Lamont Cranston, also known as The Shadow, was known for saying, “the weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay! The Shadow knows,” before breaking out into his eerily haunting cackle. But even the superhero sleuth could not have foreseen how pervasive crime would become in the cities represented by Democratic politicians across America. The Shadow knows – and so do the voters. After years of leftists pressuring cities to defund police departments, the skyrocketing rates of criminal activity have become something of an Achilles’ heel for the Democratic Party.

House Democrats in swing districts will be facing voter concerns over public safety in the 2022 congressional elections. Vulnerable politicians will have to contend with “defund the police” messaging still so prevalent in their party, contrasted with the reality of rising violence in cities coast to coast.

The Cook Political Report has rated vulnerable Democrat-controlled House seats as “toss-ups.” The odds that Republicans could wrest these from the leftist party are quite high.

Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) is one of those fighting for her political life. KCCI News in Des Moines noted that while the number of deaths due to gun violence in Iowa has decreased, the rate of shootings actually increased. In 2020, 49 people were shot, while there were 86 shooting victims in 2021. Axne won re-election in 2020 by less than 1.5 percentage points. Given current trends, her days in office may be numbered.

Illinois has seen a sharp uptick in violent crime as well. Rep. Cheri Bustos, another Democrat, is also vulnerable to being unseated by a Republican. Peoria, which falls in her district, was dubbed the 15th deadliest city in 2021. A CBS report noted that, last year, the murder rate was 22.53 per 100,000.

Michigan’s eighth district, represented by Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, has also experienced a drastic increase in criminal activity. Lansing had the ninth-highest violent crime rate in the nation in 2020 and, according to the Lansing State Journal, “had 24 homicides this year and surpassed the 2020 total of homicides in October.” Rep. Dan Kildee, who represents Michigan’s fifth district, might have an easier time than some of his left-wing colleagues, but heightened crime rates could also place his seat in jeopardy.

In Chesapeake, Virginia, crime has also risen. The city falls into Rep. Elaine Luria’s district, and she is currently seeking re-election. She may have a tough time of it as the homicide rate in this city spiked more than 60%. “In an especially violent year for Hampton Roads, more than 200 people were killed in homicides in 2021 across the seven cities,” according to local station 13 News Now.

(Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Much of the blame for skyrocketing crime rates has been leveled at Democrats and their policies. The movement to defund the police factored heavily into the rise in crime. Even worse, it resulted in a disproportionate number of black Americans losing their lives to homicides.

But that’s not all.

District attorneys across the nation had decided using the precepts of the wokeism religion in their offices was the best way to address criminal activity. By refusing to prosecute for certain crimes and keeping bail low or non-existent for others, they sought to make the city safer by ensuring those accused of violent crimes were allowed to remain free. The fact that San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin is on the business end of yet another recall effort should demonstrate how negatively people view this flawed approach to law enforcement.

When it comes time to cast their votes, Americans will undoubtedly have, among other issues, crime on their minds. Since so many Democrats decided protecting criminals is more critical than keeping law-abiding civilians safe, it is difficult to imagine that America will allow them to remain in power. The data in each of these districts show that the left has much to fear when November rolls around.

~ Read more from Jeff Charles.