A man killed a Minnesota lawmaker and wounded another last week in a planned attack. He had a manifesto listing dozens of targets — all Democrats — per reporting from the Associated Press. Targets allegedly included officials in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, too.

Police searched for Vance Boelter, 57, for two days after the attack, when he finally surrendered Sunday night in the woods near his home. He’s being charged with murder and stalking by federal prosecutors, along with state charges including murder and attempted murder.

Boelter’s attack on Minnesota’s House Speaker Melissa Hortman and State Sen. John Hoffman is the latest incident in a string of political violence, which includes attacks against lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

There are numerous incidents of political violence that have cropped up across the country in the last decade or so: the shooting of then-U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords from Arizona in 2011; a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; the attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6; the bludgeoning of Paul Pelosi, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, with a hammer in 2022; and two attempts on the life of President Donald Trump.

In Montana, four state legislators (including then Speaker of the House, Matt Regier, of Kalispell) received suspicious letters containing an unidentified white powder in 2023. And in 2024, Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen was one of several elected officials nationwide to receive a suspicious package in the mail, though the package was intercepted before reaching her office.

At the federal level, outlets are reporting that elected officials feel they need more security.

Montana’s elected officials on both sides of the aisle, for their part, shared messages condemning political violence and calling for a commitment to civil discourse.

U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, both Republicans, shared statements on X, formerly known as Twitter. Daines called the events in Minnesota “absolutely horrifying,” while Sheehy said he was praying for affected lawmakers’ families and for the recovery of the wounded.

Montana’s House Speaker Brandon Ler (R-Savage) also shared a statement on social media calling for a recommitment to “a democracy grounded in peaceful discourse, mutual respect, and safety for those who serve in public office.”

“Montana stands ready to support our colleagues during this time of horror and grief. Let us honor their memories by affirming that violence — especially political violence — will never define who we are as a nation,” Ler’s statement continued.

Sen. Pat Flowers (D-Belgrade) and Rep. Katie Sullivan (D-Missoula), the Senate and House minority leaders, released a statement as well. Their statement said the attack was evidence of how “increasingly violent rhetoric that has come to dominate politics in this country” damages our democratic system.

“When everyday citizens in Montana and across the country volunteer to undertake the civic duty of serving as elected officials, this choice often comes with real sacrifices.

“It is entirely unacceptable that any legislator should have to sacrifice their lives simply for standing up and volunteering to serve as representatives of their communities.”

I’m Mariah Thomas, here to take you through the rest of your Wednesday Daily Roundup.

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