Minnesota shootings spotlight growing safety risks facing lawmakers

The targeted shootings of two Minnesota state lawmakers this weekend underscore a grim trend: An increasingly volatile political climate has left state and local officials more exposed than ever to threats and harassment.The big picture: The assassination of longtime House Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman, and attempted slaying of DFL state Sen. John Hoffman, have drawn a national, bipartisan outpouring of grief and condemnation.But most of the abuse elected state officials endure still flies under the radar, even though signs are mounting that the problem has grown worse, particularly since 2020, experts say.By the numbers: Nationally, 43% of state lawmakers reported facing threats during their most recent term in office and the preceding campaign, according to a 2024 survey published by the Brennan Center for Justice.Nearly half of women lawmakers said the abuse lessened their desire to seek reelection or higher office.Two in five women lawmakers of color said they'd experienced hostility that was sexual in nature.The intrigue: Republican lawmakers were more likely than Democrats to report that abuse had gotten more frequent since they took office.Many GOP reps experienced greater pressure from within their own party to take hardline stances, Gowri Ramachandran, the Brennan Center's director of elections and security, told Axios. Friction point: It's a "massive concern" among lawmakers that such risks and toxicity could discourage people from seeking political office, Ramachandran said.Lawmakers told Ramachandran they welcome "vigorous dissent," but fear discourse had degraded so far that both their supporters and critics might "feel like they have to fear for their lives in order to participate."Zoom out: In the nation's capital, the Minnesota shootings have prompted many rank-and-file members of Congress — many of whom don't have personal security details — to demand stepped-up protection, Axios' Andrew Solender reported.Threats against members, their families and staff more than doubled between 2017 and 2020, according to U.S. Capitol Police, and the numbers have grown since.Threat level: The public nature of the job heightens the risk.Until recently, some Minnesota lawmakers' home addresses were listed on their easily-searchable legislative bio pages. Though they now appear to have been removed, their addresses can still be found in other public filings.What they're saying: Ramachandran told Axios that other states offer potential solutions.Delaware and California have address confidentiality programs that "balance" the need for transparency under campaign finance laws with the need to ensure lawmakers' security.Ramachandran urged states to train lawmakers on making their offices more secure without making constituents feel unwelcome or like they're "on lockdown."What we're watching: Whether security policies change at the State Capitol, where visitors currently do not need to pass through metal detectors.Some lawmakers publicly asked for more exploration of weapon detection systems in January 2024.GOP State Sen. Jim Abeler told the Star Tribune after this weekend's shooting that "the times of [an] extremely open Capitol is probably done."The fine print: Bryan Pierick, assistant sergeant at arms for the Minnesota Senate, declined to comment Sunday on any current or planned changes to security protocols, citing an active investigation.Officials with the Minnesota State Patrol, which handles Capitol security, stressed to lawmakers in 2024 that it was ready with "plans, equipment and training" should an armed attack ever take place on campus.Torey Van Oot contributed reporting.

Comments

World news

The new plane that will be world's biggest and carry 12 times more than a Boeing 747

Express

Padilla has ‘serious questions’ for Noem after he was dragged from press conference: ‘How does she not know the senator from California?’

about 5 hours ago

Suspect in custody after two-day manhunt in shootings of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers

Independent

Comments

Similar News

How the ‘politically motivated’ shooting of Minnesota lawmakers unleashed right-wing conspiracy theories

Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative

Survivor of Minnesota assassination says she and husband shot 17 times

Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative

Roommate claims suspected Minnesota shooter was ‘down’ and security business ‘wasn’t a reality’

A teenager with a job making burritos became a powerful Minnesota lawmaker who trained service dogs

Manhunt continues for suspect in shooting of two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers

Trump has not called Walz following shooting of Minnesota lawmakers

Manhunt in Minnesota lawmaker attacks widens to nearby state

Search ongoing for man accused of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers, spouses

Manhunt continues for suspect in shootings of Minnesota lawmakers

Congress' fight over security erupts after Minnesota shootings

What to know about Minnesota lawmakers' shootings that killed Melissa Hortman

The attacks on Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota: what we know

Suspect identified in fatal shooting of Minnesota lawmaker

Flood of tributes for Minnesota Democrat killed in ‘targeted violence’

Two Minnesota lawmakers gunned down and manifesto discovered: what we know about the ‘politically motivated’ shooting

Minnesota shootings set off five-alarm fire in Congress

Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and husband killed and two others wounded in ‘politically motivated’ attack: Latest

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz: Two lawmakers shot, one killed, in politically targeted shooting

World news

The new plane that will be world's biggest and carry 12 times more than a Boeing 747

Air India flight in mid-air U-turn over 'suspected glitch' days after deadly disaster

The empire is no more. So why do we still hand out these annual baubles?

Watch: Rescue operation launched after bridge collapses into river at tourist site in India

The hillside memorial which sparked misinformation about South Africa’s farm killings

Customs worker killed for refusing bribe could be Congo’s first saint

Three year old and four others killed after flash flooding in West Virginia

New footage of Air India plane gives clue about why it crashed

Sheffield Wednesday fans have suffered enough – now there is only one solution

Starmer is facing the fallout of Labour’s blind eye to grooming gangs

‘I made a fool of myself’: Lando Norris apologises for crash with Oscar Piastri

Wife 'decapitated husband then chopped off his genitals and fed them to dogs'

Brit tourist fighting for life after Ayia Napa horror balcony fall

'I won £135k on EuroMillions – but then mother-in-law took me to court'

Britain's MI6 spy agency gets its first female chief

Trump admin outlines US Steel plan, but union voices concerns

A hillside of white crosses fuels misleading story about South Africa's farm killings

Casualties feared after a bridge collapses at a popular tourist destination in India's western Maharashtra state

Iran renews missile attacks on Israel, killing 5 and wounding dozens

The Group of Seven summit is opening in Canada with a focus on trade, wars — and not riling Trump

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says concussion of Iranian missile causes minor damage to consulate, no injuries

'I won £130k on EuroMillions before tragedy struck – then another blow came'

Wife 'decapitated husband then chopped off his genitals and fed them to dogs'

Fears of WW3 grow as US deploys fleet of military hardware across Atlantic

Iran bombshell as Donald Trump 'vetoed plan' in desperate move to stop Middle East war

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv attacks Russian drone factory while EU calls for tougher sanctions on Moscow

Minnesota shootings latest: Suspect who targeted lawmakers arrested and charged with murder after two-day manhunt

Israel-Iran LIVE: Five killed as Tehran launches new air strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa as conflict escalates

Inflation to stay above 3% and could even rise further, economists predict

My flat management company charges high fees and doesn’t fix things. Can you help?

Wes Streeting has won his battle for cash but can he really save the NHS?

Five holiday destinations in Europe that want tourists this summer

Three reasons Brentford can thrive after Thomas Frank’s exit

NHS trials helped beat Covid, millions can do the same against cancer and dementia

Millions to be invited for NHS dementia and cancer trials by phone notifications

‘Failing’ water industry is ‘deaf’ to pollution crisis and needs reform MPs warn

How I Manage My Money: 34-year-old with £28k pension spending £950 a month on rent

My friend is lazy and late to everything – but wants me to recommend him for a job

G7 starring Donald Trump has turned a village of 130 people into the temporary centre of global diplomacy

Keir Starmer joins crisis talks to stop full-scale war between Iran and Israel

Ex-pilot's theory on 'lucky' Brit's 'remarkable' Air India plane crash survival

G7 leaders gather in Canada for a summit overshadowed by Israel-Iran crisis

Spaniards turn water pistols on visitors to protest mass tourism

Monday Briefing: Iran-Israel Conflict Continues

Israel-Iran live: Fresh wave of Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv as Israel says won’t stop attacks ‘until threat removed’

The 10 ways to help your teenager safely spend time alone on a family holiday

Suspect in shooting of US politicians captured after two-day manhunt

‘Golden Share’ in U.S. Steel Gives Trump Extraordinary Control

Air India crash: Expert claims ‘game-changing’ video 'proves' Boeing lost power mid-flight

Padilla has ‘serious questions’ for Noem after he was dragged from press conference: ‘How does she not know the senator from California?’

Suspect in custody after two-day manhunt in shootings of Minnesota Democratic lawmakers

Trump orders ICE to hit Democrat-run cities in expanded deportation blitz

Authorities arrest suspect in killing of top Minnesota lawmaker

How the ‘politically motivated’ shooting of Minnesota lawmakers unleashed right-wing conspiracy theories

Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative

Opening 'the pit': Dig for remains of 800 infants begins

Manhunt continues for gunman who 'posed as cop' to kill politician - as texts revealed