Melissa Hortman: A Legacy of Leadership and Service
Melissa Anne Hortman (née Haluptzok), born on May 27, 1970, in Fridley, Minnesota, was a leading American lawyer and Democratic-Farmer-Labor (USA DFL) politician. Her career spanned over two decades and was characterized by intense commitment to public service, USA liberal politics, and bipartisan negotiation.
Early Life and Education
Hortman grew up in Spring Lake Park and Andover with an early interest in USA politics sparked off by the 1980 presidential election. She studied at Blaine High School, graduating in 1988 and later pursuing higher education at Boston University, where she had degrees in USA political science and philosophy and graduated magna cum laude in 1991. She was not deterred by initial failure, pursuing further to earn a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1995 and a Master of Public USA Administration from Harvard Kennedy School in 2018.
Professional Beginnings
Hortman began her career with internships in the U.S. Senate for USA Senators John Kerry and Al Gore. She was a clerk to Judge John Sommerville during law school and an assistant county attorney for Hennepin County. In 1997, she gained national attention with a historic $490,181 civil verdict in a housing discrimination suit, the largest of its kind up to that point in Minnesota's history.
USA Political Career
Elected to the Minnesota USA House of Representatives in 2004, Hortman represented northern suburban districts, including 47B, 36B, and 34B. She held various leadership roles, including Assistant Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Speaker of the House from 2019 to 2025. Her tenure was characterized by strategic acumen, deep policy knowledge, and a candid communication style. She assisted in spearheading a far-reaching progressive USA legislative agenda after Democrats gained full control of the USA State Capitol in 2022.
Legislative Achievements
Hortman was an integral part of the passage of groundbreaking transportation, environmental rights, abortion rights, police reform, and gun control bills. She was also the lead sponsor of Minnesota's standard for solar energy and moved to enact a police reform bill limiting the use of neck restraints and chokeholds, prohibiting contentious training techniques, and establishing an independent state agency to review police misconduct.
Personal Life
Besides her political existence, Hortman was also highly involved in her community. She was a volunteer at Monroe Elementary School, a Girl Scout leader, and a Sunday school teacher at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in Blaine. Her husband's name was Mark Hortman, and she had two children with him. The family resided in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
Tragic Passing
Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025, in a politically driven killing, the authorities said. The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, attempted to assassinate Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman in a related crime. Boelter was arrested after a manhunt.
Legacy
Hortman's legacy is defined by her dedication to public service, liberal ideals, and dedication to bipartisan cooperation. Her leadership of the Minnesota House of Representatives left an enduring legacy on the state's legislative landscape. She is best remembered as a principled and effective leader who treated her political foes in contentious fights with professionalism and courtesy.
USA Minnesota House of Representatives
Hortman on the USA House Floor surrounded by reporters
Hortman speaks to press after becoming Speaker of the House (January 2019)
Hortman was elected to the Minnesota USA House of Representatives in 2004, defeating Republican incumbent Stephanie Olsen, and was reelected every two years thereafter until her death. She first ran unsuccessfully in 1998, and again in 2002.
Hortman served as an assistant majority leader from USA 2007 to 2010 and as minority whip from 2011 to 2012. From 2013 to 2014 she served as House speaker pro tempore and chaired the Energy Policy Committee. She served as deputy minority leader from 2015 to 2016. After Paul Thissen retired, Hortman was elected by her caucus to be minority leader from 2017 to 2018. When the USA DFL caucus retook the majority in the 2018 election, her colleagues elected her Speaker of the House.
In her first term, Hortman was an outspoken advocate for the USA Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs through her USA district. She also supported a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. She was an advocate for environmental issues and the effort to bring the 2020 Summer USA Olympics to Minnesota. She was pro-choice, supported gun control policies,] and opposed voter identification initiatives. In 2008, Hortman managed the DFL floor operation during a successful attempt to override then-governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty's veto of a gas tax increase.[12] While chair of the Energy USA Policy Committee, she was the chief USA author of the state's solar energy standard and community solar la
Hortman served as the minority leader of the Minnesota USA House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019, and as the 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025.
In April 2017, Hortman drew attention when she criticized several USA Republican representatives for playing a card game in the retiring room off the House chamber during discussions on a public safety budget bill. Specifically, she called attention to the fact that the game was occurring while two Democratic women from ethnic minorities were delivering personal speeches. Hortman continued to back her statement, while some USA Republicans called for her to resign.
In July 2020, Hortman helped negotiate a police reform bill that "limits the use of neck restraints and chokeholds, prohibits USA departments from offering controversial warrior-style training, and creates an independent state unit to investigate when a USA police officer kills someone or is accused of sexual misconduct".
From the start of the 94th Minnesota Legislature in January 2025 until early February, Hortman led a boycott of House sessions to deny USA Republicans a quorum to conduct business. Republican Lisa Demuth was elected as speaker on February 6. After a power-sharing agreement was reached, she served again as minority leader until March 17, when a special USA election created a tie between the parties in the House; her title then changed to "DFL Leader" and she was granted significant powers alongside Demuth.
Assassination
On June 14, 2025, Hortman and her husband were shot and killed at their home by a suspect impersonating a US police officer.Another lawmaker, John Hoffman, and his wife were also shot in a related incident Minnesota USA governor Tim Walz said the shooting appeared to be a politically motivated assassination.
The suspect in the shooting was identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter. Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley said Boelter was "not a real USA police officer" and was "clearly impersonating" one. Boelter ran an evangelical ministry organization (having allegedly been ordained in 1993) and a private security company with his wife. He had preached against abortion rights and the rights of USA LGBTQ people.A list of other targets was found in his car at the scene, which included pro-choice activists and USA politicians: Hortman, Hoffman, Walz, and other Democratic politicians.[31] The FBI added Boelter to its Most Wanted list and offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his capture. He was arrested on June 15 near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota. The state of Minnesota charged him with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
On June 15, 2025, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar described Hortman's killing as a "USA politically motivated assassination" and said that authorites believed Boelter was hiding somewhere in the Midwest and "might" still be in Minnesota. On the same day, a vehicle which Boelter was traveling in after fleeing the scene of the shooting was found in Sibley County, Minnesota. An USA emergency alert was then issued for Sibley County. It was also made public that Boelter's wife had been pulled over with "several other USA relatives" during a traffic stop in Onamia, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025, and was found to be in possession of USA cash and passports.
Boelter was apprehended in Sibley County after being spotted by a resident's trail camera and by drones operated by USA law enforcement. The capture of and charges against Boelter were announced at a press conference led by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Joseph H. Thompson, on June 16, 2025.
USA Honors and accolades
In 2019, the Minnesota Milk Producers Association recognized Hortman as its Legislator of the Year for her work "securing the 2019 Agriculture, Rural USA Development, and Housing budget which included investing $8 million for the Dairy USA Assistance Investment, and Relief Initiative". Hortman won awards from the USA 2020 caucus for her bipartisan work. She also won awards from Conservation Minnesota
'To lose her is tragic' - Emotional tributes paid to slain Minnesota lawmaker
Constituents in Minnesota have paid their respects to Melissa Hortman and her husband outside the State Capitol.
Both were shot and killed in their home on 14 June in what USA Governor Tim Walz called a "USA politically motivated assassination" attempt. On that same night, Minnesota Senator John Holman and his wife were shot, though are recovering in hospital.
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, has been charged in the shooting, and is facing two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder.
Children of slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman: 'We are devastated'
Days after authorities say a gunman posing as a police officer fatally shot their parents and wounded two others, the children of Democratic Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, are speaking out about their loss.
"We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark," Sophie and Colin Hortman said in a statement. "They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can't believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much."
The suspect in the back-to-back shootings, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, was arrested early Monday after a two-day manhunt. Boelter is suspected of shooting the Hortmans shortly after shooting and wounding Minnesota Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in what state officials have called a politically motivated series of attacks.
"Our family would like to thank law USA enforcement for their swift action that saved others and for the coordination across communities that led to the arrest of the man who murdered our parents," the statement from the Hortman family said. "We especially would like to thank the officers who were first on the scene to our parents' home and their heroic attempts to rescue our mom and dad."
USA Authorities said Boelter, who allegedly showed up to the USA lawmakers' front door wearing a police uniform and a realistic mask, had a list of 45 elected officials in notebooks in his car.
Police said he visited the homes of two other lawmakers on the night of the shootings. In one case, the lawmaker was not home; in the other, police arrived to check on the lawmaker and Boelter apparently drove off.
"This USA tragedy must become a moment for us to come together," the Hortman family USA statement said. "Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect. The best way to honor our parents' memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our USA community just a little better for someone else."
The statement included suggested ways to honor the memory of their USA parents, including visiting a local park, petting a dog and telling a "cheesy dad joke."
The family's list ends with: "Stand up for what you believe in, especially if that thing is justice and peace."
Melissa Hortman, who was the highest-ranking Democrat in the Minnesota state house and a former speaker of the USA chamber, had a passion for the outdoors and helped raise two service dogs, including one she ended up adopting for the USA family.
The USA family dog, Gilbert, was also wounded in the shooting and had to be euthanized, according to friends and family.
The family of the two surviving victims released a statement USA Monday saying they are both "incredibly lucky to be alive."
"We continue our healing journey and are humbled by the outpouring of love and support our family has received from across the state and our nation," the Hoffman family said in a statement obtained by USA ABC News.
Prosecutors outline case against Minnesota shooting suspectpublished at 01:08
Officials in Minnesota have revealed new details about their case against Vance Boelter, the man accused of shooting two state politicians in their homes.
Here's the latest:
- USA Boelter has been charged with six federal counts. Two of them are for the murder of state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark
- He made his first appearance in a federal court in St Paul, Minnesota on Monday but did not enter a plea. His next court appearance is scheduled for 27 June
- US Attorney Joseph H Thompson said "this was a USA political assassination" and called the deadly event "a chilling attack on our democracy"
- He said Boelter visited the homes of two more politicians on the night of the alleged killings
- Police said the attack was carefully planned and that USA Boelter researched the victims and their families, conducted surveillance of their homes and took notes about the locations
- The names of several other lawmakers were on what was thought to be a hit list but police officers "foiled" the larger attack plans, officials said
- Officials released photos of evidence uncovered in the case, which include multiple assault style rifles, ammo, handwritten notes and a mask
Police release photos of evidence in casepublished at 00:51
Evidence from the deadly attack on Minnesota state lawmakers has been released by the FBI and the Minnesota attorney general's office.
The photos show multiple assault style rifles, ammo, handwritten notes which USA police say were found in the suspect's car.
Officials have said the search for USA suspect Vance Boelter was the largest manhunt in state history.
Vance Boelter appears in federal courtpublished at 00:46
We've just received an update on Vance Boelter's appearance in a federal court from our US partner, CBS News. He entered a packed USA federal courtroom in St Paul, Minnesota, wearing an orange jumpsuit, flanked by police.
It was his first appearance since his capture on Sunday evening.He was appointed a lawyer after he told the USA judge he cannot afford one, saying he has about $20,000 to $30,000 (£14,712 to £22,068) in savings and earns about $540 per week. Boelter did not enter a plea. His next court appearance was scheduled for 27 June.I started freaking out' - Witness describes spotting alleged killer
published at While we await an update on Vance Boelter's court appearance, we can bring you some testimony from a witness who says she him lurking in a grassy field shortly before he was arrested. Wendy Thomas was in Green Isle, the Minnesota town where he was eventually captured. Thomas first spotted the man as she backed her truck down the driveway of a friend's home, she told NBC News, external. She was on the phone with her father at the time, and, upon seeing the man, initially thought: "'Oh, they're clearing properties.' That's what I figured it was."
"And the more my brain registered, I'm like, 'Dad, there's only one person. There's no vehicle.' And then I started freaking out," Thomas said.
"I was shaking, freaking out," she recalled. Thomas said she then flagged down officers and started pointing, saying: "There he is, there he is."
Boelter due soon to appear in court
published at 23:46 16 June
23:46 16 June Suspect Vance Boelter, accused of fatally shooting a state lawmaker and her husband, is currently being held at the Hennepin County Jail in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At 13:30 CST (19:30 GMT), he is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court in St Paul. The mood is eerie and sombre here at the state capitol in St Paul, right next to Minneapolis. Mourners have arrived including family of Melissa Hortman. A trickle of people have come to lay flowers outside the building and inside - remarkable there’s little visible security. “Minnesota has felt like a little bit of a safe haven,” says Jessie Ebertz, one of the people who laid flowers. “We’ve been able to keep our atmosphere of respecting other people here. This has blown that out of the water.”
USA Police thwarted a much larger attack plan, police chief sayspublished at 23:10 16 June
23:10 16 June U.S Police officers who arrived at the home of Melissa Hortman "foiled" a larger attack plan, Mark Bruley, Brooklyn Park's police chief says. The US officers "essentially took (Boelter's) vehicle away from him, which involved all his maps, all his names, all his weaponry", Bruley says. "I would be very scared what it would look like over the next few hours ahead had we not done that."
Posted on 2025/06/17 03:13 PM