In the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, the streets are quieter than usual. Residents, once accustomed to friendly waves and open doors, now look out from behind curtains, wary of strangers and the persistent knock of political canvassers. The cause of this tension? A string of high-profile political violence that has shaken not just Minnesota, but the entire nation.
The most recent tragedy struck on June 14, 2025, when longtime Minnesota state House Representative Melissa Hortman, her husband, and their beloved dog were killed in a brutal home-invasion assassination. Authorities say the attack, which took place in the early morning hours, was politically motivated. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, now faces both federal and state murder charges in the deaths of the Hortmans, as well as attempted murder charges for the shooting of Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. The Hoffmans survived, but the scars—both physical and emotional—remain.
With the loss of Rep. Hortman, who had served as Minnesota’s House speaker since her first election in 2005, a special election was scheduled for September 16, 2025. Two candidates, Republican Ruth Bittner and Democrat Xp Lee, are now vying for the seat, campaigning door to door in a community still reeling from violence and fear.
Bittner, a real estate agent, has noticed a palpable shift in the neighborhood. "We are in very, very scary times, and we definitely need to get out of this trajectory that we’re on here," she told the Associated Press. Early in her campaign, Bittner sensed that residents, especially those living near the Hortman home, were hesitant—even afraid—to answer the door. The recent wave of violence, including the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk just days prior, gave her pause about running for office. But Bittner ultimately decided to press on. "We can’t cower. We have to move forward as a country and we have to, you know, embrace the system that we have of representative government, and we have to just do it, you know? There’s no way to solve this problem if we shrink back in fear."
The sense of unease isn’t limited to Brooklyn Park. On August 27, 2025, less than a month before the special election, tragedy struck again when a shooter opened fire during Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Two schoolchildren were killed and at least 21 others—most of them students—were injured. The shooter, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, a former student, allegedly fired more than one hundred rounds through the church windows before being found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. The incident sent shockwaves through the community and quickly became a reference point in conversations about public safety.
"It’s definitely come up, you know, folks have referenced the recent shootings, Annunciation and Charlie Kirk," said Xp Lee, the Democratic candidate and former Brooklyn Park City Council member. As he made his rounds in the district, Lee noted that the violence was top of mind for many residents. "Just yesterday, I was outdoor knocking, a couple of people mentioned it."
Lee, who described Hortman as both a neighbor and mentor, recalled seeing her walking her golden retriever, Gilbert, around the neighborhood. She had offered him advice during his own City Council campaign. "I can't think of a better way to honor her than to go to the Capitol and do my best in the seat," he said.
But the violence hasn’t been limited to Minnesota. On September 11, 2025, conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a Utah college event. The attack, which unfolded in front of hundreds and was captured on video, quickly went viral on social media. Federal officials announced the arrest of Tyler Robinson the following night, stating that he was believed to have acted alone.
The response to Kirk’s assassination was swift and bipartisan. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the act in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, "An open forum for political dialogue and disagreement was upended by a horrific act of targeted violence. In America, we don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint."
Senator John Hoffman, who survived the June shooting alongside his wife, also issued a statement on behalf of his family. "America is broken, and political violence endangers our lives and democracy. The assassination of Charlie Kirk today is only the latest act that our country cannot continue to accept. Our leaders of both parties must not only tone down their own rhetoric, but they must begin to call out extreme, aggressive and violent dialog that foments these attacks on our republic and freedom."
The outpouring of grief and calls for unity have done little to ease the "charged atmosphere" that Lee described in the wake of Kirk’s killing. "So I want to do what I can to really bring that down," Lee said. As part of his campaign, he has voiced support for banning semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. Lee, who owns a shotgun for home defense, draws a distinction between personal protection and what he calls "weapons of, like, war that really we don’t need on our streets."
Gun policy, always a contentious issue in American politics, has become even more urgent in Brooklyn Park. Residents are grappling with the reality that violence—once something seen on the news, far removed from their daily lives—has arrived on their doorsteps. Both candidates have felt the weight of these tragedies as they try to reassure voters and restore faith in the democratic process.
The special election on September 16 is about more than just filling a legislative seat. For many in Brooklyn Park, it’s a referendum on how the community will respond to violence and fear. Will residents retreat further into isolation, or will they, as Bittner urges, "embrace the system" and participate in the process, even as tensions simmer?
Nationally, the assassinations of both Kirk and Hortman have sparked a broader conversation about the state of American democracy. The violence has been condemned across the political spectrum, with leaders urging a return to civility and a rejection of extremism. Yet, as the events in Brooklyn Park and beyond illustrate, the path forward is anything but clear.
For now, the candidates continue their door-to-door campaigns, each interaction a small act of courage in a community struggling with grief and uncertainty. As Lee put it, "I can't think of a better way to honor her than to go to the Capitol and do my best in the seat." The outcome of Tuesday’s election will be closely watched—not just as a measure of political support, but as a barometer of hope in a time of turmoil.
