U.S. far-right could see a midterm boost. What would that mean for Canada?

The elections for U.S. Congress and various governors' races are taking place amidst the most polarized and heated political climate in decades.

The U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday could see a greater number of far-right candidates take federal and state office, expanding their influence over the country’s politics — which experts say would have implications for Canada.

The elections for U.S. Congress and various governors’ races are taking place amidst the most polarized and heated political climate in decades, with officials warning of a rise in the risk of violence and the potential for attempts to undermine the electoral system.

Political watchers say the rise of far-right, nationalist figures within the Republican party, many of whom have been influenced and promoted by former president Donald Trump, are largely to blame.

“Yes, there’s heated rhetoric from both (Democrats and Republicans) … but Republicans are 95 per cent of the problem,” said Matthew Lebo, a political science professor at Western University in London, Ont.

“Only one party has members and candidates who are advocating for violence and casting doubt on elections. There may be people on the left who are ideologically distant from the centre, but they’re not anti-democratic.”

Fears about the rise in extremism and violence were reinforced Friday when an intruder broke into the San Francisco home of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — the top Democrat in Congress who is second in line of succession to the presidency — and allegedly assaulted her husband Paul Pelosi.

Authorities said Monday the suspect had targeted the home and was calling for “Nancy” while inside, with plans to kidnap and assault her to show other members of Congress there were “consequences to actions.” Although the attack was called “politically motivated” by San Francisco’s district attorney, the suspect’s politics have not been explicitly stated.

On the same day of the attack, however, a new domestic intelligence assessment from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies warned of a “heightened threat” of extremist violence during the midterms, with the greatest danger posed by “lone offenders” fueled by election falsehoods.