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A key campaigning space for lawmakers and political candidates to interact with Minnesotans each year is adopting new security measures in the wake of the shootings of two state legislators and their spouses.
Minnesota lawmakers will see an enhanced security presence as they staff House and Senate booths at the State Fair. The changes come as the state weighs additional safety precautions at the Capitol following the killings of House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said the emotion of losing Melissa Hortman hits her at odd moments, like when she saw the crop art piece of the longtime Minnesota House lawmaker made out of seeds at the State Fair.
“I literally am standing there, and I burst into tears seeing her picture. And so it’s still really close to the surface,” Smith said.
Smith said she’s visited the fair for the last 35 years and generally feels comfortable there.
“I’m one of those people that always feels like I’m safe and everything is going to be good,” Smith said. “But I also know from, you know, the real world, that I have to be a little bit more careful and pay a little bit more attention.”
The DFLer is stepping down after her term comes to a close. And the politicians who are vying for her seat are also putting in their time at the fair. Fellow DFLers like Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig have walked the grounds. Republican Senate candidate Adam Schwarze said the fair security is exceptional but he still gets some anxiety about what could happen.
“I do feel like, almost like a Spidey sense, like a cold chill on the nape of my neck knowing that I'm running for federal office, and that just happened here in Minnesota,” Schwarze said. “But again, as an honest broker and as somebody who’s fought against terrorism my whole life, there’s only so many things you can do.”
There’s been a heightened awareness of security since the Hortman and Hoffman shootings. Lawmakers have discussed additional security measures at the Capitol complex. And the Senate and House of Representatives have earmarked funding to let lawmakers install additional security systems in their homes.
But there are still questions about how to keep them safe as they meet with members of the public at community events or other quintessential places for politicking like the State Fair.
For the first time this year, State Patrol officers guarded the Education Building when state legislators staffed their House and Senate booths there. And public postings online announcing which lawmakers would be at the booths have been discontinued.
Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, said lawmakers had already been hypervigilant about their safety, especially after some were the targets of swatting incidents, where law enforcement are called to someone’s home without their knowledge. But following the shootings, they were taking the additional step.
“It’s increased before the horrible day in June, but today you’ll see a State Highway Patrol out here protecting our legislators that wasn’t here before, and so it’s sadly necessary,” Koran said during a Friday shift at the Senate booth.
Unlike the Capitol, there are other security measures in place at the fairgrounds, too, like bag checks and metal detectors at the entries.
Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, said the additional security provides some peace of mind.
“This would be my 17th tour of duty here at the State Fair, and it feels pretty much the same as always,” Torkelson said. “I don’t feel ‘'m any more at risk than I ever have been here at the State Fair and but at the same time, it’s comforting to know that there is security around.”
Others said they didn’t notice the difference.
“Honestly, I didn’t know,” Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely, said. “They’re all over this building.”
Rep. Katie Jones, DFL-Minneapolis, said public events like the fair can generate a sense of community and trust between elected officials and members of the public.
“I probably feel a little different than some of my other colleagues. I feel safe among Minnesotans. I want to live in a society in which we do trust one another, there are going to be bad, you know, some bad people, and we, we need to, you know, deal with them, bring them to justice,” she said.
“But I want to trust my neighbor And I think the more we do get to know one another … I think we build that trust, which is so critical to a healthy state.”
English (US) ·