Here is a structured overview of the ten U.S. cities with the highest violent crime rates in 2025, along with the political affiliations of their state governors and city mayors:
Top 10 Crime Cities in the U.S. (2025)
| Rank | City | State | Violent Crime Rate (per 100k) | Governor (Party) | Mayor (Party) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | Tennessee | 2,501 | Republican | Democrat (Paul Young) |
| 2 | Detroit | Michigan | 1,781 | Democrat | Independent (Mike Duggan) |
| 3 | Baltimore | Maryland | 1,606 | Democrat | Democrat (Brandon Scott) |
| 4 | Kansas City | Missouri | 1,547 | Republican | Democrat (Quinton Lucas) |
| 5 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | 1,431 | Democrat | Democrat (Cavalier Johnson) |
| 6 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | 1,182 | Democrat | Democrat (Tim Keller) |
| 7 | Houston | Texas | 1,148 | Republican | Democrat (John Whitmire) |
| 8 | Little Rock | Arkansas | 1,801 | Republican | Democrat (Frank Scott Jr.) |
| 9 | Cleveland | Ohio | ~1,600 | Republican | Democrat (Justin Bibb) |
| 10 | St. Louis | Missouri | ~1,700 | Republican | Democrat (Tishaura Jones) |
Observations
- Governors: 6 of these cities are in Republican-led states, despite many being urban Democratic strongholds.
- Mayors: 9 of the 10 cities are led by Democratic mayors, with Detroit’s mayor having shifted to an independent stance.
- Regional Trends: High-crime cities often reflect deep-rooted socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, housing instability, and under-resourced policing—not merely partisan governance.
