Hortman served Minnesota’s DFL House caucus for around 20 years as a Representative and Speaker. 

By Alexandra DeYoe 

Roseville state officials reflect on late Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman’s impact on state politics and her legacy as a compassionate and thoughtful leader following her death in June. 

A gunman shot and killed Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home in June in what Gov. Tim Walz called a possibly politically motivated assassination. Law enforcement said they later discovered this was part of a planned list of attacks by the gunman. 

Rep. David Gottfried (DFL-Roseville) said Hortman’s death still doesn’t feel real to him. He said he worked closely with the former House speaker after he was elected in a special election in March. 

“Beyond the personal tragedy of losing someone who you deeply, or at least I deeply, deeply admired, the vast majority of us and the legislature did, there’s the tragedy of the state losing probably its most effective leader,” Gottfried said. 

Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) said he was horrified after hearing the news about the Hortmans and that Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were in the hospital with injuries from the same gunman. Marty said he worked with both Hoffman and Hortman for years on various committees and bills. 

“First and second and third reactions were all horror,” Marty said. “The fear of what this means and everything, but the first reaction and second and third and so on reactions are all just absolute horror.” 

State leader and role model for many 

Born in Fridley, Hortman joined the state House in 2005 after graduating from the University of Minnesota law school in 1995, interning for the U.S. Senate’s Al Gore and John Kerry and later as an assistant attorney for Hennepin County. She became House speaker in 2017 and again in 2019 after Democrats retook the state House. 

During the past session, Hortman helped lead a boycott by House Democrats until a power-sharing agreement was reached with Republicans and a speaker was elected following a 67-67 House tie in the November 2024 elections. 

One of the qualities that made Hortman an effective state leader was her way of fostering talent and elevating voices even when they were different from hers, Gottfried said. No one can replace Hortman, he added, however, Gottfried believes the 66 Democrats in the House will try to lead like her. 

“We can’t get into her mind. But we know the type of leadership that she’s displayed, and we know that she would want us to always put humanity first, to always put care and kindness first, and to hold to our values,” Gottfried said. “The mentorship that she provided for the entire caucus is going to prove crucial to us going forward.” 

Marty said after being in the legislature for nearly 38 years, he has seen many effective leaders and believes Hortman was one of the best. Especially the way she worked with people, Marty added. 

“She really pulled people together and helped facilitate tough negotiations at times without giving up anything she cared about,” Marty said. “She was a strategic thinker, but most importantly, knew how to work with people.” 

Hortman was a crucial vote in repealing medical coverage for undocumented immigrants that stalled between Democrats and Republicans in their budget deal, Gottfried said. After the special session on June 10, Gottfried said he was emotional, and Hortman told him she’s “been there, man. I hope this part never gets easier for you.” 

“When she took that one vote, she was the only Democrat vote in the special session that made that pass, so we can move forward with that global deal, “Gottfried said. “She took on that entire vote under her shoulders so that the rest of the caucus did not have to have that on their conscience.” 

Moving forward after tragedy 

What happened at the Hortmans’ house in June will forever impact the relationship between elected officials and the public, Gottfried said. 

“Beyond the tragedy of the personal loss of the leader, that sort of trust in our own safety is really not good for public officials and folks running for office,” Gottfried said. “But it’s also bad for the community and their ability to have that level of accessibility with their public officials that they had before.” 

Marty said he believes that many states will be taking a renewed look at security, not just for legislators but for other public officials, such as judges and governors, for example. 

“You just keep thinking about how much more security costs and everything else,” Marty said. “I’m not sure how it all is going to play out, but I’m very concerned because I like the openness we’ve had in the past and don’t want to lose it, but I also got to recognize the reality that things we thought were safe may not be anymore. And that’s so sad.” 

Both Gottfried and Marty said a good way to honor the Hortmans is to follow the example of the former speaker’s children, Sophie and Colin. In a statement, they listed seven different ways to honor their parents, such as telling loved ones cheesy jokes, planting a tree, and “Pet a dog. A golden retriever is ideal, but any will do.” 

Marty added that the statement from Hortman’s children was one of the most fitting tributes to the former speaker and her husband. 

“That was kind of the epitome of who Melissa and Mark Hortman were. I say their kids paid them the perfect tribute because they responded the way their parents would have responded,” Marty said. 

Photo credit: Susan Kent, Melissa Hortman, and Tim Walz in February 2020. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.