Political Violence Strikes Home: Minnesota Leader and Spouse Killed in Targeted Hit

Paul Riverbank, 6/16/2025Political violence escalates in Minnesota, highlighting growing threats to democracy and public officials' safety.

Last night, as I reviewed my notes from interviews with security experts, something struck me. Back in 2017, I remember dismissing a colleague's concerns about escalating threats against public officials as potentially overblown. I was wrong. The trajectory from angry rhetoric to actual violence has become disturbingly clear.

The attack pattern we're seeing isn't partisan – it's systemic. Gov. Whitmer's would-be kidnappers, the break-in at Nancy Pelosi's home, the baseball field shooting that nearly killed Steve Scalise... These aren't isolated incidents anymore. They're warning signs we've repeatedly ignored.

What's keeping me up at night isn't just the violence – it's how we talk about it. Some media outlets rush to spin these tragedies before the facts are in. I watched three different networks yesterday frame the Minnesota attacks to fit their preferred narrative. That's not journalism; it's political opportunism wearing a press badge.

Senator Schiff's comments about the personal toll on families hit home. During an off-the-record conversation last month, a state legislator told me his kids can't play in their front yard anymore. Think about that. Public service shouldn't require turning your home into a fortress.

The manhunt continues in Minnesota, but we can't just focus on catching one suspect. We need to confront the culture that's making political violence thinkable. Democracy requires disagreement – but it dies when disagreement turns deadly.

I don't have easy answers. But after 30 years covering politics, I know this: If we can't protect both our officials and our ability to disagree peacefully, we'll lose something precious. Something that, once lost, won't be easy to recover.

Paul Riverbank is a political analyst and founder of the Democracy Defense Project. His upcoming book "Lines We Cross" examines the rise of political violence in America.

The murder of Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota isn't just another headline – it's a gut punch that's left me struggling to maintain my usual analytical distance. I've covered political violence for three decades, but targeting family members crosses a line that shakes even veteran observers like myself.Last night, as I reviewed my notes from interviews with security experts, something struck me. Back in 2017, I remember dismissing a colleague's concerns about escalating threats against public officials as potentially overblown. I was wrong. The trajectory from angry rhetoric to actual violence has become disturbingly clear.The attack pattern we're seeing isn't partisan – it's systemic. Gov. Whitmer's would-be kidnappers, the break-in at Nancy Pelosi's home, the baseball field shooting that nearly killed Steve Scalise... These aren't isolated incidents anymore. They're warning signs we've repeatedly ignored.What's keeping me up at night isn't just the violence – it's how we talk about it. Some media outlets rush to spin these tragedies before the facts are in. I watched three different networks yesterday frame the Minnesota attacks to fit their preferred narrative. That's not journalism; it's political opportunism wearing a press badge.Senator Schiff's comments about the personal toll on families hit home. During an off-the-record conversation last month, a state legislator told me his kids can't play in their front yard anymore. Think about that. Public service shouldn't require turning your home into a fortress.The manhunt continues in Minnesota, but we can't just focus on catching one suspect. We need to confront the culture that's making political violence thinkable. Democracy requires disagreement – but it dies when disagreement turns deadly.I don't have easy answers. But after 30 years covering politics, I know this: If we can't protect both our officials and our ability to disagree peacefully, we'll lose something precious. Something that, once lost, won't be easy to recover.Paul Riverbank is a political analyst and founder of the Democracy Defense Project. His upcoming book "Lines We Cross" examines the rise of political violence in America.