Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman remembered as a trailblazing public servant after deadly taking pictures

Earlier than Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman turned a nationally acknowledged determine following her deadly taking pictures demise alongside her husband Saturday morning — an act public officers have referred to as an act of “political violence” — she was revered by colleagues as a devoted public servant.

The state Home Democratic Farmer-Labor Get together caucus on Saturday remembered Hortman, a fellow member, as “an unimaginable chief who devoted her life to public service” and who had a “willpower to enhance folks’s lives.”

Hortman, who was 55, was first elected to the Minnesota State Home in 2004 and served as speaker of the chamber from 2019 to 2025, in response to her state Home biography.

Earlier this 12 months, she led her caucus in a protest to boycott Home periods and deny Republicans, who had a one-seat majority, quorum to do enterprise. Ultimately, Hortman turned minority chief beneath a power-sharing settlement and was elevated to the position of “DFL Chief” when the outcomes of a particular election created a tie within the chamber.

She additionally drew headlines in 2017 when she criticized a number of male colleagues for taking part in playing cards in a room off the Home flooring whereas their feminine colleagues have been talking a few invoice on the ground.

Following criticism from a number of colleagues about her remarks, Hoffman was unapologetic, in response to Minnesota Public Radio, telling reporters, “For too lengthy, when girls are ignored, when folks of coloration are ignored, when girls of coloration are ignored, folks don’t say something. We have to say one thing. We have to name it out after we see it.”

Hortman labored intently with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who on Saturday referred to as her a “nice chief” and a pal.

“A formidable public servant and a fixture of the state Capitol, Melissa Hortman awakened on daily basis decided to make our state a greater place. She served the folks of Minnesota with grace, compassion, and tirelessness,” Walz mentioned in a press release.

Walz additionally despatched prayers in his assertion to state Sen. John Hoffman, additionally a DFL member, who was shot alongside his spouse at their house on Saturday. Walz confirmed that Hoffman and his spouse have been wounded and receiving therapy for his or her accidents.

Hoffman, 60, was first elected in 2012 and served as chair of the state Senate Human Providers Committee.

For over a decade, in response to his report, he targeted his legislative agenda on incapacity providers and the wants of kids and their households.

Throughout his 2012 marketing campaign, Hoffman wrote that he ran for state Senate as a result of he was “pissed off” and “let down” by his illustration within the state Home and promised to be “a good and balanced voice on the Legislature.” Hoffman additionally vowed “to remain till the work is completed.”

Hoffman and his spouse share one daughter, whereas Hortman had two youngsters, in response to their official statehouse biographies.