Urgent: Public Denouncement Needed for Alec Lace’s Dangerous Statement

I am deeply concerned about a recent public statement made by conservative commentator Alec Lace following the killing of Minnesota State Representative Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband. On June [exact date], Lace posted on social media: “Make no mistake. What happened to Melissa Hortman was a message to all Democrats. You vote against us and your life is at stake!” — Source: Lead Stories, June 2025 (https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2025/06/fact-check-alec-lace-life-at-stake-vote-against-us.html) This type of rhetoric—whether presented as speculation or not—has no place in our public discourse. It normalizes political violence, deepens partisan divisions, and undermines the safety of public servants. In a time when the U.S. Capitol Police report a 400% increase in threats against Members of Congress since 2016 (per USCP Annual Report (https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases)), we cannot afford to dismiss this as “just talk.” Past bipartisan actions—such as congressional condemnations following the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the shooting at the congressional baseball practice—show that standing together against violent rhetoric is possible and necessary. I urge you to: 1. Publicly and unequivocally denounce this statement, affirming that no elected official should fear for their life because of a vote. 2. Call for Alec Lace’s resignation from any public platforms, networks, or boards that give legitimacy to his voice. 3. Inform your constituents what actions you and your colleagues are taking to prevent and condemn partisan attacks—whether the target is a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. This is not a matter of left versus right—it is a matter of right versus wrong. Elected leaders have a duty to safeguard democratic processes and protect those who serve, regardless of party. Please provide a public statement on this matter within the next two weeks. Your response—or your lack of one—will be shared with local media, civic groups, and fellow constituents so the public can clearly see where you stand on protecting elected officials from politically motivated threats.