re:power is heartbroken and outraged by the targeted violence that claimed the lives of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and left Sen. John Hoffman and his wife wounded. Melissa was a re:power alum and a longtime supporter—her connection to our community and work made this loss especially close to home. This is more than a tragedy—it is a chilling escalation of political violence in this country. We grieve alongside their families, our partners, and the people of Minnesota. And we recommit to building the kind of care-centered infrastructure that protects and sustains our leaders, particularly those from marginalized communities, not just in moments of crisis, but every single day in the fight for a multiracial democracy.

Through our Progressive Governance Academy, re:power works with local and state leaders across the country to ensure they have the political grounding, skills, and support to govern with courage, compassion, and deep connection to their communities. We train elected officials to co-govern with organizers, to lead boldly, and to build power rooted in justice. But no one should have to do that work under threat of violence.

This attack is not just an assault on individuals—it is an attack on our collective vision for democracy. A vision where leaders are accountable to the people, not forced into hiding or harmed for serving their communities. We will not be intimidated. And we will not stop building the infrastructure of care, safety, and solidarity that our movements and our democracy require.

In solidarity,

re:power Team