Key Details About the Minnesota Shooting Involving Democratic Lawmakers

Minnesota Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Shooting; Senator and Wife Injured

Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot early Saturday morning at their home in Brooklyn Park, a suburb of Minneapolis. Authorities believe the attack was politically motivated.

Hortman, a prominent Democratic figure, served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for two decades and was Speaker of the House from 2019 until early 2024. The assailant also targeted state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in a separate attack around the same time. Both were wounded but are in stable condition, according to law enforcement.

Governor Tim Walz condemned the shootings as “targeted political violence,” a sentiment echoed by former President Donald Trump and leaders from both parties. Minnesota’s entire congressional delegation issued a joint statement labeling the attacks an assault on public service and democracy.

Hortman, 55, began her political career working on campaigns for Al Gore and John Kerry. First elected in 2004, she defeated Republican incumbent Stephanie Olsen and quickly rose through the ranks of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). She held numerous leadership roles, including assistant majority leader, minority whip, and eventually Speaker of the House.

During her tenure, Hortman championed progressive legislation such as free universal school lunches, abortion rights protections, and the Police Accountability Act following George Floyd’s killing in 2020. Colleagues have remembered her as a tireless advocate for education, environmental policy, and reproductive rights.

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