Conservation Voters New Mexico Statement on Political Assassinations in Minnesota
Santa Fe – On June 13th 2025 America witnessed a horrific political assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark at their home. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were wounded in a separate attack at their home. The suspected assassin has been identified and a search is underway, with a shelter-in-place order in effect. According to police, the attacker may have been planning to target “No Kings” protests scheduled today across Minnesota and the country. The attacks fall on the heels of dangerous political tensions marked by violence over the past decade.
In response, Conservation Voters New Mexico Chief Operating Officer Molly Taylor released the following statement:
“Today, the nation witnessed an unspeakable tragedy with the assassination and attempted assassination of two sitting state legislators and their spouses in Minnesota. We join the voices of many in condemning these attacks that have sent deep ripples through local communities and the nation. Our hearts are with both families targeted by this senseless act of violence, and the many community leaders and members grieving this assault on our democracy. Our thoughts are also with Conservation Minnesota, our partner organization, who has worked alongside the Minnesota state legislature for decades on policy. Political violence is unacceptable in any form. There is no place in a functioning democracy for anyone to resort to the use of terror because they disapprove of a candidate for public office. We call on leadership in all political parties to condemn this attack, and all language and action encouraging political violence, in the strongest possible terms, without equivocation.”
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BACKGROUND
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) received an anonymous letter containing campaign material attacking Representative Nathan Small; offensive and threatening language directed at Small, the Democratic Party of New Mexico, and CVNM; anti-Semitic symbols; and an unidentified chemical substance. Authorities were immediately notified, and the entire office building was evacuated and quarantined. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) oversaw the testing of the chemical substance contained in the letter. Initial analysis indicated that the sample contained ingredients of a potent toxin used in terrorist attacks, but was found to be inert in the form present in the envelope.
In December 2022 and January 2023, Solomon Peña, who had lost a race for State House District 14 during the November 2022 mid-term elections, organized and participated in shootings on the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners who voted to certify the election – Adriann Barboa and Debbie O’Malley – and state House Speaker Javier Martínez and state Sen. Linda Lopez, all Democrats.
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CVNM is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization connecting the people of New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land, water, wildlife and communities for a healthy Land of Enchantment. CVNM does this by mobilizing voters, winning elections, holding elected officials accountable and advancing responsible public policies.