Democrats can&#8217;t run fast enough from the fallout surrounding a former Westchester police bigwig&#8217;s arrest in connection with a gang-related shooting.
Former Mount Vernon Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard has been charged with attempted murder after authorities say she and her ex-con husband James Lackard drove the getaway car for her son — known Slutty Gang member Chase Lackard — when he shot at a rival gang member in the Bronx last June.
As The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/09/07/us-news/scandal-over-ny-police-bigwig-linked-to-sons-gang-shooting-has-dems-running-for-the-hills/">reported</a>, local Democrats are not terribly interested in Lackard&#8217;s case — except in the most generic of terms — and the reason appears to be political. Westchester, after being known for decades as a Republican stronghold, has shifted dramatically leftward in recent years — and was even touted in 2022 as the &#8220;<a href="https://nypost.com/2022/11/26/in-a-political-shift-sixth-borough-westchester-trends-dem/">Sixth Borough</a>.&#8221;
The most recent election data shows that Mount Vernon has some 44,000 registered voters: 31,000 are Democrats compared to just 2,800 Republicans.
Lackard, who was hired as part of a police reform initiative in 2020, is seen as part of that shift. Democratic Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard tapped Lackard — who had no prior law enforcement experience — for the newly created position of deputy commissioner overseeing the department&#8217;s wellness initiatives.
Governor Kathy Hochul&#8217;s office, rather than address Lackard&#8217;s case specifically, gave The Post a vague statement condemning police misconduct in the most general of terms.
&#8220;Governor [Kathy] Hochul’s top priority is public safety,&#8221; a spokesperson for the governor said. &#8220;Those entrusted with keeping New Yorkers safe must be held to the highest ethical and professional standards, and anyone whose actions jeopardize the critical mission of law enforcement must be investigated and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.&#8221;
While State Sen. Jamaal Bailey did condemn Lackard&#8217;s actions in more specific terms, he gave the city some wiggle room by saying that they never could have predicted her behavior when they hired her for the six-figure job.
&#8220;While these allegations are unacceptable and incredibly serious, it’s important to note that it’s not possible to predict the future behavior of any employee,&#8221; Bailey said. &#8220;The purported conduct did not occur during the course of or related to her duties and should have no bearing on how the department is viewed.&#8221;
Lackard is accused of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/police-official-accused-of-helping-son-carry-out-gang-hit">driving the car</a> at least part of the time when she and her husband first delivered their gang-affiliated son to a court appearance and then drove him around the area near the courthouse so that he could open fire from the vehicle on a rival gang member. He did not hit his intended target, but drove away with his parents. All three were eventually arrested in connection with the attempted hit.
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre told The Post that there was no excuse for the Democrats refusing to address the case head-on: &#8220;Democrats are the first to preach ‘no one is above the law’ until it screws them politically. This thug-hugging mom had no business being a police commissioner and any official who covered for her should be held to account.&#8221;
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis added, “Yet again, extreme liberal Democrats are protecting criminals over law abiding American citizens.&#8221;

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

Dems In Damage Control Mode Over ‘Thug-Hugging’ Police Bigwig Tied To Gang Shooting

crime

Democrats

gang violence

gangs

gun violence

shooting

Violent Crime

In October 2025, Joy Behar made headlines when she suggested that conservatives wouldn’t come on “The View” because “<a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2025/10/14/view-whines-republicans-wont-go-their-show-theyre-afraid-us">they’re afraid of us</a>.” Obviously, this caused <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2025/10/21/conservatives-call-out-view-not-accepting-appearance">several conservatives to speak out</a> and show proof that the show had actually refused their requests to come on and speak with the liberal cast, including members of Congress. A new <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2026/07/29/views-number-conservative-guests-swells-5-compared-87">NewsBusters study</a>, out this week, shows just how bad <a href="https://cdn.mrc.org/static/pdfuploads/The%20View%20Season%2029%20Guest%20Count.pdf-1785189121072.pdf">the disparity</a> was between which views “The View” allowed to be shared with their audience.
According to an examination of all 321 guests “The View” spoke with during their 29th season (September 8, 2025 to July 24, 2026), 87 of them expressed liberal opinions while only five expressed a conservative opinion.
Breaking down those numbers further, 16 of the liberal guests were Democratic politicians, both active and former. Additionally, they spoke with two of the liberal U.S. Supreme Court justices, Sonia Sotomayor (their first guest of the season) and Ketanji Brown Jackson, as well as former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Then there’s the conservative side of the data.
In addition to the highly publicized appearance of Vice President JD Vance on June 16 (the last time they spoke to a conservative), they also had on L.A. mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, actress Cheryl Hines, and former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
At the time, Sunny Hostin commended Pratt’s candidacy by saying, “You are going to do so much.” That was before they <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2026/05/14/whoopi-wildfire-victim-pratt-shouldnt-be-passing-judgment">turned against him</a>.
The conversation they had with Hines was less about her and more about using her as a punching bag in lieu of her husband, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Greene seemed to be their favorite guest since they had her on three times over the course of the season. Only one of her appearances counted as a conservative appearance since the other two featured her bashing the rest of the party and pushing liberal talking points.
It says a lot about “The View” that Greene met the “<a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2025/11/07/view-conservatives-dont-live-our-certain-caliber-guest">certain caliber of guest</a>” they insisted they would only speak to.
As a way of writing off most conservative writers and thought leaders, “The View” has publicly said they only want to speak with the people they talk about on the show. But that’s a lie.
In the spring of 2026, “The View” targeted and smeared The Daily Wire’s Isabel Brown for her CPAC comments encouraging women to get married and have kids. One co-host even suggested Brown was in an abusive marriage.
When Brown reached out and requested an appearance so they could have a rational conversation, “The View” <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2026/04/03/view-continues-smear-isabel-brown-encouraging-marriage-kids">rejected the request and lied to her</a> about being all booked up. Meanwhile, they continued to attack and smear her on their podcast.
The real reason “The View” doesn’t like bringing on conservatives is because they’re the ones who are afraid. They’re afraid of being called out and having their farces exposed. Alyssa Farah Griffin <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2025/11/12/view-whines-about-guests-trashing-show-after-dealing-them">admitted as much</a> on their podcast when she said they don’t like “when people want to come on to, like, have a moment.”
Translation: We don’t want viral moments that embarrass us.
***
Nicholas C. Fondacaro is the associate editor for the Media Research Center and NewsBusters.

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, SARA HAINES, JOY BEHAR, SUNNY HOSTIN, ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN

‘The View’ Is Afraid Of Conservative Views And They Keep Lying About It

Cheryl Hines

DW Opinion

Isabel Brown

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Joy Behar

Karine Jean-Pierre

ketanji brown jackson

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Sonia Sotomayor

spencer pratt

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the view

Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes abruptly dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor Thursday, minutes after reports surfaced that party officials were bracing for a damaging media story about him.
“Last night I had a very difficult conversation with staff,” Barnes <a href="https://x.com/TheOtherMandela/status/2082894497839468849">said in a social media video</a>. “We’re incredibly proud of all the things that we’ve accomplished and all the resources that we have raised to spread our message. But it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be.”
Politico reported Thursday that Wisconsin Democratic officials were expecting negative media coverage involving Barnes. Minutes later, Barnes announced he was suspending his campaign.
Republican political consultant Ryan Girdusky <a href="https://x.com/RyanGirdusky/status/2082897705769066937?s=20">responded</a> to the announcement by posting: “Woah…. They’re really trying to wrestle this away from Francesca Hong.” 
Hong, a 37-year-old state representative and dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has emerged as the frontrunner in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, a race Republicans believe presents an opportunity to flip the governor&#8217;s mansion. 
Often compared to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Hong has campaigned on a <a href="https://francescahong.com/policy/">Left-wing platform</a> that includes abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and expanding government-funded childcare and paid family leave.
Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband, creating a state-run development bank, establishing a 32-hour workweek without reducing pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
Hong&#8217;s rise has sparked concern from some establishment Democrats, who worry that nominating a Democratic socialist in a state President Donald Trump carried could improve Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany&#8217;s chances in the general election.  
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/democratic-primary/2026/wisconsin">Recent polling</a> shows Hong holding a double-digit lead over established Democrats, including <a href="https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Newsroom/About_Mandela.aspx">Barnes</a> and Milwaukee County Executive <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">David Crowley.</a> Crowley briefly suspended his campaign before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. 
Asked about Barnes&#8217; surprise exit, Evers said he had learned of it only moments earlier. 
&#8220;I heard it about 30 seconds ago. Yeah, surprised,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/mattsmith_news/status/2082899728824508858?s=20">told</a> a local reporter before reaffirming his backing of Crowley. &#8220;He&#8217;s the best candidate running, even if Mandela was in.&#8221;
Wisconsin&#8217;s Democratic primary is set for August 11. The contest is expected to test the strength of Democratic socialist candidates in the industrial Midwest following a string of recent victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. 
<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/wisconsin-governor-democratic-primary-winner">Prediction markets</a> overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.

Democratic Senate Candidate Mandela Barnes Campaigns In Milwaukee

A Surprise Exit Leaves Wisconsin Democrats With A DSA Frontrunner

2026 Midterms

democratic socialists of america

Elections

francesca hong

Mandela Barnes

Midterms

News

politics

socialism

wisconsin

Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes was relieved of his duties by Mayor Katie Wilson on Wednesday night following the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/family-friendly-festival-turns-into-horrific-nightmare-as-gunmen-open-fire">mass shooting</a> that took place at the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday night.
FOX 13 Seattle first reported the news after tips from several sources. Scrutiny of the police department intensified after Barnes skipped a briefing held several hours after the shooting.
During a second press conference Monday morning, Barnes informed reporters that he&#8217;d been out of town Sunday to attend the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Conference in Dallas. On Wednesday, Barnes abruptly canceled a media session after a silent vigil for victims, reportedly meeting with the mayor instead. Wilson asked for his resignation.
The mayor’s office has not responded to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.
Although the hourslong delay in the press briefing sparked backlash against Barnes and the department, others have raised concerns about how little time Barnes has spent in the city he is supposed to be serving.
During Monday’s conference, one reporter asked Barnes why he was not in the city during the time of the shooting, citing a <a href="https://publicola.com/2025/07/09/in-first-four-months-seattles-new-police-chief-spent-most-weekends-out-of-town/">report from PubliCola</a> that Barnes spends most of his weekends out of town. In the report, Barnes&#8217; schedule shows almost every Friday afternoon blocked off — either completely blank or titled &#8220;admin block&#8221; or &#8220;travel.&#8221; Barnes was out of town 13 of 18 weekends between February and May, according to the report.
Barnes responded to the reporter, acknowledging he was &#8220;not in town&#8221; the day before the shooting. After the media session, Barnes approached the reporter to confront him.
Some in the community attempted to mobilize against Chief Barnes&#8217; removal before Wilson acted. On Wednesday, The Seattle Medium published &#8220;<a href="https://seattlemedium.com/seattle-groups-support-chief-barnes/">An Open Letter To Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson From the Black Community</a>,&#8221; a request to Mayor Wilson not to fire Barnes. In the piece, Barnes&#8217; termination is deemed the “wrong decision,” and the authors claim it would “disrupt Seattle’s progress in public safety.”
Barnes was appointed chief of police in 2024.
During the investigation into the shooting, police identified 15- and 19-year-old suspects, with authorities on the lookout for a potential third suspect in what police have called “targeted, gang-related” violence. The 19-year-old suspect is among the three dead. Authorities are still investigating the shooting.
The Bite of Seattle event typically attracts around 350,000 people.

Shooting At Seattle Festival Leaves 3 Dead And 4 Wounded

Seattle Police Chief Out As City Officials Face Backlash Over Mass Shooting Response

police

seattle

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday refused to endorse Troy Jackson, the last-minute candidate party elites chose to replace accused rapist Graham Platner on the November ballot. 
In an interview with local outlet <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/mills-calls-collins-vulnerable-but-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson/73292374">WMTW</a>, Mills said she has not spoken with Jackson and stopped short of endorsing him, adding that she still wants to see Republican Senator Susan Collins go down in November. 
“We haven’t spoken, but clearly Susan Collins is vulnerable, and she should be — she should be defeated,” Mills said. She did not comment on whether the process her party had used to coronate Jackson as the nominee would alienate voters. 
It&#8217;s unusual for a sitting Democratic governor to withhold an endorsement from her party&#8217;s U.S. Senate nominee. Perhaps the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-democrats-choose-nazi-tatted-graham-platner-in-senate-primary?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=125&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dems+Pick+Nazi-Tatted+Graham+Platner+Even+After+%E2%80%98Predator%E2%80%99s+Paradise%E2%80%99+Photos+Surface">lingering resentment</a> stems from Mills spending months crisscrossing Maine, warning party activists and voters that Platner&#8217;s baggage would be too heavy to carry — even in a blue-leaning state. Voters, along with much of the Democratic establishment, ignored her warnings. 
The Democratic establishment viewed Mills, who was recruited and backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as the strongest candidate to defeat Collins. However, Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had different plans. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-was-really-lefts-2nd-choice-for-maine-senate-option-1-had-a-big-skeleton?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Was+Really+Left%E2%80%99s+2nd+Choice+For+Maine+Senate+%E2%80%94+Option+1+Had+A+Big+%E2%80%98Skeleton%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that leftists turned to the embattled Platner after their initial choice was found to have a major “skeleton” in his closet. In July 2025, two Bernie Sanders-aligned political operatives hunted for a Democrat to challenge Collins, ultimately landing on and recruiting Platner. The oyster farmer launched his campaign a month later <a href="https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/1957780836062826868?s=20">with a viral video</a> that quickly attracted national attention from leftist activists and Democratic donors. 
Trying to stop his momentum, Mills went on the attack against Platner in commercials, highlighting his scandals and running with the tagline, &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2033915569401958580?s=20">Graham Platner: The closer you look, the worse it gets</a>.&#8221; One advertisement in particular featured older women expressing disgust. 
Ultimately, her strategy failed to gain traction with an increasingly restless base eager to buck their party’s establishment. On April 30, Mills suspended her campaign. 
“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” <a href="https://x.com/JanetMillsforME/status/2049832653189152925?s=20">Mills said in a statement</a>. 
Now that Platner is off the ballot, Democrats face a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/likely-platner-replacement-used-to-be-normal-before-the-activists-got-to-him?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=27&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Likely+Platner+Replacement+Used+To+Be+Normal%2C+Before+The+Activists+Got+To+Him">new challenge</a>: rallying their base behind a nominee who previously opposed abortion and same-sex marriage and is known for a history of public outbursts.
Republicans hope to use Jackson&#8217;s conservative past and his new leftward platform as a wedge issue, arguing the shift will alienate voters across the political spectrum and help propel Collins to victory in November.
“He’s a Bernie Bro,” Collins <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?s=20">told</a> reporters in the halls of the U.S. Senate. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Susan Collins on Troy Jackson: “He’s a Bernie Bro.” <a href="https://t.co/qzt63Y3phE">pic.twitter.com/qzt63Y3phE</a>
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>

President Trump Meets With Governors At The White House

Maine Democratic Governor Refuses To Endorse Platner Replacement

graham platner

janet mills

maine

Republicans

susan collins

troy jackson

U.S. Senate

Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.
Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin&#8217;s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.
In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative&#8217;s <a href="https://francescahong.com/policy/">Left-wing platform</a> calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.
Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/a-democratic-socialist-bartender-rattles-party-elite-in-run-for-wisconsin-governor-3fe159c0">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
“It&#8217;s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,” Hong said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMPU_oRquM8&amp;t=1s">campaign launch video</a>. “I&#8217;m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.” 
“The system is rigged. I&#8217;m running for governor to fix it. For years, we&#8217;ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that&#8217;s bullsh*t,” she added. 
Hong also <a href="https://x.com/FrancescaHongWI/status/1360704499883536385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">called</a> for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/dsa-co-chair-mocked-proudly-confirming-socialists-want-abolish-senate-national-borders-prisons">Fox News</a>, Hong&#8217;s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: &#8220;Rep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn&#8217;t exist.&#8221;
The leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor&#8217;s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/democratic-primary/2026/wisconsin">Recent polling</a> shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former <a href="https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Newsroom/About_Mandela.aspx">Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes</a> and Milwaukee County Executive <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">David Crowley</a>, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers. 
“The Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they&#8217;ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,” Crowley <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">said</a>, explaining his decision to get back into the race. 
“That is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,” he added. 
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/wisconsin-democrat-david-crowley-dirt-mcgirk-twitter-rcna588646">NBC News</a> recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called &#8220;Dirt McGirk,&#8221; which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts. 
The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/wisconsin-governor-democratic-primary-winner">Prediction markets</a> overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.  
A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.
The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-democrat-tells-muslim-senate-candidate-to-stop-speaking-arabic?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Black+Democrat+Tells+Muslim+Senate+Candidate+To+Stop+Speaking+Arabic">stop embracing</a> his Muslim identity on the campaign trail.
“The other candidate seems to be … doesn’t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don’t come out speaking only Arabic,” Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. “Don’t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.”
“You know, I’m the mother of a lesbian. I’m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don’t just represent one ethnicity or one race,” she added.
The Democratic Party&#8217;s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flat-broke-dnc-meltdown-sparks-panic-on-the-left?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DNC+Chair+Has+Phone-Hurling+Tantrum+As+Party+Melts+Down+Over+Midterm+Cash">deeper into internal turmoil</a>.
DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and “a growing sense of paranoia” about his job security, The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flat-broke-dnc-meltdown-sparks-panic-on-the-left?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DNC+Chair+Has+Phone-Hurling+Tantrum+As+Party+Melts+Down+Over+Midterm+Cash">New York Times reported</a> on Sunday. The chairman — responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure — is “relying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.” 
And for good reason. 
Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.
“This is not sustainable,” said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. “Anyone who cares about the Democratic Party — including Ken Martin — would say ‘Enough.’ The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.”

Untitled design – 2026-05-28T104054.501

A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches

democratic party

michigan

Rustbelt

Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has no regrets about aggressively campaigning for Graham Platner, who later dropped out of Maine&#8217;s U.S. Senate race following explosive rape allegations.
CBS anchor Margaret Brennan pressed Sanders over his support for Platner, whose failed candidacy upended the Democratic establishment and sent the party scrambling to find a new nominee just months before the November election.
“You were an early supporter in Maine of Graham Platner. You helped him rise. Do you regret not acting earlier to call for him to drop out, given the warning signs?” Brennan asked.
In a defiant reply, Sanders said: “No, I don&#8217;t think so. When we heard the serious allegations made against him, I wanted to get on the phone. I wanted to talk to him. I did. I asked, along with virtually all his supporters, that he should get out of the race, and he did.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
CBS: “You were an early supporter in Maine of Graham Platner, you helped him rise. Do you regret not acting earlier…given the warning signs?”
BERNIE SANDERS: “No, I don’t think so.” <a href="https://t.co/oImvb4luHc">pic.twitter.com/oImvb4luHc</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081396620545921295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-was-really-lefts-2nd-choice-for-maine-senate-option-1-had-a-big-skeleton?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Was+Really+Left%E2%80%99s+2nd+Choice+For+Maine+Senate+%E2%80%94+Option+1+Had+A+Big+%E2%80%98Skeleton%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that leftists hand-picked Platner after their initial choice was found to have a major “skeleton” in his closet. Last July, two Bernie Sanders-aligned political operatives hunted for a Democrat to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins, ultimately landing on and recruiting Platner. After a meteoric rise, Platner suspended his Senate campaign on July 8 after Democrats mounted a pressure campaign to force him out of the race following rape and sexual harassment allegations that he denies.
Over the weekend, Maine Democrats <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-party-bosses-crown-new-nominee-to-replace-graham-platner?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Democrat+Party+Bosses+Crown+New+Nominee+To+Replace+Graham+Platner">hand-selected a new nominee</a> to replace the disgraced oyster farmer: Troy Jackson.
The party announced the decision on Saturday, saying that Jackson had been “formally” selected by the Maine Democratic State Committee — meaning that not a single Maine Democrat had cast a vote for him to be their nominee in that race.
Maine Democrats’ Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson praised the move, claiming that it was just one more example of “democracy” working exactly as it should.
“Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for … doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time,” she said.
Kristen Cianci, the Republican Party&#8217;s New England communications director, blasted the move on X, drawing comparisons to Kamala Harris&#8217; coronation as the Democrats&#8217; 2024 presidential nominee.
“History is repeating itself in Maine. Troy Jackson will be crowned by @MaineDems this weekend without a single vote being cast. Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November,” she said.

GettyImages-2278039744

Bernie Sanders Doesn’t Regret Supporting Accused Rapist Graham Platner

bernie sanders

Former CNN host Don Lemon is considering a presidential run in 2028.
After several months of teasing the idea, Lemon insisted he was “serious” in an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNccbHsqgWY">interview</a> last week. His statement comes at a time when the Democrats are scrambling for direction. So far, he isn’t looking like the answer.
Lemon made his career as a particularly harsh Trump critic during the first administration. He was eventually fired from CNN after “unprofessional behavior towards women” or, as it’s known when the subject in question is not a Democrat, being a world-class sleazebag. Since then, he’s gone independent, espousing ridiculous takes that somebody is probably bored enough to listen to. In January, he was <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/don-lemon-pleads-not-guilty-to-civil-rights-charges-in-anti-ice-minnesota-church-protest">arrested</a> for joining a mob in harassing a pastor over ICE deportations.
He’s louder since having gone independent, but his brand relies on cheap provocation, not political craftsmanship. A Candace Owens of the Left, in many respects.
Could Don Lemon stand a chance in the Democratic primary? He has the identity advantage of being black and gay. These characteristics make it harder for the progressives to slander his character and provide easy defenses to any attacks from the Right.
I’d be hard-pressed to say it’s impossible, but I’m skeptical. The fact that he considers himself a viable candidate speaks more to the spiraling priorities of the Democratic party than anything else. With no political experience or original vision, Lemon seems to be of the belief that sharp anti-Trumpism qualifies one for the highest political position on the planet.
Ironically, Lemon seems to be trying to channel Trump from 2016 in his political ambitions. Like Trump in the Obama years, he’s a hypercritical celebrity with a well-established ego who seems to have decided that he would be a gift to the world of politics at a time where his party is starved for leadership and direction.
His casual comment, “I actually think I would be a really good president of the United States” echoes Trump’s “I might do something” statements in the years leading up to 2016. He’s also recycling the anti-lobbying rhetoric by insisting that he’d run “without having to beg for money.”
He explicitly compares himself to the president by musing, “It seems in this day and age you don’t have to have a ton of political experience because our current president had none — that’s very obvious.”
The only problem is that, frankly, nobody cares about Don Lemon. Trump spent a lot of time teasing his run, and whenever he would, it would electrify his enthusiastic following. So far we’re yet to see anybody get excited by the prospect of President Don Lemon except for, well… Don Lemon. But he’s been tough on Trump! And that’s what matters. His delusions of grandeur show what the Left’s institutional Trump Derangement Syndrome can do to one’s own sense of self-importance, a hallmark of the Democrats today.
Though he wasn’t a politician, Trump energized a massive base that he had built through decades of critical commentary and tabloid fame. Merging the post-Tea Party populism with his own personal brand was far less of a stretch than starting essentially from scratch which is precisely what Lemon would have to do. Even when a Trump victory looked unlikely, nobody viewed his candidacy with disinterest.
In 2016, disgruntled populist voters had no real alternative to Trump. Of the 10 Republicans on the first debate stage in 2016, nine of them were pretty much saying the same thing. For better or for worse, Trump was saying something different. That made him the natural heir to any and all anti-establishment sentiment within the party.
The same cannot be said for today’s Democrats. While they’re not without their problems, very few things remain unsaid. If you’re a Democrat who’s mad about something, there’s damn well someone out there complaining on your behalf.
But it’s not like they&#8217;re swimming in great options for 2028, they don&#8217;t seem to care and Lemon might actually be a good fit for the vibes the Party is giving: unhinged, radical, still appealing to identity ideology of half a decade ago, and rampantly socialist.
Between California Governor Gavin Newsom’s establishment feel and the DSA’s <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/07/workers-of-the-world-arent-uniting-behind-the-dsa/">poor showing</a> with minorities, it’s likely that Lemon would be able to perform at least reasonably well with young black men. But even if he overperforms significantly with that demographic, it’s hard to see how he pulls together a winning coalition.
Ultimately, Lemon is not the representative of a powerful movement. He doesn’t have a unique charisma or entertainment factor. He has no political experience and no unique vision.
But then again, neither do the Democrats.

Don Lemon

Why Don Lemon Is The Perfect Vibes Candidate For 2028 Democrats

donald trump

gavin newsom

In a move that bore striking similarities to the 2024 emergency coronation of former Vice President Kamala Harris, Democrat Party bosses in Maine hand-selected a new nominee to replace disgraced former U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner: Troy Jackson.
The party announced the decision on Saturday, saying that Jackson had been &#8220;formally&#8221; selected by the Maine Democratic State Committee — meaning that not a single Maine Democrat had cast a vote for him to be their nominee in that race.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Maine Democrats officially handpick socialist Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner.
&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for&#8230;U.S. Senate.&#8221;
Troy Jackson received zero votes from Mainers. <a href="https://t.co/x7ddUTQT8V">pic.twitter.com/x7ddUTQT8V</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081044514672689368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The Maine Democratic State Committee formally selects Troy Jackson as the replacement nominee for the Maine Democratic Party&#8217;s candidate for U.S. Senate n the 2026 general election ballot.&#8221;
Maine Democrats&#8217; Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson praised the move, claiming that it was just one more example of &#8220;democracy&#8221; working exactly as it should.
&#8220;Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Maine Democrats’ Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson: “Democracy, while sometimes really messy, is always, always worth fighting for…doing what is right is what us Maine Democrats will choose every damn time.”
Not a single Mainer voted for Graham Platner’s replacement. <a href="https://t.co/jgAoNJQcGG">pic.twitter.com/jgAoNJQcGG</a>
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2081041462746026306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A number of critics pointed out the similarities between Jackson&#8217;s rapid ascent and the vote-free installation of Harris as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, arguing that the party with an often-stated goal of &#8220;saving democracy&#8221; had very little interest in putting it into practice.
The Republican Party&#8217;s New England communications director Kristen Cianci called them out on X, sharing a post from Thursday marking two years from the day from that Harris had been gifted the presidential nomination.
&#8220;History is repeating itself in Maine. Troy Jackson will be crowned by @MaineDems this weekend without a single vote being cast. Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
History is repeating itself in Maine.
Troy Jackson will be crowned by <a href="https://x.com/MaineDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaineDems</a> this weekend without a single vote being cast.
Just like Kamala, voters will reject him when they finally get their say in November. <a href="https://t.co/HcSEHJja12">https://t.co/HcSEHJja12</a>
— Kristen Cianci (@kristencianci) <a href="https://x.com/kristencianci/status/2080425105046282380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Others, like the National Democratic Senatorial Committee, argued that Jackson offered little to no substantive difference compared to Platner.
&#8220;No tattoo. Same crazy,&#8221; the NRSC posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No tattoo, same crazy. <a href="https://t.co/jfgTxXUNO7">pic.twitter.com/jfgTxXUNO7</a>
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a href="https://x.com/NRSC/status/2081045608316436705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maine Democrats Pick Ex-GOP Logger In Must-Win Senate Race

Democrat Party Bosses Crown New Nominee To Replace Graham Platner

kamala harris

Maine Democrats

A black school board member supporting Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens told the congresswoman&#8217;s opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, to stop speaking and playing Arabic music on the campaign trail, inflaming racial tensions in one of the nation&#8217;s most contentious Senate primaries.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Farmington school board member <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Angie_Smith_(Farmington_Public_School_District,_Michigan)#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angie Smith </a>explained why she backs Stevens over El-Sayed.
“We need someone that can represent all of us, not just one race, but all races,” Smith said at a campaign event. &#8220;I am supporting Haley Stevens because she&#8217;s that candidate.&#8221;
The individual behind the camera pressed Smith, who was first elected to the school board in 2016, for clarification.
“When you say you know not just for one, what do you mean by that?” he asked.
<a href="https://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/page/board-members-2026-27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smith</a>, a single mother of three daughters, doubled down.
“The other candidate seems to be … doesn&#8217;t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don&#8217;t come out speaking only Arabic. Don&#8217;t come out with your Arabic music on,” Smith said. “Represent everyone.”
“You know, I&#8217;m the mother of a lesbian. I&#8217;m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don&#8217;t just represent one ethnicity or one race,” she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Farmington school board member Angie Smith says she’s backing Stevens because she believes she will represent everyone, “not just one race… You have to know how to work the room, don’t just come in here speaking Arabic, don’t come out with your Arabic music on.” <a href="https://t.co/L6VYip6Xft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/L6VYip6Xft</a>
— Sam Robinson (@samueljrob) <a href="https://x.com/samueljrob/status/2080758781634310654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js"></script>
The criticism of El-Sayed — a Muslim Democratic socialist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — infuriated leftists.
“This is insanely racist,” left-wing commentator <a href="https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/2080789249020858383?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mehdi Hasan</a> wrote on X. “Not only should this Angie Smith be asked to apologize but<a href="https://x.com/HaleyforMI" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> @HaleyforMI</a> should be asked to disown and condemn these racist remarks about<a href="https://x.com/AbdulElSayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> @AbdulElSayed</a> and Arab-Americans.”
Leftist streamer Hasan Piker, who has <a href="https://x.com/hasanthehun/status/2080788955352662130?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> America &#8220;deserved&#8221; 9/11, also criticized the viral exchange.
“This is not who we are as America. Especially sad to see it in the Democratic Party primary,” Piker said.
The flareup comes as Stevens and El-Sayed barnstorm Michigan, competing for support from crucial Democratic voting blocs, including Black and Muslim voters. With the party&#8217;s far-left wing behind El-Sayed, establishment Democrats have increasingly consolidated behind Stevens in the campaign’s homestretch.
On Friday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/things-just-got-harder-for-abdul-el-sayed?author=Blake+Schaper&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Major+Establishment+Democrat+Plants+Flag+Against+Abdul+El-Sayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> Stevens.
“Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever,” Whitmer said in a video <a href="https://x.com/gretchenwhitmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X.
The congresswoman, who recently went viral for her quirky <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2077370465522155935?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;stick it to them&#8221;</a> slogan, celebrated the endorsement, calling Whitmer &#8220;a champion for our state&#8221; who understands &#8220;the stakes of this race.&#8221;
Following the high-profile endorsement, Stevens’s <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/michigan-democratic-senate-primary-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">odds</a> of winning the Democratic primary on prediction market Polymarket rose from 21% to 36%.
Michigan’s Democratic primary is August 4.

Bernie Sanders Continues His “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour In Detroit With Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed

Black Democrat Tells Muslim Senate Candidate To Stop Speaking Arabic

abdul el-sayed

haley stevens

Michigan Primary

Republicans appear to support a bipartisan bill led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), but the legislation remains stalled amid reported concerns that giving the Democratic socialist a legislative victory could fuel her presidential ambitions.  
<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1837/text">The DEFIANCE Act</a> (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images And Non-Consensual Edits Act) would create a federal civil cause of action allowing victims of non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes to sue those who create or distribute fake nude or sexual images without their consent. 
Under the bill, victims could recover up to $250,000 in damages in cases involving sexual assault, stalking, or harassment, earning support from leftists, conservative Republicans, and Hollywood figures such as Paris Hilton.
AOC first introduced the legislation last year. In January, the U.S. Senate passed it unanimously.
“I want to thank the Senate cosponsors of this legislation, including my Republican co-lead, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) <a href="https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-successfully-passes-bill-to-combat-nonconsensual-sexually-explicit-deepfake-images">said</a> at the time. “Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez herself is a publicly confessed victim of explicit deepfakes. I commend her for working to create tools for victims in the fight against this despicable crime.” 
Despite bipartisan support, the bill remains stalled in the Republican-led House. <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2026/07/23/paris-hilton-and-the-politics-of-defiance-01009283?nname=playbook&amp;nid=0000014f-1646-d88f-a1cf-5f46b7bd0000&amp;nrid=5c65d8fa-b7c7-44e5-98d0-43e6086e71cd">Politico reported</a> Thursday that some Republicans worry passing AOC&#8217;s legislation could hand the New York congresswoman a political victory as she emerges as a potential 2028 presidential contender. 
“It’s a shame that this bill isn’t law because they are unwilling to give AOC a win,” one person working on the bill told the outlet. “When you look at it, everything is aligned for it to pass, except that they don’t want her to have this.”
“We’re depriving many, many people of the ability to set their lives right just to prevent one member of Congress from being able to pass a bill,” another person said, according to Politico. 
Ocasio-Cortez has blamed the delay on House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH). Earlier this month,<a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2077191769477791989?s=20"> she told The Independent</a> that the bill passed the Senate unanimously with Republican support, adding that people should &#8220;ask Jim Jordan&#8221; why it has yet to advance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters Tuesday that he supports the legislation but was unsure of its status in committee, according to Politico. 
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-passes-melania-backed-bill-to-fight-deepfake-revenge-porn">TAKE IT DOWN Act</a>, championed by first lady Melania Trump, into law. The measure criminalizes the non-consensual online distribution of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes.
The impasse comes days after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-2028-poll-just-shook-up-both-parties?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=5&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+New+2028+Poll+Just+Shook+Up+Both+Parties">New Hampshire primary poll</a> signaled an early shake-up in the 2028 Democratic presidential race, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) leading the field.
The Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, shows the Democratic socialist leading the hypothetical Democratic field with 22% support, narrowly ahead of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 21%. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) placed third with 9%. 
“You know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race,” AOC <a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2080038582211821579?s=20">said</a> in response. “I am, of course, I think very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
👀👀👀 AOC on a poll showing her leading in a 2028 primary in New Hampshire:
&#8220;One is that you know polls are polls, and a horse race is a horse race. I am, of course, I think very deeply humbled and grateful to you know folks who participate and convey that confidence.&#8221;
&#8220;I… <a href="https://t.co/fSXAOC0AGO">pic.twitter.com/fSXAOC0AGO</a>
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) <a href="https://x.com/EricMGarcia/status/2080038582211821579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2026</a></blockquote>

Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Omar, And Pressley Hold News Conference After President Trump Attacks Them On Twitter

Republicans Love This AOC-Led Bill, But They Don’t Want To Pass It

alexandria ocasio-cortez

artificial intelligence

bipartisanship

congress

Deepfakes

Dick Durbin

jim jordan

lindsey graham

melania trump

mike johnson

politico

Assassin Vance Boelter was sentenced Thursday to two consecutive life sentences without parole for murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and her husband, Mark, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife, Yvette, in what prosecutors called a politically motivated attack. 
Boelter was convicted on six federal charges stemming from the murders of the Hortmans and the shooting of the Hoffmans, as well as the attempted shooting of the couple&#8217;s daughter, Hope, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/vance-boelter-indicted-murders-melissa-and-mark-hortman-%20shootings-john-and-yvette-0">according</a> to the Department of Justice. 
At Thursday&#8217;s sentencing hearing, Colin and Sophie Hortman, the children of Melissa and Mark Hortman, described how their lives had been shattered by the murders.  
“In one night, our family went from whole to shattered,” Colin <a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/vance-boelter-to-be-sentenced-for-lawmaker-attacks-is-expected-to-receive-over-2-life-sentences/">said</a>, describing his parents as “the best” a child could ask for.
“My mom will never bake me another cake … She was supposed to bake my wedding cake. That was the one wish that I had,” Colin said. “They would have been the best grandparents. They will never meet my children. They would have traveled more, they would have mentored more leaders.”
Sophie Hortman also spoke about the trauma of losing her parents.
 “What I cared about was that my entire life had just been shattered in 30 seconds … We had to stand up and keep going,” she said.
Boelter <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vance-boelter-sentencing-man-killed-minnesota-democratic-lawmaker-face-rcna588852">apologized</a> in court to the Hortman family and his other victims. 
“To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame, or loneliness, I am truly sorry,” he said.
According to court documents, Boelter researched the homes and routines of top Democratic lawmakers before embarking on what prosecutors described as a &#8220;murderous rampage” while disguised as a police officer conducting wellness checks.
In addition to targeting the Hortmans and the Hoffmans, Boelter also went to the homes of Rep. Kristin Bahner and Sen. Ann Rest, both Democrats, but neither answered the door.
A two-day manhunt ended with Boelter&#8217;s arrest near his family home in Green Isle, Minnesota.
Officers found a list of 45 Democratic state officials and their addresses in his car, along with “No Kings” protest signs in the back of his car. Authorities have said Boelter was not a supporter of the demonstrators and had told family members before the shootings to “pray that something takes the wind out of these protests’ sails.” 
Prosecutors argued Boelter carried out the attacks in an effort to tip  Minnesota’s “delicate” balance of power in Republicans’ favor, KTSP news <a href="https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/an-attack-on-representative-democracy-itself-filing-details-boelters-motives-for-night-of-terror/">reported</a>. They noted that the state House was evenly split 67-67 while Democrats held a one-seat Senate majority. Had Boelter succeeded in killing all four Democratic lawmakers he targeted, prosecutors argued, “the inevitable result would be a shift in the balance of power in both legislative houses.”  

In addition to his federal conviction, Boelter still faces multiple state charges, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer, and animal cruelty for allegedly killing the Hortmans&#8217; golden retriever, Gilbert.  

Boelter also previously served on Minnesota&#8217;s Workforce Development Board after being appointed by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. Walz has said he did not know Boelter personally, with his office noting that the board has more than 60 members and that governors do not personally interview applicants for such positions. 
&nbsp;

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