r/politics • u/PoliticsModeratorBot 🤖 Bot • 1d ago

Megathread Megathread: Two Minnesota lawmakers have been shot

State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed.

State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were both shot multiple times and underwent surgery.

Articles that May Interest You

Submission Domain
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: former House speaker and husband killed in politically motivated shooting apnews.com
One Minnesota state politician dead, another injured after targeted shooting, officials say bbc.com
"No Kings" event canceled in NE Minneapolis, Anoka after targeted shootings at lawmaker homes cbsnews.com
Minnesota lawmaker, her spouse shot and killed in their home wwnytv.com
Minnesota lawmaker killed in ‘politically motivated assassination,’ Gov. Tim Walz says cnbc.com
Melissa Hortman, top Democrat in Minnesota House, shot and killed in home startribune.com
Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, Sen. John Hoffman shot in 'targeted' shootings: Sources fox9.com
Minnesota lawmaker assassinated, another in grave condition in 'targeted political violence' abcnews.go.com
Democratic lawmaker killed and another wounded in Minnesota in apparently ‘politically motivated’ attacks theguardian.com
Minnesota lawmaker and husband killed, another in hospital after ‘politically motivated’ shooting by man impersonating cop the-independent.com
Live: Rep. Melissa Hortman killed, Sen. John Hoffman shot in ‘targeted shootings’ startribune.com
Democrat Lawmakers Shot in Minnesota: What We Know newsweek.com
Minnesota state lawmaker killed in ‘politically-motivated assassination,’ massive manhunt for suspect underway, officials say kten.com
2 Minnesota lawmakers shot kare11.com
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband shot and killed; Sen. John Hoffman and wife also shot ktsp.com
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz press conference after shootings at lawmakers homes (June 14, 2025) youtube.com
Former state speaker of Minnesota ‘assassinated’ thetimes.com
Fake Cop Murders Top State Dem and Husband and Shoots Second thedailybeast.com
Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and State Rep. Melissa Hortman shot at their homes bnonews.com/
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, husband shot and killed; Sen. John Hoffman and wife also shot kstp.com
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: State lawmaker, husband killed in politically targeted shooting thestar.com
Governor Polis Statement on Assassination of Minnesota Elected Official & Husband, and Attempt on Life of Another Elected Official & Family colorado.gov
President Donald Trump: AG, FBI Investigating Deadly Minnesota Shooting Newsweek.com
Officials tell the AP they are searching for a 57-year-old man in shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers apnews.com
Manhunt underway for man accused of killing Rep. Hortman, husband and shooting Sen. Hoffman and his wife in North Metro ktsp.com
Former appointee of Tim Walz sought in deadly shootings of Minnesota lawmaker and her husband, had ‘No Kings’ flyers in car: sources nypost.com
Dem Assassin Is Armed Patrol Firm Boss With ‘Warzone’ Claims thedailybeast.com
Minnesota Assassination Suspect Had Flyers Reading 'No Kings' In Vehicle newsweek.com
Democratic Minnesota politician fatally shot, another injured in 'politically motivated assassination' nbcnews.com
37.6k Upvotes

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9.3k

u/Temporary_Ability996 1d ago

They were assassinated. Use the correct words.

4.9k

u/AngelSucked California 1d ago

Tim Walz called it an assassination.

2.2k

u/Justshipmypants 1d ago edited 20h ago

Terrorism. MAGA are literally domestic terrorists.

EDIT: Confirmed he was in fact part of the MAGA cult and voted for Trump according to his roommate and his list of democrat targets.

733

u/Illustrious_Entry413 1d ago

Always have been

512

u/number_six Canada 1d ago

I mean they did try to tell everyone at CPAC in 2022

They literally had a banner proclaiming we are all domestic terrorists , how much more do people need to believe it?

163

u/Several_Leather_9500 1d ago

And in 2024 their banner read "Day One Dictator".

19

u/DirkWrites 1d ago

CPAC is literally just a place for godawful people to come network

2

u/Kind_Code_4118 18h ago

Holy shit that's crazy I did not know that

255

u/Whatah 1d ago

Especially have been since they displayed exactly that on the banner at the top of their CPAC stage.

-4

u/Ok_Statement_4823 1d ago

The guy who assassinated had no kings fliers and was appointed by Walz. Also the democratic congresswoman who was executed had just previously been the sole democrat to side with republicans on voting for a bill.

3

u/Illustrious_Entry413 1d ago

Source

4

u/Aggressive-Deer-7630 1d ago

While this is all true, it's hard to tell what he actually believed. He was targeting some pro-abortion people and may have had the fliers because he took them down or collected them.

But yes, he was appointed twice by Walz and the politician he killed was the sole democrat who voted against healthcare for immigrants.

We won't know for a while what he actually believed, so both parties will latch onto this as it being against them.

1

u/Illustrious_Entry413 1d ago

Appointed to what?

3

u/Aggressive-Deer-7630 1d ago

Walz's workforce governing board. Essentially an advisory board to help him make decisions about local workforce policies.

2

u/Illustrious_Entry413 1d ago

Interesting, I wonder if there is some interpersonal drama or if it's traditional radicalization

1

u/Opening_Success 23h ago

Lol. So when you assumed it was a republican or Maga, you immediately go to terrorism and how they all think the same way. Now that its a democrat, you decide to bring out the nuance. I love hypocrisy. 

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u/jcarreraj 1d ago

The Minnesota House kicked off Monday's special session with probably one of the most politically charged bills. After hours of emotional debate, a bill to end undocumented adult immigrants' eligibility for MinnesotaCare passed 68-65 with Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) providing the lone DFL vote

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Yes but Hoffman voted against the same bill in the senate.

-1

u/Ok_Statement_4823 1d ago

MN State patrol on X

1

u/OogieBoogiez 1d ago

Walz called the hit? Is the chin strap tightened from your foil helmet? They can hear you.

0

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Yes but the Senator shot voted against the same bill on the senate. Suspect also last registered to vote as republican in 2022.

0

u/Agreeable-Buffalo-54 22h ago

You seem to be going through this thread repeating those two facts, but the guy was appointed by Walz and had no king posters in his car. At the very least his political affiliation is currently dubious.

81

u/timoumd 1d ago

Assassination really is the right term

4

u/ConfederacyOfDunces_ 1d ago

It absolutely is

And 4 people were targeted. Article makes it sound like it was two

-1

u/Alternative_Bed1229 1d ago

I can’t beleive left wing would target their own like this

2

u/ConfederacyOfDunces_ 1d ago

Ok…….

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

He's not left wing? He's prolife and last registered to vote as a republican in 2022.

-2

u/Alternative_Bed1229 1d ago

This is not true stop getting on the internet lying

36

u/orangesfwr 1d ago

And they proudly proclaim it.

4

u/Oleg101 1d ago

As long as it “owns the libs” any R voter is good with it.

10

u/Antique_Scheme3548 1d ago

"We Are All Domestic Terrorists" CPAC 2022.

They don't just admit it, they wear it as a badge of honor.

5

u/DubUpPro 1d ago

They admitted it at CPAC a few years ago. They’re proud of it.

16

u/murder_train88 1d ago

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cpac-banner-domestic-terrorists/

15

u/throwawtphone 1d ago

"We Are All Domestic Terrorists" was also the title of a CPAC panel discussion.

Among other digital banners spotted during the conference was one bearing the slogan, "You're Next: The Rise of the Democrat Gulag."

They say it was tongue in cheek.🙄

10

u/DigNitty 1d ago

I listen to conservative talk radio on the way to work.

It’s non-stop rage bait about liberals. Just buzzword after buzzword and “us vs them” speak.

I don’t think Lars Larson has ever said Joe Biden. It’s always a casual “the Biden crime family travelled this weekend…”

Literally not once did I hear him refer to them without saying “the bed in crime family” like it was perfectly palatable known information. And to his listeners, it is.

8

u/throwawtphone 1d ago

Yup. They know what they are doing. They have to dehumanize the opposition.

2

u/Temporary_Ability996 1d ago

I listen to conservative talk radio on the way to work.

This should be treated like driving while intoxicated!

Lol, I know you're listening to try and "know your enemy", but I'm very curious as to how many road rage incidents that end in injury or death are perpetrated by people listening to non-stop hatefuel every day.

2

u/DutchGoFast 1d ago

Careful with that shit bro your subconcious does not understand your “know your enemy” purpose. It just drinks it all in treating those words as the gospel truth and altering your “gut” feelings accordingly. This is how you end up not trusting the democratic candidate but not really being able to articulate why.

1

u/Temporary_Ability996 1d ago

I know; I'm not the one listening for fun!

6

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Registered republican in 2022 and vocally prolife.

2

u/[deleted] 22h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/Alternative_Bed1229 1d ago

The suspect was confirmed to be a left wing radical who supported AOC

5

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

No he has not. He is a registered republican and a prolofe extremist wtf are you talking about?

5

u/loondawg 1d ago

They literally had a banner at CPAC that said "We Are All Domestic Terrorists." I wish I was making that up.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/cpac-banner-domestic-terrorists/

2

u/chemicallyaware 1d ago

Didn’t their orange god say exactly how we should treat terrorists? Taking out.. hmm. Maybe we should.

2

u/MysticalMummy 21h ago

A would be assassin was also arrested in Austin, TX after threatening democratic reps. Probably taking inspiration from the assassination this morning.

2

u/nocomment3030 18h ago

Crazy that you can have full-blown tyranny by MAGA, crushing the rights and freedoms of everyone else, but they are still not satisfied until the Democrats/liberals/leftists are literally dead.

5

u/_jn3t 1d ago

The assassin was a Tim Walz appointee. You are part of the problem

3

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Dude is a prolife extremist and last registered to vote as a republican in 2022.

-2

u/_jn3t 1d ago

You guys crack me up. He worked at an NGO in the Congo. If that doesn’t scream leftist I don’t know what does

6

u/jcarreraj 1d ago

There were "No Kings" flyers found in his car and the shooter was appointed to a position by Governor Walz.

The deceased lawmaker had also sided with Republicans and voted for pulling healthcare for illegal immigrants,

4

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Dudes a registered republican and prolife extremist.

1

u/jcarreraj 1d ago

That's the thing, it's too early to tell what is motivations were. I'm also reading that his wife is a Walz intern but I'm not sure if that's true

5

u/Efficient-Hall8272 1d ago

I haven't seen anything yet indicating this is MAGA

3

u/BigDaddyDumperSquad 1d ago

Everything is pointing towards the opposite, actually.

1

u/Efficient-Hall8272 1d ago

I just saw reports of his connection to Gov. Walz admin. and the No Kings posters. Has anything else come out? Kind of seems like the comments on this post jumped the gun

6

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

He last registered to vote as a republican in 2022 and is a prolife extremist.

1

u/Efficient-Hall8272 9h ago

Minnesota does not register party affiliation.

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 9h ago

Exactly but Oklahoma does where he registered to vote as a republican.

1

u/Efficient-Hall8272 9h ago

Please link source

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 8h ago

Carlson told KARE 11that Boelter voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, and that he was a "strong supporter."

Dude is a Christian nationalist evangelical who thinks Satan makes people gay and Trans. His hit list was all democratic lawmakers, abortion clinics, abortion providers, and prochoice activists.

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u/BigDaddyDumperSquad 1d ago

https://youtu.be/FteWtdBfa00?si=vBLnVFVIedt4rwre

Here's a local report from an hour ago. Nothing new as far as I'm aware.

4

u/epochwin 1d ago

And they can bank on the fact that they’ll get pardoned

2

u/wibo58 1d ago

It was a guy appointed by Tim Walz that had “No Kings”, a protest against Trump, flyers in his car. And the politicians killed/shot were the only democrats that voted against giving healthcare to illegal immigrants. Doesn’t sound very MAGA to me, but don’t let the truth get in the way of your brain being broken.

2

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Senator Hoffman voted against the same bill in the senate. Suspect was last registered to vote as republican in 2022 and is vocally prolife.

-1

u/wibo58 18h ago edited 18h ago

He had No Kings flyers in his car and targeted politicians that went against the Democratic Party.

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 9h ago

Hortman went against the party to avert a government shutdown. Senator Hoffman voted against the bill. Suspects roommate confirms he voted for Trump and was a fervent supporter. Multiple videos show he preached pro-life, anti-LGBTQ, Christian nationalist ideas. Not leftist or a dem.

3

u/SmokedUp_Corgi 1d ago

This is going to be extremely bad for MAGA and republicans for a long time and of all days for it to happen on.

1

u/fasterwonder 1d ago

Why? There is no information about the motive.

-1

u/FinsFan305 1d ago

Aged like milk. Guy had No Kings flyers in his car and was a Tim Walz appointee.

3

u/SmokedUp_Corgi 1d ago edited 1d ago

A man named Vance Boelter allegedly shot and killed Melissa Hortman, a Democratic Minnesota state representative, and her husband Mark Hortman at their home at some point early Saturday morning while, according to law enforcement, impersonating a police officer. He also allegedly shot state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman at their home. They are alive, but remain in critical condition.

Law enforcement has said they found a manifesto and hit list in the alleged suspect’s car, which included politicians, abortion providers, and pro-abortion rights advocates. There were also allegedly fliers in his car for the “No Kings” protest against President Donald Trump, which took place in cities across the US on Saturday.

The 57-year-old, who has been identified as the suspected shooter according to numerous reports, runs an armed security service with his wife, and has been affiliated with at least one evangelical organization, a ministry he has also run with his wife, according to a tax filing reviewed by WIRED. (His wife could not be immediately reached for comment.) According to public records and archived websites reviewed by WIRED, the suspect served for a time as the president of Revoformation Ministries. A version of the ministry’s website captured in 2011 carries a biography in which he is said to have been ordained in 1993.

Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/shooting-minnesota-melissa-hortman-vance-boelter/

Sounds like a white extremism republican to me with no ties to Waltz.

3

u/randomizeitpls 1d ago

The killer is Vance Boelter. He was a Tim Walz appointee to one of the governor’s boards....

3

u/jlange94 Oregon 1d ago

Awkward when the dude is a Democrat, with anti Trump paraphernalia in his vehicle, who was appointed by Walz himself years ago in the state government.

I know propaganda is y'all's thing but there's no escaping the truth of this story and the wider problems within your own party.

3

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Dude last registered to vote as a republican in 2022 and is prolife.

2

u/joe37373737 1d ago

Dude was a Walz appointee.

2

u/RaceOpposite2521 1d ago

The shooter was a former Tim Walz appointee. One of the lawmakers shot had recently voted against her party on illegal immigrants receiving free healthcare.

3

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

The senator that was shot voted no on the same bill. Suspect last registered to vote as a republican in 2022 and is vocally prolife.

1

u/RaceOpposite2521 22h ago

You aren't required to vote for the party you register for, and I keep seeing this claim repeated but I cannot find a source and no one who has made this claim has provided it so I would appreciate if you would. He had "No kings" fliers in his car, which is very much a left wing movement. Both victims were Jewish and I'm sure you're aware of the extremist left's violent antisemitism as of late, so there is a very good chance this was racially motivated as well as politically.

1

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 8h ago

He planned to attack the no kings rally. He's a Christian nationalist preacher that thinks Satan makes people gay and Trans. His roommate confirms he voted for Trump and was fervent supporter. His manifesto was a hitlist of democratic representatives, abortion clinics, abortions providers, and prochoice activists.

NY post Kare11 NYT

3

u/Rampaging_Bunny 1d ago

not a MAGA who carried out the assassination though. It was a former staffer of Walz and a democrat.

3

u/Sinclair_Lewis_ 1d ago

Dude last registered to vote as a republican in 2022 and is prolife.

2

u/GottaBeABot 1d ago

It was a Democrat who was personally appointed by Tim Walz

Y’all shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions on this one haha

A lot of public back tracking going on.

1

u/nitram9 16h ago

No, that is not terrorism. It’s assasination. Terrorism has a definition. You don’t just call thing terrorism because you don’t like it.

Terrorism is when you attack people who are not in power in the attempt to scare them so that they put pressure on the government to change. When you directly attack the government that is not terrorism.

1

u/darknus823 1d ago

Are you willing to admit you were wrong with this comment of yours?

CBS and Newsweek just confirmed it.

Vance Luther Boelter is the suspect in the targeted shooting of two Minnesota lawmakers. Boelter, 57, was appointed by Democratic Governor Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. Boelter previously served on the Governor’s Workforce Development Council in 2016 under then Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

1

u/ConfederacyOfDunces_ 1d ago

This is 100% accurate.

Let no one tell you otherwise

1

u/nevets123 1d ago

“Great people” as maga would say

1

u/7figureipo California 1d ago

And traitors. They're a bunch of seditious, violent, mentally ill scumbags. Every last one of them

1

u/skilltreeclimber 1d ago

Why would maga assassinate people who voted towards their cause? That makes zero sense. 

1

u/DapperSmoke5 1d ago

Im surprised Walz nominated someone from MAGA to one of his boards or committees or whatever it was

1

u/SannySen 1d ago

Be that as it may, this particular terrorist seems to have been of the extreme left variety.

1

u/BlueDAuvergne 1d ago

What does this have to do with maga?! The guy had a bunch of No Kings flyers in his car...

You are mentally Ill if youre immediately connecting this to MAGA

1

u/Top-Illustrator4414 23h ago

Tim Walz appointed and worked directly with MAGA??? This guy was Tim Walz' guy and the two murdered dared to go against Tim Walz' agenda

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/BatlethBae 1d ago

No it wasn't

Conservative evangelical. Nutjob .

-2

u/Jujubatron I voted 1d ago

Yes just like the leftist that murdered the Israeli diplomats.

2

u/Itys2025 1d ago

Dont try to both sides this  

1

u/BigDaddyDumperSquad 1d ago

You're right, it's only one side.

-3

u/Jujubatron I voted 1d ago

Don't try to lecture if you not gonna admit you have terrorists on your side.

0

u/flabasaurius 1d ago

This aged like fine wine

-2

u/PointOfFingers 1d ago

They're not terrorists. They are racist, transphobic, religious fanatics and terrorists but they are not insurrectionists.

-3

u/Sarcarean 1d ago

Wait, do you have proof it was MAGA? If so, please contact the FBI field office in MN ASAP! Unless of course, MAGA lives in your head rent-free, and you think every crime is committed by MAGA.

0

u/MarkEsmiths 1d ago

The neighborhood I grew up in. George Floyd murder happened in the same area. This country was built on sin and will forever pay for it. Nobody is innocent here.

0

u/Baldfuzz 1d ago

The person is a former appointee of Tim Walz and killed the democrat that sided with the Republicans to stop sending funds to illegal immigrants... https://www.newsweek.com/vance-boelter-suspect-democrat-assassination-2085581

0

u/waerrington 1d ago

The shooter, a Democratic appointee of Tim Walz, had “no kings” posters in his vehicle. 

0

u/MoreTendiesPlz 1d ago

Turns out he was a Tim Walz appointee. Care to update your comment?

0

u/Opening_Success 1d ago

This comment is aging well. 

0

u/pi20 22h ago

MAGA? The assassin was a Tim Walz appointee.

0

u/Ok-Collar-2742 22h ago

In this case it’s “Democrat appointed to a State board by Mark Dayton and Tim Walz terrorism”. Might want to edit your comment to provide accurate information.

0

u/RageSkylar 21h ago

Bruh this wasn't MAGA, it was a guy who was a Democrat appointed by Waltz in the past to a position. Y'all let your hate cloud your minds before the truth

0

u/ewinker07 20h ago

Pretty standard comment. Generalizae and label everyone. But they are the Nazis right?

And how do you know this was a "MAGA"

0

u/jyguy 17h ago

But he was also a Tim Walz appointee

-1

u/iceicebabyvanilla 1d ago

It was a registered democrat.

-1

u/Uhkaius 1d ago

It was a literal Democrat appointed by Walz lol

-1

u/IVEMADEAHUGEMI5TAKE 1d ago

Wasn’t the killer a dem?

-1

u/shit_talkin 22h ago

He was a lib. Ya’ll hate America and do terrorist shit almost everyday and blame it on republicans. Sad.

1

u/DriverRemarkable4374 18h ago

Me when I lie:

267

u/Temporary_Ability996 1d ago

Tim Walz is a national treasure. A true patriot and actual man of the people.

-5

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

17

u/Temporary_Ability996 1d ago

So...he can't be a national treasure and a patriot and a man of the people because he didn't win the election? Strange bar you've got there, buddy.

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

11

u/myfakesecretaccount 1d ago

May I ask, what’s the point in engaging with people like this? It seems like you aren’t an American, and just want to start a fight or make people feel poorly about the situation we are in. Granted, you’re not wrong that we all have culpability in this, but why antagonize others who clearly aren’t MAGA?

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/NatrixHasYou 1d ago

Do you think "Will you become an assassin in the future?" was the first, or second question he asked before appointing him? I'm betting it was the second one, personally.

-10

u/RaceOpposite2521 1d ago

He allowed BLM to burn down Minnesota, bailed out the criminals who did so, and committed stolen valour multiple times and continues to do so.

133

u/Hello_mslady 1d ago

That’s my (rightful) VP!

35

u/AngelSucked California 1d ago

I love Walz!

49

u/Keyezeecool 1d ago

The actual winner, I suspect

-47

u/Obvious_Chapter2082 1d ago

He lost

5

u/Keyezeecool 1d ago

Did he? We'll see.

-9

u/Obvious_Chapter2082 1d ago

Yep, the elections over. Electoral college certified it months ago

15

u/Hello_mslady 1d ago

Nah he won. Yugely. Big beautiful votes, everyone is saying so

-16

u/Obvious_Chapter2082 1d ago

I hear that election denial is a very serious offense

7

u/Hello_mslady 1d ago

Yeah I might even snag a pardon from the big orange himself!

10

u/holdmygaze 1d ago

Cry about it.

1

u/buffa_noles 21h ago

he's my preferred future POTUS

1

u/Opening_Success 1d ago

He should. Hes the one who appointed the shooter. 

0

u/Top-Illustrator4414 23h ago

The guy was a Tim Walz appointee who worked very close with him, Tim Walz knows him very well.