One year ago, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking in front of hundreds of college students just miles outside of our district.

Months prior, former Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman and her husband John were gunned down in their home by a man impersonating a police officer.

Earlier this year, a man opened fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

When political violence threatens our leaders, injures them, or takes their life, I grieve. I do that whether or not I agree or disagree with them in part or in whole. I hope you do too.

I condemn political violence. Full stop. I’m worried that fewer Americans are doing that. 

According to the Bridging Divides Initiative at my alma mater, incidents of targeted violence grew by 34% and threats against members of Congress increased by 58% from 2024 to 2025. In a similar period, the number of Americans saying they may have to resort to political violence increased overall by 10%.

This is wrong, and deeply concerning to me, not just as a candidate making myself vulnerable to this treatment in an increasingly contentious and dehumanizing public square, but as an American who loves my neighbors – even the ones I disagree with – and loves my country.

Admittedly, I didn’t follow Charlie Kirk much. His “ask me anything” videos would pop on my feed from time to time just like they would on yours as I’d watch him debate heated crowds one person at a time. I resonated with many of his sentiments, but not all, and even disagreed strongly with some of his statements. However, I could deeply relate to what it felt like standing up firmly for what you believed in on a college campus no matter how outnumbered you were. 

A year ago, horrific videos of his assassination showed up on my feed just like they did on yours. 

I was saddened to watch many I knew make a mockery of his murder online and even celebrate this grotesque event. It reminded me of the sadness I felt months prior when I watched others make a mockery of the assassination of the Hortman’s leaving their two children parentless. 

Regardless of where you sit politically, I hope you will stand with me in condemning political violence and striving to be a voice of courage, compassion, and conviction in our communities. 

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, "Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate... Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."