Charlie Kirk’s Murder Prompts New Hate Crime Bill
California Republican Rep. Laurie Davies has introduced a bill to add political affiliation to the state’s hate crime classifications, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation that it aims to “lower the political temperature.”
Political violence against high-profile figures has increased recently, notably reaching a new high in 2024 when President Donald Trump suffered two assassination attempts during his campaign. Further compounded by the tragic murders of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Minnesota Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in 2025, Davies introduced Assembly Bill 1535 on January 5.
AB 1535, also known as the Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Prevention Act, draws inspiration from a handful of political attacks that have occurred since 2022, including honoring Hortman and Kirk in the name of legislation. In considering the impact she wanted to have on the 2026 legislative year, Davies told DCNF she wanted to help ease tensions between the two parties. (RELATED: Worrying number of young people say political violence is justified: NEW POLL)
“I just want people to realize that there was a time when agreeing to disagree with people and their political beliefs, their religion or whatever, was acceptable. And we need to bring that back and stop pointing fingers. [each other]and make sure we have the facts,” Davies said. “So when it came time to look at the legislation this year, I really wanted to do something.”
“That’s why I thought we needed to lower the political temperature and we needed to impose strict sanctions for acts of political violence, you know, like a chilling agent. So that sets clear boundaries: although, of course, political debates encourage targeting individuals for physical harm because of their beliefs or their elected position, that is a serious criminal offense for the state,” Davies added.
News of the deaths of Hortman and her husband broke in June 2025 after they were gunned down in their home overnight in a targeted political assassination. Democratic Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also seriously injured by gunfire at their home the same night.
Shortly after the attack, authorities captured Vance Boelter, 57, and the Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office charged him a month later with six federal counts.
A few months later, in September 2025, Kirk was assassinated during a conference at Utah Valley University. The TPUSA founder was on the first stop of his new college tour. Videos leading up to the tragic incident showed the campus area filled with students and others waiting to speak or see Kirk speaking to others.
However, shortly after the event began, a gunshot rang out, Kirk was hit and it was later confirmed that he had died after being rushed to hospital. After a lengthy manhunt, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested and charged with Kirk’s alleged murder.
“Unfortunately, over the last ten years, you’ve seen neighbors say, ‘I don’t want to put up a campaign sign,’ for fear that ‘my house will be vandalized, or I might even be physically attacked.’ And that’s not good. We have the right, especially when we have elections, and we have the right to express what we believe in and who we stand for,” Davies told the DCNF.
A police officer passes abandoned chairs and trash past the Charlie Kirk memorial. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“But when it comes to the physical point and the point where people are afraid to even say anything, that’s where, again, we have to stand up,” Davies continued. “I think, again, we need to make sure that people are aware of what’s going on. Even if you look at the state level, people are very frustrated.”
Under the proposed text of AB 1535, the measure would add political affiliation as a qualifying characteristic for hate crime charges. The law states that a hate crime “means a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of one or more of the following real or perceived characteristics of the victim,” including: disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion.
Addressing potential concerns that the Democratic supermajority could pose, Davies stressed that his bill would not infringe on the free speech of either side.
“I think one of the most important things is number one: We’re not touching on free speech at all. This is really about people taking action, taking physical action against another person because of their political beliefs,” Davies said. “That’s when they cross that line and get really physical.”
Davies added that she has personally heard the concerns of her constituents, particularly young adults who want to “stand up and say where they stand” but are afraid their opinions will be heard.
With the bill just introduced, Davies told DCNF that she’s already had support from fellow Republicans, but she expects Democrats to eventually respond. When asked if she had a message for those who might potentially oppose the bill, she said the ultimate goal of the bill is to help prevent tragedies from happening again.
“All I can say is I’m talking about it as an elected official and we’re all elected officials, we all represent a community. And the bottom line is this bill is about protecting the community, about preventing any tragedy from happening. And again, letting them know that free speech exists,” Davies said. “But, you know, doing physical harm is way beyond the bounds.”
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