Search Continues for Suspect in Shooting of Public Servant and Husband

Melissa Hortman (born May 27, 1970) was a prominent American politician and longtime member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing northern Twin Cities districts since 2005. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 until her death in 2025 and was the DFL Leader at that time. Hortman was widely regarded as one of the most influential and consequential speakers in the state's history, known for her savvy political leadership and dedication to progressive policy reforms[1][3][6]. Hortman grew up in Anoka County, Minnesota, graduating from Blaine High School in 1988. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude in Political Science and Philosophy from Boston University in 1991, a Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1995, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School in 2018. Before her legislative career, she worked for U.S. Senators Al Gore and John Kerry and practiced law[1][4][6][7]. Throughout her career, Hortman championed issues such as environmental protection, clean energy, transportation infrastructure, education funding, gun safety, and social justice. Under her leadership, Minnesota enacted landmark laws expanding abortion protections, LGBTQ+ rights, climate goals, police accountability reforms, paid family leave, universal school meals, recreational marijuana legalization, and voting rights expansion. She was noted for her ability to forge bipartisan agreements, including a budget deal involving health care for undocumented adults[2][3]. Hortman was deeply involved in her community, volunteering in schools, teaching Sunday school, serving on local commissions, and fostering service dogs. She lived in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with her husband Mark and their two children. Tragically, Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in a politically motivated assassination at their home in June 2025, an event that shocked Minnesota and the nation[1][2][3][4]. Her legacy is remembered for transformative leadership, advocacy for Minnesotans’ rights, and her compassionate public service.