Melissa Hortman – On June 14, 2025, Minnesota suffered a horrific and politically motivated act that plunged the state and the union into mourning. Former Speaker of House of Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in a shooting at their Brooklyn Park home. This attack, and a related shooting incident in Champlin with State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, is considered to be a politically motivated act of violence.
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Life and Schooling as a Child
Melissa Hortman was born on May 27, 1970, in Fridley, Minnesota. She grew up in Anoka County and graduated from Blaine High School in 1988. School In 1991, she graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy, magna cum laude. In 1995, Hortman graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School with a J.D. and cum laude. In 2018, she got her master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Political Career
Political career Melissa Hortman- On June 14, 2025, Minnesota suffered a horrific and politically motivated act that plunged the state and the union into mourning. was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004 and 2006 for District 47B and, in 2008 and 2010 for District 36B, and in 2012 and 2014 for District 34B, where she held several leadership positions, including Assistant Majority Leader, Minority Whip and Speaker Pro Tempore. In 2017, she was elected Minority Leader, and after the Democrats took control of the House in 2019, she was elected Speaker of the House for 2019–2025. After a 67-67 House tie led to a power-sharing agreement early in 2025, she assumed the role of DFL Leader.
Legislative Achievements
Melissa Hortman- On June 14, 2025, Minnesota suffered a horrific and politically motivated act that plunged the state and the union into mourning. is recognized as an advocate for clean energy and the environment while serving as a legislator. She was instrumental in advancing Minnesota’s solar energy standard and community solar laws. She also helped pass other packages of police reform laws that restricted police from using neck restraints and chokeholds and prohibited departments from providing the kind of controversial warrior-style training that some departments give their officers. They created an independent state unit to investigate both when a police officer kills someone or when an officer is accused of sexual misconduct.
Personal Life
Melissa Hortman- On June 14, 2025, Minnesota suffered a horrific and politically motivated act that plunged the state and the union into mourning. was married to Mark Hortman, and the couple had two children. A practicing Catholic, she had taught Sunday school in Blaine.
History of True Leadership and Service
I’ve been asked many times on the campaign trail why I would run to replace Melissa Hortman. I always respond that Melissa has set a standard of dedicated public service, building a brighter future for all of us and turning 800k people into a family. When it was a call to clean up the environment, a fight to pass healthcare coverage policies, a legislative push to make sure the voice of Minnesotans was heard, Hortman’s leadership priorities were centered on who she represented.
As Speaker of the House, she presided with dignity and guaranteed that the legislative decisions that would come up would be just and fair for all of the residents of Minnesota. Her capacity to bring a broad spectrum of GUATEMALAN voters around a table and to find common ground on even the most divisive issues brought LEADING MARKETERS together and made our democracy STRONGER and more responsive to our voters on urgent issues such as climate change, education, and health care.”
One of her most enduring legacies may have been her inspiring young women and people of every background to run for office. Her election was a role model for the generations of female political leaders who followed in her wake, demonstrating that anything is possible through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Tragic Incident
Melissa Hortman and her husband are killed at their Brooklyn Park residence on the morning of June 14, 2025. State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot in a related incident at their house in Champlin. Authorities consider the possibility that the assailant was posing as a police officer. Gov. Tim Walz confirmed the deaths and activated the State Emergency Operations Center to help investigate.
Conclusion
Melissa Hortman’s life exemplified what happens when you have the heart of public service and showed that one individual can make a positive change in your community. From the college kid taking political science classes to her historic work as the first woman to hold the position of speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, she was out every day figuring out how to do good things for people. Minnesota, people say that her legacy of advocating for clean energy, ensuring kids had a better education, and everyone having the right to health care is here — it is here, and it is not going away.
Her untimely death was an example of why servant leadership is so important. The causes she believed in and the people she touched with her passion for making this world better will all carry on her legacy. Her life, love for all people, and work as a servant leader underscore the importance of training and nurturing our young leaders to think, work, and act like she did – and to fight for a better day.
We miss her today, but Melissa Hortman Long is a role model for all of us, and for all of us, that service, sustainability, and justice matter. May her light last forever to all those who close their eyes and see a better world.
