Late DFL leader Melissa Hortman remembered as ‘shining light,’ consensus builder
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Listen to the remembrance of DFL Leader Melissa Hortman from MPR News political reporter Clay Masters by using the audio player above.
Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, was killed along with her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz called a “politically motivated shooting.”
Her death stunned Democrats.
“She was a bright shining light of a human being,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. “Minnesotans lost a really important and impactful leader.”
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Hortman, 55, served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 through 2025. Over the last six months, Hortman stepped aside and agreed to serve as speaker emerita after Democrats lost the House majority in November. She helped negotiate a budget deal with Walz and Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth that was passed earlier this week.
During her two decades in elected office, Hortman positioned herself as a consensus builder who was willing to work with both political parties. But she was also responsible for ushering in key Democratic initiatives including abortion rights, universal lunch for students and gun restrictions.
“Everybody liked her and respected her on both sides of the aisle,” said former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican. “She had more than one gear. She could be easy going and funny. When it came to her policy views, she could be very strong and decisive and a tough negotiator.”
Minneapolis DFL Rep. Sydney Jordan sat next to former Leader Hortman on the House floor during legislative sessions. She told MPR News that Hortman offered support to her when she was a newly elected representative coming to the Capitol after a special election.
“I had a meeting with Melissa Hortman, where she said, Look, this is going to be hard, but I'm here for you. The caucus is here for you,” Jordan said. “She met with me, she gave me personal tours, and she introduced me and made sure that I had the best staff support I could possibly have.”
While Jordan said she spent most of her time negotiating bills and discussing issues, she recalls talking with Hortman about gardening, her golden retriever Gilbert, and swapping recipes.
“I will remember her leadership. I'll remember some of the tough love we sometimes got,” she said. “But I'll also remember how she made sure that she saw us as people, and made sure to ask about our families, to make sure to ask about our our hobbies.
“She was really a beloved figure to all.”
Former Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo was part of the same freshman class as Hortman.
“Melissa Hortman has gone down as the most consequential and impactful speaker of the house in Minnesota history over the last 160 years. That’s the politics side,” Garofalo said. “On the personal side, it’s important to understand that this is a really good person.”
Hortman grew up in Fridley and graduated from Blaine High School in 1988. She graduated from Boston University and worked in the 1990s as a political staffer for U.S. Sens. John Kerry and Al Gore.
Hortman failed in her first two attempts at political office, losing legislative races in 1998 and 2002. In 2004, she finally found electoral success by defeating a Republican incumbent. In 2006, Republicans were optimistic that they could win back the seat. She easily won reelection and won her legislative district for 11 consecutive elections.
She went on to serve as minority leader before being elected Speaker of the House in 2019. In her acceptance speech, she talked about the importance of putting away red and blue jerseys and focusing on the conflicts ahead.
“We are not here to avoid conflict. We are here precisely to have conflict. It’s an important part of the democratic process,” Hortman said. “But if we can have that conflict with good humor and humility, we’ll be better off and Minnesota will be better off.”
Hortman and her husband, Mark, are survived by two children.
Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags at half-staff starting Saturday in remembrance of Hortman. A proclamation accompanying the order called her “a formidable public servant and a fixture of the state Capitol, who woke up every morning determined to make Minnesota a better place.”
