Two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot in a series of targeted attacks over the weekend, the latest in a growing wave of political violence across the United States.
Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot on Saturday by a man authorities say was impersonating a police officer. Later, the same suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Boelter, attacked Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Both are currently hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds.
Federal authorities have charged Boelter with murder, attempted murder, and stalking, with charges that could result in the death penalty. He also faces a series of state-level charges tied to both incidents.
Officials revealed Monday that Boelter had visited the homes of two other Minnesota elected officials prior to the shootings and was found in possession of a manifesto listing the names of multiple lawmakers and organizations. Among those reportedly named was Democratic U.S. Senator Tina Smith, who confirmed to NPR that she had been alerted by authorities.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the attacks as acts of “targeted political violence,” stressing that the nation must not tolerate violence in place of democratic discourse. “Peaceful debate is the foundation of our democracy,” he said. “We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.”
The shootings are part of a troubling trend. According to U.S. Capitol Police, direct threats and concerning statements against members of Congress, their families, and staff more than doubled between 2017 and 2021. That number remained high in 2024, with nearly 9,500 threats investigated—up from over 8,000 the previous year.
A Reuters investigation identified 51 violent political incidents in just the first 10 months of 2023, describing it as the most significant and sustained surge in U.S. political violence since the 1970s.
High-profile incidents in the past year underscore the threat. In July 2024, former President Donald Trump was wounded by gunfire at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed one bystander before being fatally shot by the Secret Service. A second plot against Trump was foiled two months later in Florida when a rifle-carrying suspect was intercepted near Trump’s golf course.
In another alarming case, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family narrowly escaped harm in April after an arsonist set fire to their home while they slept. The suspect, Cody Balmer, reportedly admitted to the attack and expressed violent intentions toward the governor.
As the U.S. heads into another election season, security concerns for public officials continue to mount. The Justice Department, Capitol Police, and local law enforcement agencies are under pressure to strengthen protective measures, even as the political climate remains sharply polarized.
Saturday’s deadly shootings in Minnesota have reignited debate over how to safeguard democracy against an increasingly hostile environment for elected leaders—where disagreements are too often met with violence instead of dialogue.
