Who was Melissa Hortman? Minnesota lawmaker killed in attack

Who was Melissa Hortman? Minnesota lawmaker, husband assassinated in attack

Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004 and was in the middle of serving her 11th consecutive term

Who was Melissa Hortman? Minnesota lawmaker, husband assassinated in attack

Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004 and was in the middle of serving her 11th consecutive term

A TARGETED ATTACK. MY NAME IS BOB JACOBSON. LET’S LISTEN IN FOR JUST A MOMENT. PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. THIS IS A DARK DAY TODAY FOR MINNESOTA AND FOR DEMOCRACY. BUT WE WILL NOT ALLOW FEAR OR VIOLENCE TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE OR HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. WE WILL STAND TOGETHER AND WE WILL STAND STRONG. OUR HEARTS, OF COURSE, GO OUT TO THE VICTIMS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR COLLEAGUES AT THE CAPITOL AND TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE WITH DEDICATION AND WITH INTEGRITY. THESE ARE OUR PUBLIC SERVANTS, LEADERS WHO COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS. AND THEY WERE TARGETED IN A VIOLENT AND COWARDLY WAY. THE SUSPECT EXPLOITED THE TRUST OF OUR UNIFORMS. THAT OUR UNIFORMS ARE MEANT TO REPRESENT, THAT BETRAYAL IS DEEPLY DISTURBING TO THOSE OF US WHO WEAR THE BADGE WITH HONOR AND RESPONSIBILITY. WE WANT TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS INCREASED SECURITY IN PLACE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE AT RISK. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS, ESPECIALLY INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS IMPERSONATING LAW ENFORCEMENT, PLEASE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING 911 OR YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. WITH THAT, I’

Updated: 11:37 AM CDT Jun 14, 2025

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Who was Melissa Hortman? Minnesota lawmaker, husband assassinated in attack

Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004 and was in the middle of serving her 11th consecutive term

Updated: 11:37 AM CDT Jun 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A state lawmaker from the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband have been shot and killed in a politically motivated incident.Related video above: Minnesota officials give update after lawmakers shotRepresentative Melissa Hortman was the top Democratic lawmaker in the Minnesota House, and a former Speaker of the House.Hortman, as well as Minnesota Sen. John Huffman, seems to have been the target of a political assassination attempt in the cities of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, near Minneapolis. The suspect is still at large and was reported to have been impersonating law enforcement.Hortman was a leader in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, a state organization affiliated with the larger Democratic Party. Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004 and was in the middle of serving her 11th consecutive term.Hortman worked as an attorney before entering politics, losing two campaigns before her breakthrough in 2004. Hortman attended Boston University, graduating with bachelor's degrees in political science and philosophy. She went on to the University of Minnesota Law School for her law degree, and later attended Harvard University for a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School.Hortman started in politics while in college, when she interned for former Sen. Al Gore and served as a legislative correspondent for former Sen. John Kerry, who both went on to run for national office, each becoming the Democratic nominee for president in their respective races.From 2019 to 2025, Hortman served as the Speaker of the Minnesota House. In an interview near the end of her speakership, Hortman said, "The most rewarding piece of legislation we passed — for me — is paid family and medical leave."Following the 2024 election, the House chamber was evenly split along party lines, 67-67. Hortman's assassination means that the majority control of the House swings to the Republicans by one vote.Hortman and her husband are survived by their two children.

A state lawmaker from the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband have been shot and killed in a politically motivated incident.

Related video above: Minnesota officials give update after lawmakers shot

Representative Melissa Hortman was the top Democratic lawmaker in the Minnesota House, and a former Speaker of the House.

Hortman, as well as Minnesota Sen. John Huffman, seems to have been the target of a political assassination attempt in the cities of Brooklyn Park and Champlin, near Minneapolis. The suspect is still at large and was reported to have been impersonating law enforcement.

Hortman was a leader in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, a state organization affiliated with the larger Democratic Party. Hortman was first elected to the state House in 2004 and was in the middle of serving her 11th consecutive term.

Hortman worked as an attorney before entering politics, losing two campaigns before her breakthrough in 2004. Hortman attended Boston University, graduating with bachelor's degrees in political science and philosophy. She went on to the University of Minnesota Law School for her law degree, and later attended Harvard University for a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School.

Hortman started in politics while in college, when she interned for former Sen. Al Gore and served as a legislative correspondent for former Sen. John Kerry, who both went on to run for national office, each becoming the Democratic nominee for president in their respective races.

From 2019 to 2025, Hortman served as the Speaker of the Minnesota House. In an interview near the end of her speakership, , "The most rewarding piece of legislation we passed — for me — is paid family and medical leave."

Following the 2024 election, the House chamber was evenly split along party lines, 67-67. Hortman's assassination means that the majority control of the House swings to the Republicans by one vote.

Hortman and her husband are survived by their two children.