Two Democrats Shot, One Killed In Political Assassination

Two Minnesota Democrats were shot in their homes by a man pretending to be law enforcement. The threat is no longer theoretical.

This isn’t just another crime story. This is a five-alarm warning for American democracy.

A gunman targeted two prominent Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota in separate, coordinated home invasions early this morning. He killed one. He wounded the other.

Authorities say a white male suspect in body armor impersonated law enforcement to gain access to both homes. These attacks were not random. The suspect carried out a political assassination and nearly succeeded in a second attempt.

What We Know Right Now

• State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot at their home in Champlin. Both were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. They’re now recovering after surgery.

• Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were attacked in Brooklyn Park hours later. Both were killed.

• The suspect is still at large. He’s described as a white male with brown hair, wearing black body armor over a blue shirt and pants. Police say he may attempt to impersonate a police officer again.

• A statewide manhunt is underway. Minnesota officials are urging residents: do not open your door to a single officer unless you’ve called 911 to verify their identity.

• Gov. Tim Walz has activated the State Emergency Operations Center and called this a “targeted act of political violence.”

Why This Matters

These attacks happened just days after Minnesota Democrats passed new protections for election workers and public officials, laws designed to respond to growing threats and harassment.

This timing is not a coincidence.
The method is not a coincidence.
The rhetoric that led here is absolutely not a coincidence.

This attack fits into a broader, accelerating pattern of political violence in the United States.

Far-right figures have spent years casting Democratic leaders as enemies. They’ve used terms like “traitor,” “criminal” and “invader” on cable news, social media and rally stages. These words have become normalized. Donald Trump continues to describe Democrats as enemies of the country, not opponents in a democracy.

Now we are seeing what happens when someone listens.

This Didn’t Start Today

This violence has a clear trail behind it:

• 2018: Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh, driven by anti-Semitic conspiracy theories

• 2019: El Paso shooting, targeting Latinos after years of racist rhetoric

• 2021: January 6 insurrection, a violent assault on democracy built on a lie

• 2022: Attack on Paul Pelosi, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, inspired by online conspiracies and political demonization

• 2025: Murder of Minnesota legislator, Melissa Hortman and her husband

These are not isolated cases. This is a growing pattern, and each one pushes the line further.

When elected officials are hunted in their homes, it marks a dangerous shift from disagreement to something closer to political warfare.

This chills public service.
It scares qualified people away from running.
It weakens the institutions that hold democracy together.

If we treat this as “just another tragedy,” we send a message: this is allowed.

What Needs to Happen Now

Law enforcement must locate the suspect and determine whether he acted alone or as part of a broader plan.

Then we have to face what’s become undeniable: violent rhetoric leads to violent outcomes.

Both sides of the political spectrum have seen unrest. But the most targeted, armed, premeditated violence we’ve seen in recent years has come overwhelmingly from the far right, often explicitly inspired by prominent figures.

Left-wing protests may block traffic or occupy buildings. The right-wing violence we’re seeing involves guns, armor, conspiracy, and intent to kill. That distinction matters.

We must hold leaders accountable for the language they use.

No Democratic leader is going on television saying political opponents deserve to die.
No Democratic president is giving rivals nicknames and reposting mugshots to dehumanize them.
Donald Trump is. And he has a massive following.

Words shape reality. This is the reality they’ve helped create.

What You Can Do Right Now

If you’re in Minnesota:

• Don’t open the door to any officer unless they’ve properly identified themself or you’ve confirmed their identity through 911.

• Stay vigilant. Follow state and local updates closely.

For everyone else:

• Speak up. Say out loud what this was: political violence.

• Talk to your neighbors. Normalize facts, not fear.

• Support candidates and media outlets that call out extremism, without excuses or both-sides framing.

• Push back against dangerous rhetoric anywhere you hear it.

Make your voice heard.

I’ll be live on the ground covering a protest against authoritarianism and political violence. Thousands of us will be there throughout the country peacefully, making noise, holding signs, asking questions, and standing for democracy.

Watch here:

We are not helpless but we do have to act. The events in Minnesota are not just a tragedy for the families involved, but a warning for the nation. Democracy depends on the safety and legitimacy of its public servants. When violence becomes a political tool, everyone’s freedom is at risk.

This is a time to sound the alarm, not to normalize. The future of American democracy may depend on how we respond right now.