Democratic Leaders Gunned Down: Minnesota Manhunt Reveals Trump Supporter's Hit List

Paul Riverbank, 6/16/2025Minnesota manhunt underway after Trump supporter kills Democratic leaders, leaves hit list of 70.

Political Violence Strikes Minnesota: A Dark Turn in American Democracy

The thin veneer of civility in American politics cracked further this weekend. Minnesota's political landscape was shattered by calculated violence that left two Democratic leaders dead and others fighting for their lives.

I've covered politics for three decades. This feels different.

Dawn hadn't yet broken over Champlin when a man wearing a police uniform and latex mask forced his way into State Senator John Hoffman's home. What followed was both tragedy and triumph – Yvette Hoffman, the senator's wife, threw herself over their daughter as bullets flew. Both parents were struck but survived. Their daughter lives because of her mother's instinct and courage.

Ninety minutes later, in nearby Brooklyn Park, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark weren't as fortunate. Both died in their home, victims of what investigators say was a methodically planned attack.

The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Leroy Boelter, vanished. But he left behind chilling evidence – a hit list with 70 names and literature suggesting political motivations. His wife Jennifer was caught Saturday, roughly 85 miles north of Minneapolis, carrying cash, passports, and weapons. She's now in custody while her husband remains at large.

Here's what makes this case particularly disturbing: Boelter isn't some random actor. He ran Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with his wife, claiming international security experience. He had training. He had resources. And according to a roommate, he had a plan, sending an ominous message before disappearing: "May be dead shortly."

The FBI's $50,000 reward speaks to the urgency of the manhunt. Governor Tim Walz didn't mince words, calling this "targeted political violence." Former President Trump condemned the attacks, but the suspect's reported support for Trump adds another layer to an already complex situation.

I've watched political rhetoric heat up over the years, but this crosses a line we can't uncross. When elected officials become targets in their homes, democracy itself is under attack. The Hoffmans' survival – with a bullet missing the senator's heart by inches – feels like both a warning and a miracle.

As I write this, Boelter remains at large, presumably armed. But the larger threat isn't just one man – it's the normalization of political violence in a country founded on peaceful transfer of power and civil discourse.

We must ask ourselves: How did we get here? More importantly, how do we step back from this precipice?

Paul Riverbank is a political analyst and veteran journalist covering American politics for over 30 years.

Political Violence Strikes Minnesota: A Dark Turn in American DemocracyThe thin veneer of civility in American politics cracked further this weekend. Minnesota's political landscape was shattered by calculated violence that left two Democratic leaders dead and others fighting for their lives.I've covered politics for three decades. This feels different.Dawn hadn't yet broken over Champlin when a man wearing a police uniform and latex mask forced his way into State Senator John Hoffman's home. What followed was both tragedy and triumph – Yvette Hoffman, the senator's wife, threw herself over their daughter as bullets flew. Both parents were struck but survived. Their daughter lives because of her mother's instinct and courage.Ninety minutes later, in nearby Brooklyn Park, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark weren't as fortunate. Both died in their home, victims of what investigators say was a methodically planned attack.The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Leroy Boelter, vanished. But he left behind chilling evidence – a hit list with 70 names and literature suggesting political motivations. His wife Jennifer was caught Saturday, roughly 85 miles north of Minneapolis, carrying cash, passports, and weapons. She's now in custody while her husband remains at large.Here's what makes this case particularly disturbing: Boelter isn't some random actor. He ran Praetorian Guard Security Services LLC with his wife, claiming international security experience. He had training. He had resources. And according to a roommate, he had a plan, sending an ominous message before disappearing: "May be dead shortly."The FBI's $50,000 reward speaks to the urgency of the manhunt. Governor Tim Walz didn't mince words, calling this "targeted political violence." Former President Trump condemned the attacks, but the suspect's reported support for Trump adds another layer to an already complex situation.I've watched political rhetoric heat up over the years, but this crosses a line we can't uncross. When elected officials become targets in their homes, democracy itself is under attack. The Hoffmans' survival – with a bullet missing the senator's heart by inches – feels like both a warning and a miracle.As I write this, Boelter remains at large, presumably armed. But the larger threat isn't just one man – it's the normalization of political violence in a country founded on peaceful transfer of power and civil discourse.We must ask ourselves: How did we get here? More importantly, how do we step back from this precipice?Paul Riverbank is a political analyst and veteran journalist covering American politics for over 30 years.