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, 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.
