A transgender activist who briefly volunteered for a Democratic congressional campaign in Wisconsin created multiple social media videos calling for deadly violence against Republicans and declaring a campaign of intimidation against conservative Americans.

Violent Messages Posted Online

Teha Delaruelle posted videos showing messages written on a dry-erase board reading “kill your local Republican,” calling it a “moderate position” that should spread across Wisconsin. The activist volunteered briefly for Katrina deVille, a Democratic Socialist candidate challenging Republican Representative Tony Wied in Wisconsin’s upcoming August 11 primary election. Delaruelle encouraged followers to help spread this message within one month, directly referencing the primary timeline.

In additional recordings, Delaruelle described an effort to reverse what was characterized as decades of anxiety for marginalized groups by making conservative Americans “walk down the streets in fear, anxiety and worry.” The activist stated this would become their “new reality” that would never change. A written statement on the same platform described what Delaruelle called an ongoing situation requiring an armed response, using imagery of weapons alongside political messaging.

Campaign Responds and Distances Itself

DeVille confirmed Delaruelle worked as a campaign volunteer for a very brief period before being removed when campaign staff determined the individual was deeply troubled. The candidate blocked Delaruelle from all campaign accounts and pages due to what she described as actively creating a dangerous situation around her campaign. DeVille issued a statement Thursday denouncing all violence and threats, noting the posts had made her own life more dangerous and expressing hope that Delaruelle would receive help.

What This Means

The incident highlights growing concerns about political rhetoric crossing into direct threats of violence. While deVille immediately distanced herself from the former volunteer and condemned the threats, the episode raises questions about vetting processes for campaign workers and the potential for extreme rhetoric to escalate beyond social media. Delaruelle did not respond to requests for comment about the videos and written statements calling for violence against political opponents.