BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (AP) — As the nation grapples with the shocking assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, two candidates in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park are going door to door in a race for a legislative seat left open by another political attack that resulted in the death of a longtime state lawmaker and her husband.
This disturbing trend of political violence has raised alarms among voters in Brooklyn Park as they prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday to fill the state House seat that became vacant following the brutal assassination of their neighbor, Rep. Melissa Hortman, a prominent Democrat who served as Minnesota’s House speaker until her death in June.
Rep. Hortman, her husband, and their dog were tragically taken from their home on June 14 in what law enforcement believes was a politically motivated home invasion.
The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, faces multiple charges including federal murder charges in connection with the Hortmans’ deaths, as well as attempted murder in the shooting of another Democratic lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman, and his wife, both of whom survived.
Fear Grips Neighborhood, Candidates Reflect
The Republican candidate for Hortman’s former seat, real estate agent Ruth Bittner, has observed a notable sense of fear among residents in the area where the violent attack took place. We are in very, very scary times, and we definitely need to get out of this trajectory that we’re on here, Bittner expressed.
Despite the fears stemming from political violence, including Kirk’s recent assassination during a public event in Utah, Bittner refuses to be intimidated. We can’t cower. We have to move forward as a country...there’s no way to solve this problem if we shrink back in fear, she asserted.
The upcoming election follows the devastating shooting of schoolchildren at a Minneapolis Catholic church in late August, contributing to a growing sense of urgency for change in the community. Two children were killed, and over twenty others injured during the attack by 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student of the church school.
“It’s definitely come up, you know, folks have referenced the recent shootings, including Annunciation and Charlie Kirk,” said Xp Lee, a Democrat and former Brooklyn Park City Council member who is also campaigning in the district. Lee knew Rep. Hortman well and aims to honor her legacy by striving for a positive presence in the legislature.
Nation Reacts to Kirk's Violent Death
The violence surrounding Kirk's assassination, which occurred before a large audience and was widely shared on social media, has elicited condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum. Federal authorities quickly apprehended the suspect, Tyler Robinson, on charges related to the violence.
In response to the turmoil, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz remarked, In America, we don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint. The Hoffmans, who suffered an attack themselves in June, added in their statement that political violence is a significant threat to democracy.
Amid this charged political climate, Lee advocates for common-sense gun reforms, emphasizing the need to remove military-grade weapons from civilian streets. Assault-style rifles are weapons of, like, war...we don’t need on our streets, said Lee, who acknowledges the necessity for personal safety while promoting a dialogue for change.
