MINNEAPOLIS — Authorities say the man accused of killing Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and seriously injuring State Sen. John Hoffman had a hit list of 45 elected officials; all Democrats part of what law enforcement is calling a meticulously planned political assassination plot.
Vance Boelter, 57, was captured Sunday after a two-day manhunt that included local, state, and federal agencies. Officials described the scale of the operation as the largest in Minnesota’s history.
“This was a calculated attempt to dismantle democracy through bloodshed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson. “It’s a chilling reminder that words and rhetoric can inspire horrific acts of violence.”
Boelter, impersonating a police officer, showed up at the homes of targeted lawmakers in tactical gear, wielding a 9mm handgun. Police say he fatally shot Rep. Hortman and her husband in their Brooklyn Park home, and later attacked Sen. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their Champlin residence. Both Hoffmans survived, despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities found “voluminous writings” in Boelter’s vehicle and residence, indicating months of surveillance and planning. The list of intended targets included high-profile Democrats such as U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
A Troubling Pattern of Political Violence
This attack is the latest in a troubling rise in politically motivated violence in the United States a trend that has escalated over the past decade and evokes some of the darkest moments in American history.
Recent Incidents:
In 2023, a man was charged with setting fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home in an attempted assassination.
In 2022, the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was attacked with a hammer in their San Francisco home by a man who espoused conspiracy theories.
In 2017, a gunman opened fire on Republican members of Congress during a baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia, critically wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
In 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was the target of a foiled kidnapping and assassination plot led by anti-government extremists.
These incidents reflect a broader, bipartisan threat. According to a 2024 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, nearly 47% of state lawmakers said they had experienced threats, harassment, or acts of violence due to their public service.
The U.S. Capitol Police reported a nearly quadrupling of threats against members of Congress between 2016 and 2023. Officials cite the amplification of extremist rhetoric online and the erosion of democratic norms as key contributors to this surge.
Long-Standing Roots in U.S. History
While recent events are alarming, political violence is not new to America:
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the face of the Civil Rights Movement, was murdered in 1968.
Robert F. Kennedy, a presidential candidate and senator, was killed the same year.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt that left his press secretary permanently disabled.
Though once rare, politically motivated attacks are now more frequently attempted if not always successful underscoring the volatility of today’s political climate.
A Call for National Reckoning
“This is a wake-up call for the country,” said FBI Special Agent Alvin Winston. “Democracy doesn’t just die in darkness it dies when people think violence is a legitimate political tool.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz denounced the shootings as “a direct attack on representative government,” while calling for enhanced security and unity in a polarized nation.
Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the violence, though many acknowledge the growing risk faced by public officials, especially at the state and local levels, where protections are minimal.
As Vance Boelter faces murder and attempted murder charges in federal custody, investigators are continuing to comb through his materials, and the nation is left grappling with a critical question: how do we stop this before it happens again?
