Fact Check: Collin Rugg's Claim About Melissa Hortman's Assassination
What We Know
On June 14, 2025, Democratic House leader Melissa Hortman was tragically assassinated in Minnesota. In the immediate aftermath, right-wing influencer Collin Rugg, who has a following of 1.8 million on X (formerly Twitter), posted a report suggesting that her assassination was linked to her recent vote on a controversial issue regarding MinnesotaCare. Specifically, the vote in question involved ending the eligibility of undocumented adults for MinnesotaCare, a subsidized health insurance program for low-income residents. Rugg's post insinuated a direct connection between the vote and Hortman's death, implying that it was politically motivated.
Rugg's claim was echoed and amplified by other right-wing figures, including Mike Cernovich, who suggested in a conspiratorial tone that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may have orchestrated the assassination as a warning to others. This narrative, however, was quickly challenged by facts surrounding the legislative context of the vote and the nature of the political landscape in Minnesota at the time.
Analysis
The assertion made by Rugg that Hortman's assassination was related to her vote on MinnesotaCare lacks credible evidence. Reports indicate that both Hortman and Governor Walz had worked together to negotiate a compromise on the MinnesotaCare issue, which was aimed at garnering bipartisan support to pass a state budget. This compromise included maintaining healthcare eligibility for children while ending it for undocumented adults, a decision that was difficult for Hortman but necessary to avoid a government shutdown (Minnesota Reformer).
Furthermore, the narrative pushed by Rugg and others has been criticized for its lack of understanding of the complexities involved in the MinnesotaCare legislation. The claim that Hortman's death was politically motivated is further undermined by the fact that another Democratic senator, John Hoffman, also voted against the rollback of MinnesotaCare for undocumented individuals but was not targeted by the suspect in the assassination (Alternet).
The sources reporting on this incident, including the Minnesota Reformer and other reputable news outlets, have been identified as credible. They provide context and analysis that counter the misleading claims made by right-wing influencers. The spread of disinformation surrounding this tragic event has been noted as part of a broader pattern of exploiting crises for political gain (Yahoo News).
Conclusion
The claim that Collin Rugg suggested Melissa Hortman's assassination was related to her vote on MinnesotaCare is True. Rugg did post such a report, which was part of a larger narrative propagated by right-wing influencers following the assassination. However, the context and facts surrounding the vote and the political dynamics in Minnesota indicate that the claim is based on speculation rather than substantiated evidence. The narrative has been widely criticized for its inaccuracy and for exploiting a tragic event for political purposes.
Sources
- A Democratic legislator was assassinated; right-wing influencers ...
- A Democratic legislator was assassinated; right-wing ...
- How right-wing influencers spread lies about Minnesota lawmaker's ...
- How right-wing influencers spread lies about Minnesota ...
- Minnesota assassination Archives • Wisconsin Examiner
- A Democratic legislator was assassinated; right-wing ...
- RW disinformation re Hortman (Minnesota) assassination
- Vance Luther Boelter Archives
