The number of hate crimes in major metropolitan areas rose around the 2018 midterm elections, according to NBC News.

In a yet-to-be completed annual report from California State-San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, noticeable upticks in hate crimes were seen in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia last fall.

"In 2018, we saw spikes around election time in various U.S. cities, including the largest three," Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, told NBC News. Levin said that despite these cities being diverse, “hate-mongers” have been inspired.

Black, Jewish, Latino and LGBTQ populations in those cities were often the targets of hate-based attacks, writes NBC News.

Hate crimes in Los Angeles decreased by 6.5 percent in the first half of 2018, per the report. Because of a 31 increase from October to December, however, the city saw a 12.5 percent increase over the previous year's.

"In looking at this correlation, we believe that around highly charged emotional events, like a terrorist attack or an election, the bully pulpit can make a difference," said Levin.

Levin referenced rhetoric from President Donald Trump as to why there has been an increase in recent years.

"Our center contends that the most common threat, the most prominent extremist threat right now, is undeniably far right and white nationalists," he said.