Nearly all of America’s deadliest cities are run by Democrats, according to research data published by Issues & Insights. The report found that 19 of the 20 cities with the highest homicide rates — and 30 of the top 32 overall — are currently led by Democratic mayors, many of whom have presided over decades of one-party control.

The five cities with the highest homicide rates — Birmingham, St. Louis, Memphis, Baltimore, and New Orleans — have not had a Republican mayor in an average of 81 years. New Orleans has been under Democratic leadership for more than 150 years. The findings underscore how deeply entrenched political control may affect crime outcomes in major urban areas.

Milwaukee, which consistently ranks among the nation’s most violent cities, also falls into this category. The city has not elected a Republican mayor since the 1900s. Despite high-profile promises from city leaders to curb gun violence,

Milwaukee continues to see homicide numbers that have reached record highs in recent years. Critics argue that Democratic leadership has failed to address the root causes of violent crime while underfunding or sidelining law enforcement.

“Your public safety as a resident is dramatically impacted by your district attorney, by your police department, and by whether the local politicians support and adequately fund the police and prosecutor’s offices,” explained the Heritage Foundation in a 2022 research paper.

The analysis suggests that without changes in leadership or policy, crime rates in Democrat-led cities like Milwaukee may continue to climb, leaving residents searching for accountability and solutions.