After murders of Hortman, Kirk, do Minnesota politicians still want to run for office?

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ROCHESTER — Today, people in public office or considering a run for public office are faced with a more urgent question: Is it worth it? The murders of Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and husband Mark Hortman in June and conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 have raised the stakes and thrown into stark relief how heated, polarizing and potentially dangerous today’s political arena has become. ADVERTISEMENTToday, it’s not only the commitment in time, energy and money that must be weighed in running for public office. “Mommy, make sure you wear your good shoes so that if someone brings a gun, you can run,” Hicks recalled. “The poisonous nature of our divisions in the state discourages a lot of some of the best people from even considering a run for public office,” Schier said.