Questions Emerge About Political Motivations in Minnesota Lawmaker Shootings
Former Walz appointee sought in assassination that challenges typical political targeting assumptions
A former appointee of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is being sought in connection with the assassination of a state lawmaker and shooting of another, raising complex questions about political motivations.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, allegedly posed as a police officer when he shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their Champlin home early Saturday, leaving them seriously injured.
Boelter then moved to former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman's house, where he allegedly killed her and her husband, according to police sources.
Governor Walz described the attacks as a "politically motivated assassination" and "targeted political violence."
The suspect's background complicates simple political targeting assumptions. Boelter was appointed by Walz in 2019 to serve a four-year stint on the Governor's Workforce Development Board, according to documents. He previously served on the Governor's Workforce Development Council in 2016 under then-Governor Mark Dayton.
Police sources report that Boelter had fliers with the words "No Kings" in his car, referencing Saturday's planned protests against the Trump Administration. Authorities also found a manifesto and a list of other politicians' names in his vehicle before he fled after being briefly cornered at Hortman's home.
The timing of the attacks adds another layer of complexity. The shootings occurred just five days after a controversial healthcare vote on June 9, when Rep. Hortman broke with her party to cast the decisive Democratic vote helping Republicans repeal MinnesotaCare coverage for undocumented adults.
Hortman's crossover vote in the evenly split House chamber was essential to the legislation's 68-65 passage. Her decision drew fierce criticism from progressive Democrats and immigrant rights groups who viewed it as a betrayal of party values.
Sen. Hoffman presents a contrasting profile despite being targeted in the same attacks. He has a well-documented history of bipartisan cooperation and has previously stated that "94% of all my bills were bipartisan." However, unlike Hortman, Hoffman voted with Democrats on the healthcare issue and was not among the four Democratic senators who crossed party lines.
The "No Kings" protests referenced in the suspect's materials were scheduled for Saturday as a "nationwide day of defiance" against Trump. According to recent investigations, these demonstrations are organized by well-funded progressive groups that have received $114.8 million since 2019 from the Arabella Advisors dark money network, with major funding from billionaire donors including George Soros.
The case presents a complex web of political connections that challenges traditional assumptions about politically motivated violence. A Democratic governor's former appointee, carrying materials from progressive anti-Trump protests, targeting lawmakers with mixed voting records on conservative issues creates a puzzle that defies simple political categorization.
The evidence raises fundamental questions about the suspect's actual motivations and whether conventional frameworks for understanding political violence apply in this case.
Sources: New York Post, Breitbart
Source: Session Daily - Minnesota House of Representatives
Source: Minnesota Reformer
Source: Ballotpedia - John Hoffman