House Grapples With Security Fears After MN Killings

The Washington Post reports:

There is no plan to easily replace one or multiple House members should the worst happen. The Constitution requires the states to pull together a special election to fill individual vacancies, something that takes anywhere from three months to sometimes a year.

When there’s a clear, large House majority for one party, such a prolonged vacancy makes little difference to the institution at large. But now, after three straight elections left one party with just single-digit control of the lower chamber, every seat can mean the difference between majority control and legislation passing or failing.

“The status quo also creates a perverse incentive for political violence through targeted killings designed to switch the majority party in the House,” Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Washington) said at last fall’s hearing.

Read the full article.

As the shootings in MN rattle Capitol Hill, lawmakers are scrambling to disrupt what they see as an escalating pattern of political violence — and grappling with the growing fear they might not be able to stop it.

w/ @helen_huiskes @DaniellaMicaela https://t.co/ysFMi9gF8d

— Riley Rogerson (@riley_rogerson) June 17, 2025

Members of Congress worry about lack of plan as political violence rises⁰Minnesota’s shooting has temporarily changed the state legislature’s balance of power, a fear for some in Congress. https://t.co/WxAB3tGGCH

— Linda Hill (@bulldoghill) June 19, 2025

NEW: Minnesota shootings reignite security concerns for Congress

Capitol Police conducting briefings, Jeffries pushing for bigger office budgets

But ensuring safety for 535 members remains financial & logistical challenge

w/ @scottwongDC @news_julhttps://t.co/T236LPjEpz

— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) June 17, 2025

The murder of a Democratic state lawmaker and shooting of another has rattled lawmakers on Capitol Hill as the nation grapples with a spike in high-profile acts of political violence in a turbulent time in American politics.https://t.co/O1PaFeULCP

— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) June 19, 2025