California lawmakers have introduced a new bill, AB 1535, aimed at reducing political violence by classifying attacks based on political affiliation as hate crimes. The legislation, called the Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Prevention Act, is named after Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, and former Minnesota Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman, both of whom were murdered in 2025. Currently, California hate crime law covers attacks motivated by race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. AB 1535 would expand this definition to include political affiliation, defined as belonging to a political party, supporting a party or platform, or endorsing a politician or political platform. Republican State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, who introduced the bill, emphasized that the measure is intended to protect political freedoms and foster a culture of respectful debate. “Political violence is detrimental to our democracy and shouldn’t be tolerated,” she said, describing AB 1535 as a “cultural reset” to ensure Californians can express political views without fear of being targeted. Political affiliation is already protected under civil law in California, such as employment and housing, but the bill would extend this protection to criminal hate crime statutes. Supporters argue this ensures the justice system treats politically motivated attacks with the same seriousness as other hate crimes. The bill follows similar legislative efforts in Washington state, introduced last December, reflecting growing concerns over political violence. High-profile attacks in recent years, including the assassinations of Kirk and Hortman, have highlighted the risks. Other incidents cited by experts include the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump in 2024. AB 1535 will now move through the legislative process in California, where lawmakers and the public will debate whether political affiliation should become a protected characteristic under hate crime law, marking a significant step in addressing politically motivated violence in the U.S.