If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably seen the name Vance Luther Boelter popping up in some pretty heated arguments. It’s one of those topics where everyone seems to have a different "fact" to throw at you. People are digging through old records and social media posts, trying to pin down one specific thing: was Vance Luther Boelter a Democrat or a Republican?
Honestly, the answer isn’t a simple checkmark on a voter registration card. It’s a messy mix of public appointments, private voting records, and a tragic series of events that shook Minnesota in June 2025.
Let’s get into the weeds of what we actually know.
The Political Record: Vance Luther Boelter Democrat or Republican?
When you look at the paper trail, it’s easy to see why people are confused. In Minnesota, you don't actually register by party. You just register to vote. This lack of a "D" or "R" next to a name on a state list is exactly where the online rumors started to fester.
However, we can look back at his time in Oklahoma. In 2004, records show Boelter registered as a Republican. That’s a hard fact. But 2004 was a long time ago, and people change.
Fast forward to more recent years in Minnesota. The Minnesota DFL (the state's Democratic party) pulled their primary data after the 2025 shootings. They found that Boelter did vote in the 2024 presidential primary, but he did not vote as a Democrat. While the Republican Party of Minnesota hasn't handed over their private data, his roommate, David Carlson, told reporters that Boelter was a "strong supporter" of Donald Trump and had voted for him.
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The Walz Appointment Confusion
One of the biggest talking points for people trying to claim Boelter was a Democrat is his appointment to a state board. It’s true: Governor Tim Walz reappointed him to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2019.
Does that make him a Democrat? Not necessarily.
- He was first appointed by Governor Mark Dayton (a Democrat) back in 2016.
- These boards are designed to be bipartisan or non-partisan.
- He served as a "business member" or "private sector representative."
Basically, these appointments are often about professional background—like Boelter’s experience in food production and security—rather than political loyalty. One board member even noted that the group rarely, if ever, interacted with the Governor’s office directly.
What His Friends and Roommates Say
If you want to know what someone actually believes, you usually look at who they hang out with. Paul Schroeder, a long-time friend of Boelter, described him as "right-leaning" and a "conservative Republican."
There was a side to him that he kept relatively quiet around some people, but his roommate David Carlson was more blunt. Carlson mentioned that Boelter listened to Infowars and held very intense views on specific issues.
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The most glaring piece of evidence regarding his political alignment came from the FBI investigation after the June 14, 2025, attacks. When authorities searched his SUV, they found a "hit list." This list didn't have a random assortment of names. It specifically targeted:
- Prominent Democratic lawmakers.
- Abortion rights advocates.
- Pro-choice individuals in Minnesota.
The Motive and the "Manifesto"
When we talk about whether someone is a Democrat or Republican, we’re usually talking about their values. Boelter’s values, at least toward the end, seemed to be driven by a very specific, radicalized version of conservatism.
He was deeply religious, having attended the Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas back in the late 80s. Later in life, he founded an evangelical nonprofit called Revoformation Ministries. While being religious doesn't dictate your politics, his specific focus on abortion became a central pillar of his identity.
In a video from 2023, Boelter was seen preaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he claimed the U.S. was in a "bad place" because churches weren't doing enough to oppose abortion. He reportedly "really hated" abortion, a sentiment that seems to have fueled the tragic events involving House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Senator John Hoffman—both of whom were high-profile members of the DFL.
Misinformation and the "Left-Wing" Theory
You might have seen a theory floating around that Boelter was actually a left-wing extremist. The logic there was that he targeted Hortman and Hoffman because they supposedly "stripped" health care from undocumented immigrants in a budget deal.
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There is zero evidence for this. The FBI and state investigators have been pretty clear: this was an act of "targeted political violence" against Democrats. The presence of the list targeting pro-choice figures makes the "left-wing" theory fall apart under any real scrutiny.
The Timeline of June 2025
To understand the gravity of this, you have to look at how it played out. It wasn't just a political disagreement; it was a "night of terror," as the U.S. Attorney put it.
- 2:00 AM: Boelter arrives at Senator John Hoffman's home in Champlin. He's wearing a police-style badge and carrying a flashlight, pretending to be an officer. He shoots the Senator and his wife, Yvette.
- 3:30 AM: He arrives at the home of Melissa Hortman. This time, he's wearing a silicone face mask and a wig. He kills both Melissa and her husband, Mark.
- The Manhunt: A 36-hour search involving hundreds of officers ends in Green Isle, Minnesota. Boelter is found in the woods and eventually surrenders.
Actionable Insights: How to Spot Political Disinformation
When names like Vance Luther Boelter trend, the information environment gets messy fast. If you're trying to figure out the truth behind a public figure's political leanings, here is how you should approach it:
- Check Primary Sources: Look for actual voter registration data or court documents. Social media "screengrabs" are easily faked.
- Understand Board Appointments: In many states, being appointed to a committee by a Governor doesn't mean you share their party. Many positions are legally required to be filled by the "opposite" party or by non-partisan professionals.
- Look at the Targets: In cases of political violence, the targets often tell you more about the perpetrator's ideology than any past voting record.
- Verify the "Manifesto": If a manifesto is mentioned, wait for law enforcement to confirm its contents. In the Boelter case, early rumors of a "left-wing" motive were debunked once the FBI released details about his pro-life "hit list."
The evidence overwhelmingly points to Boelter holding radicalized, far-right conservative views, despite his past professional participation in bipartisan state boards. While he may have once been a "quiet" Republican, his actions in 2025 were defined by a violent opposition to the Democratic party and its platforms.