeting) gunshot (died seven months later)

[57]

Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton Assailant retaliated for fines levied by municipality for code violations [58]
W. H. H. Tison Democratic 1882 Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives Mississippi Baldwyn, Mississippi (while walking) gunshots J. Edward Sanders Killed in retaliation for an alleged assault by his brother S. H. Tison [59]
Robert Smith Vance Democratic 1989 Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Mountain Brook, Alabama (at home) mail bomb Walter Moody Killed after court refused to expunge a previous conviction for explosives possession from assailant's record [60]
Samuel Newitt Wood Republican 1891 State Senator and territorial legislator Kansas Hugoton, Kansas (outside County Courthouse) gunshots James Brennan Killed during armed conflict between the two largest towns of Stevens County, Kansas fighting for county seat [61]
John H. Wood, Jr. 1979 Judge, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas San Antonio, Texas (outside his home) gunshot Charles Harrelson Contract killing ordered by Jamiel Chagra due to target's harsh convictions of Latin American drug kingpins [62]
Major Ridge Cherokee nation 1839 Leader of the Cherokee nation White Rock Creek gunshots Bird Doublehead Killed as retaliation for alleged responsibility in the deaths of 4,000 Cherokee on the trail of tears

See also

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References

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  2. ^ "Arndt, Charles C.P." Wisconsinhistory.org. August 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "Looper, Byron". The Political Graveyard. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Jerry (December 30, 2023). "On this day in 1875". Mississippi Today. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "CARDIS, LOUIS | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". Tshaonline.org. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Kendall, Peter. "The shooting of Anton Cermak". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  7. ^ "New Mexico Office of the State Historian | people". Newmexicohistory.org. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Barnes, Kenneth. "John Middleton Clayton (1840–1889)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  9. ^ Newsdesk, Region 8 (August 14, 2020). "NEW DETAILS: Rebecca O'Donnell, a bloody knife and a chicken". KAIT. Retrieved December 16, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  51. ^ "American Crucifixion: The Murder of Joseph Smith and the Fate of the Mormon Church" (2014) by Alex Beam.
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  61. ^ Memorial of Samuel N. Wood (1892) by Margaret Lyon Wood
  62. ^ "1979 Killing Called 'Attack on System' : 'Traumatic' Murder of Judge Recalled". Los Angeles Times. June 11, 1989. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
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