Out Lawmaker Tammy Baldwin Among Targets In Minnesota Attack
Baldwin is speaking out after being named in the writings of a man accused of killing two Minnesota political figures.
Out Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is among the elected officials named in a list discovered in the vehicle of a man charged with a politically motivated shooting spree that left two people dead and two others hospitalized in Minnesota.
The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was arrested Sunday following a manhunt that began after the early morning shooting of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Both were killed. Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot and injured in what officials are calling a targeted attack on Democratic politicians.
Boelter’s vehicle reportedly contained handwritten notebooks listing over 45 names of state and federal Democratic lawmakers, including Baldwin and other Wisconsin Democrats such as Rep. Mark Pocan and Rep. Gwen Moore. Baldwin’s office confirmed she was informed by law enforcement on Monday.
“Senator Baldwin was informed by law enforcement that she was included on the alleged shooter’s list of names,” Baldwin spokesperson Eli Rosen said in a statement. “She is grateful for law enforcement’s swift action to keep the community safe and remains focused on the things that matter most here: honoring the legacy and life of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, praying for the other victims who are fighting for their lives, and condemning this abhorrent, senseless political violence.”
This incident marks a chilling moment in an already heated political climate, where threats against public officials have escalated in recent years. Baldwin, who has served in the Senate since 2013 and is the first openly gay person elected to the chamber, expressed sorrow and outrage following the shooting.
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“Stunned, terrified, and heartbroken just begin to describe this horror,” Baldwin wrote in a post on X. “My heart goes out to the victims, their loved ones, and all our midwestern neighbors. Political violence like this is not who we are as a country. It’s on all of us to condemn and stop it at every turn.”
Acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota Joseph Thompson confirmed during a press conference that law enforcement recovered several notebooks in Boelter’s car containing the names of Democratic lawmakers. Prosecutors are still working to determine what drove the suspect to target these individuals.
“Obviously, his primary motivation was to go and murder people,” Thompson said. “They were all elected officials. They were all Democrats. Beyond that, I think it’s just way too speculative for anyone that’s reviewed these materials to know and to say what was motivating him in terms of ideology or specific issues.”
In addition to Baldwin, Rep. Pocan confirmed he was informed by Capitol Police that his name appeared in other documents discovered during the investigation.
“I will not back down in the face of terror,” Pocan told WKOW News. “However, we as elected officials must do better to lower the temperature. That said, my schedule remains unchanged.”
Rep. Gwen Moore also acknowledged being notified that her name was on one of the suspect’s lists.
“I thank law enforcement for their swift notification and subsequent response,” she posted on X. “My prayers are with all those impacted by these horrific acts.”
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Federal officials have charged Boelter with two counts of murder using a firearm and additional charges are expected, including first-degree murder and stalking. Investigators believe Boelter may have used a vehicle disguised as a law enforcement car to approach his targets.
The growing list of lawmakers named in Boelter’s writings has sparked fresh concerns about political safety, particularly for those who have championed causes such as LGBTQ+ rights and abortion access. Among the names, according to reports, were also advocates for reproductive freedom and health care professionals.
Though no motive has yet been publicly confirmed, the nature of the victims and those named on the suspect’s list has cast the attack as part of a broader pattern of threats against Democratic and progressive leaders.
As federal and local authorities continue to investigate, Baldwin and other lawmakers are using this moment to stand firm.
“We can grieve and be afraid,” Baldwin said in a follow-up statement Tuesday. “But we must also be clear and united in rejecting hate and violence. This is not who we are. And we are not going anywhere.”
