The murder of State Representative Melissa Hortman and the attempted killing of State Senator John A. Hoffman marked a new breaking point in American politics. Not just because of the brutality of the events, but because of what they reveal: a climate where differences are no longer debated at the ballot box or in Congress, but resolved through violence.

The events took place on Saturday in Minnesota. A man identified as Vance Luther Boelter, 57, broke into two homes impersonating a police officer and opened fire on Democratic lawmakers and their families. Melissa Hortman, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and her husband Mark were killed at their home in Brooklyn Park. In a separate attack, Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were seriously injured at their residence in Champlin.

The suspect remains at large, though the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Authorities found in his vehicle a ballistic vest, a latex mask, anti-Trump protest flyers, and a political manifesto that included a list of about 70 potential targets, including politicians, doctors, community leaders, and health care facilities like Planned Parenthood. Some targets were located in other states, prompting a nationwide security alert.

According to police, Boelter used a vehicle resembling a police cruiser, wore gear similar to that of law enforcement, and leveraged this disguise to gain the victims' trust. At one of the homes, he even exchanged gunfire with responding officers and managed to escape.

A crime that is not isolated

Though the motive is still under investigation, Governor Tim Walz did not hesitate to call it “an act of targeted political violence.” Senator Amy Klobuchar added, “It was an attack on everything we stand for as a democracy.” Even President Donald Trump condemned what he called “horrific violence.”

This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a growing wave of attacks against political figures that has shaken the United States in recent years. From the January 6 assault on the Capitol in 2021, to the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband in 2022, and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in 2024, American politics has entered an era where violence increasingly replaces dialogue.

As Senator Raphael Warnock said during an event in Wisconsin following the shootings: “On this night, when tanks earlier today were rolling through our capital, on the birthday of a commander in chief who is threatening to deploy soldiers to the streets of cities all across America, somebody’s got to remind us that we are not at war with one another.”

From Congress to the streets

The Minnesota shootings took place on the same day nationwide protests were held against President Trump’s policies. In Minnesota, the local march under the slogan “No Kings” was canceled for safety reasons. However, in the state capital of St. Paul, hundreds still took to the streets, transforming the demonstration into a public tribute to Hortman.

Political tensions are running high in an environment of institutional polarization. Before Hortman’s death, the Minnesota House was evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, and the Senate had a one-seat Democratic majority. The killings not only shocked the public—they also disrupted the political balance in a key northern state.

Melissa Hortman had championed progressive initiatives including reproductive rights, marijuana legalization, and paid medical leave. John Hoffman chaired the Senate’s Human Services Committee. Both lawmakers were known for advancing a socially focused legislative agenda.

What does this crime tell us?

This attack seems to confirm a growing fear: since January 6, 2021, nearly anything appears possible in American politics—even violence. Impersonating police, using firearms, drafting target lists, and weaponizing ideology are no longer fringe tactics—they are becoming increasingly common in a democracy under siege.

Political violence is not just about eliminating opponents. It also spreads fear and silences dissent. Following the Minnesota shootings, the FBI contacted potential targets, some rallies were suspended, and the Texas Capitol was evacuated due to credible threats. Political life is becoming a space of danger rather than debate.

The United States faces a crossroads. If politics becomes normalized as a field of physical confrontation, the democratic system loses one of its essential foundations: the legitimacy of disagreement.

Restoring dialogue, respecting differences, and shielding politics from violence are more urgent now than ever. This is not just about capturing a fugitive—it is about rebuilding the basic democratic pact that allows a society to coexist, a pact that today is clearly under threat.