MINNEAPOLIS, MN — June 16, 2025
Minnesota is reeling after the shocking deaths of Melissa Hortman, longtime Democratic Speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband in what authorities have described as a targeted act of political violence. The couple was killed early Saturday at their suburban Brooklyn Park home, just hours after attending a major Democratic gathering in downtown Minneapolis.
Hortman, 53, had built a reputation as one of the most influential and pragmatic lawmakers in the state, known for her ability to navigate a deeply divided Legislature and broker difficult compromises. Her killing—paired with the shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in nearby Champlin—has stunned the political community and spurred urgent conversations about political extremism and elected officials’ safety.
From Chili Burritos to the Speaker’s Gavel
Hortman’s path to leadership was unconventional but deeply grounded. A lifelong Minnesotan, she once worked at a taco stand and ran parts at an auto shop. She earned her law degree after college in Boston, then returned to Minnesota to work as a housing rights attorney fighting discrimination.
She was elected to the House in 2004 and steadily rose through the ranks. As speaker, she passed landmark legislation, including universal free school lunches in 2023, and championed causes such as environmental justice, education equity, and health care expansion.
“She was a true leader… but was always so grounded and such a decent person,” said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, her friend and political ally. “You look at her pictures and you know what she was about.”
Violence Follows Democratic Unity Dinner
The double tragedy occurred just hours after many of Minnesota’s top Democrats, including Hortman and the Hoffmans, had gathered for the annual Humphrey-Mondale Dinner—an event honoring liberal titans Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale. The motive behind the shootings remains under investigation, but authorities are treating both incidents as targeted political attacks.
The Hoffmans survived, according to family members. A nephew posted on social media that they are recovering from surgery after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
A Leader Who Sacrificed for the State
In one of her final and most controversial legislative acts, Hortman cast the decisive 68th vote to pass a 2026–27 state budget compromise. The deal included a Republican-demanded provision that ends state health coverage for undocumented adult immigrants beginning in 2026—something she openly opposed but saw as necessary to avoid a government shutdown.
“I know that people will be hurt by that vote,” she said at a tearful press conference days before her death. “We worked very hard to try to get a budget deal that wouldn’t include that provision.”
Her colleagues credited her with protecting the broader budget framework while acknowledging the personal toll of the decision.
A Legacy Rooted in Service
Outside the Capitol, Hortman was known for her volunteer work with Helping Paws, a nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans and people with disabilities. A 2022 photo posted by the group shows her with Gilbert, a golden retriever she helped train and later adopted.
A growing memorial at the State Capitol in St. Paul now includes flowers, candles, hand-written Post-it notes, and a photograph of Melissa and her husband. One message reads: “You changed countless lives.”
“This feels so personal,” said U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, who saw Hortman the night before the attack. “We’re all very good friends, of course… to have this happen so shortly after we were all together is devastating.”
