House DFLers pick Stephenson for next leader following Melissa Hortman’s assassination
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Minnesota House Democrats elected four-term Rep. Zack Stephenson to serve as their caucus leader late Monday almost three months after Melissa Hortman was killed by an assassin.
Hortman had led the House DFL since 2017, first as minority leader, then in a long stint as House speaker and then the main voice of the caucus in a tied chamber.
Stephenson, 41, was a close ally of Hortman and has been co-chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee this term. He previously led the House Commerce Committee and spearheaded notable legislation to legalize marijuana and to put controls on social media applications.
Stephenson said being chosen by his colleagues is an honor.
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“Speaker Hortman is irreplaceable — as a leader, a strategist, a colleague and a friend,” he said in a news release. “While I’ve been chosen to lead, it will take all of us, working together, to move forward, honor Speaker Hortman’s legacy and build a Minnesota where everyone can succeed. We are all still grieving, but I am confident we can carry our shared work into the future.”
His selection after multiple ballots was a somber yet concrete step to move House Democrats forward after the June tragedy. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their home in June. The man charged in the attack also is accused of targeting state Sen. John Hoffman and his family and also allegedly paid visits to the homes of other lawmakers that night. He was taken into custody after a protracted manhunt.
The caucus waited to fill the position because many members wanted to give time for lawmakers to grieve and to honor the Hortmans’ memory. Deliberations on a new leader occurred in private but multiple lawmakers sought the role.
In a statement Tuesday, Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth wished Stephenson well as he embarks on the new assignment.
“Leader Stephenson has a difficult job ahead, stepping into the shoes of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman,” Demuth said in a news release. “I hope that we can build a strong working relationship based on respect and our shared priority of making life better for Minnesotans. I look forward to continuing our important bipartisan work as 'Team House', begun by Melissa and I last session.”
Stephenson’s DFL counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Erin Murphy, also weighed in on the selection.
“My friend Melissa Hortman taught me a lot about how to lead a caucus,” Murphy said in a welcome message to Stephenson. “As she once said to me: ‘You’re not new. Sit down and let’s get to work.’ Congratulations!”
With a special session possible to consider school security and gun measures, the House DFL caucus needed an official leader to represent its views at the negotiating table. Legislative leaders and the governor are set to meet Tuesday afternoon to discuss possible parameters of a special session. The push for a session follows an August mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis.
Right now, Republicans hold a one-vote advantage in the chamber but that could shift after a special election to fill the seat that Hortman held for two decades. Votes in the race will be counted on Sept. 16.
A DFL win would produce a 67-67 tie as had been in place for much of 2025; a Republican victory would give the GOP an outright majority.
If lawmakers don’t return for a special legislative session, they will come back in February for the 2026 legislative session.
