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New California bill named after Charlie Kirk, Melissa Hortman adds ‘political affiliation’ to hate crimes

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New California bill named after Charlie Kirk, Melissa Hortman adds ‘political affiliation’ to hate crimes

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A California bill introduced last week seeks to reduce political violence by adding political affiliation to the state’s protected characteristics in order to classify it as a hate crime.

The bill, AB 1535, as first reported by the Orange County Register, is called the Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Prevention Act, and is named after former Minnesota Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who were both murdered last year.

Under existing California law, hate crimes are criminal acts committed because of a victim’s actual or perceived characteristics such as race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

AB 1535 would expand that definition to include political affiliation, defined as “the state of belonging to a political party, the endorsement of a political party or a platform of a political party, or the endorsement of a politician or a platform of a politician.”

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Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk were both killed in 2025. (Glen Stubbe/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images/Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WHY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CASES AREN’T AUTOMATICALLY DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE

State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, a Republican from Laguna Niguel, introduced the bill, saying it is intended to promote a culture in which free speech is valued and protected.

“Our nation was founded on political freedoms. However, political violence is detrimental to our democracy and shouldn’t be tolerated,” Davies said. “Leaders are required to cool the temperature, not fan the flames. AB 1535 isn’t just about protecting Californians; it’s about a cultural reset. It’s a commitment to the idea that every Californian has the right to their political views without fear of being targeted by those who see them as an enemy rather than a neighbor.” 

Under current state law, political affiliation is already a protected category in civil contexts such as employment or housing, but not within criminal hate crime statutes, according to Davies. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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NEARLY 40% OF YOUNG AMERICANS SAY POLITICAL VIOLENCE CAN BE JUSTIFIED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS

Flowers and tributes to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk have filled Utah Valley University’s campus in the wake of his assassination on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.  (Fox News Digital/Deirdre Heavey)

ANTI-ICE AGITATORS SWARM VEHICLE OF CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCER NICK SORTOR

“This measure ensures that our justice system recognizes political violence for exactly what it is: a hate-motivated crime,” she said.

Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in a targeted attack at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.

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Kirk was gunned down while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, at a speaking event for Turning Point.

A Luigi Mangione supporter stands outside Federal Court in Manhattan, N.Y., Jan. 9, 2026, where a suppression hearing is underway.  (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

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A similar bill adding political affiliation as a protected characteristic in hate crime law was introduced in Washington in December.

Some law enforcement experts have warned that political violence is on the rise, citing high-profile attacks, including the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and two assassination attempts against now-President Donald Trump in 2024.

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San Francisco, CA

Drizzle Clings To San Francisco, Then Sunshine Cranks Up The Heat

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Drizzle Clings To San Francisco, Then Sunshine Cranks Up The Heat


San Francisco rolled in today, under a gray blanket of low clouds, morning temperatures hovering near 55°F and pockets of patchy drizzle dampening parts of the city. Forecasters expect that light mist to drift on and off through the day and into early Monday, keeping highs mainly in the low to mid 60s with a steady onshore breeze keeping things feeling cooler near the water.

Afternoon Winds Pick Up

By afternoon, winds are set to swing around to the west and west-southwest and turn noticeably breezier, generally in the 6 to 12 mph range, with occasional stronger gusts funneling through the usual gaps and passes. That onshore push will leave the waterfront cooler and cloudier, while neighborhoods just a few miles inland should manage a modest warmup. The National Weather Service expects these breezy conditions to hang around into the middle of next week as the pattern dries out.

Drizzle Through Monday, Then A Warmup

A couple of weak impulses will keep light rain and drizzle in the mix tomorrow, though totals are expected to be minimal, and many parts of the city will stay either dry or just briefly damp. The marine layer is projected to thin out Tuesday, April 28, into Wednesday, April 29, which should let inland parts of the Bay Area climb into the upper 60s and low 70s.

Commute And Outdoor Plans

For tomorrow morning’s commute, expect slick patches on sidewalks and bike lanes where drizzle lingers, though driving impacts should remain minor. It is still smart to leave a little extra room for braking if the pavement is damp. Planning to be outside tomorrow. Toss a light rain jacket in your bag, especially if you are headed to the immediate coast or moving through the Golden Gate corridor, where the wettest pockets are most likely. There are no watches or warnings in effect for the city at this time.

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Denver, CO

Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets confident with backs against wall

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Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets confident with backs against wall


MINNEAPOLIS – There’s no more space between the Nuggets and the brink. “We put ourselves in a really bad spot,” Christian Braun acknowledged Saturday after the Nuggets took the last step back before the edge that ends their season. “All you can do is fix it. The spot we’re in is not where we wanted […]



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Seattle, WA

Refsnyder’s pinch-hit HR lifts Seattle Mariners over Cards

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Refsnyder’s pinch-hit HR lifts Seattle Mariners over Cards


Perhaps all Rob Refsnyder needed was some extra dad strength to break out of his early-season slump.

Refsnyder continued his strong recent play in a major way for the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, blasting a go-ahead, pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the M’s to a 3-2 win and series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Box Score

Refsnyder battled back after falling behind 0-2 against Cardinals left-hander Jo Jo Romero and used some help from MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike System to do so. The veteran kept his plate appearance alive by winning a challenge on a called third strike on the third pitch of the at-bat. He then fouled off a pitch and watched two balls before clubbing a sweeper 412 feet with a 106.6 mph exit velocity into the Mariners’ bullpen for a 3-2 lead.

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It was the 12th pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later in team history, per the Mariners.

The home run was Refsnyder’s second of the season and second since being reinstated off the paternity list on April 17 following the birth of his third child.

Prior to going on the paternity list on April 14, Refsnyder was 0 for 16 at the plate in his first eight games in a Mariners uniform. In eight games since he returned, he’s 4 for 17 with the two homers.

Eduard Bazardo pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. Jose A. Ferrer pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save as a Mariner.

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The Mariners improved 14-15 overall and 3-0 on their six-game road trip.

Seattle Mariners coverage

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