June 14, 2025 – A Day I’ll Never Forget
I didn’t know Melissa Hortman or her husband Mark, but two of my campaign volunteers did. As I was heading to the “No Kings” rally in St. Paul, my phone lit up that morning with news of the assassination of Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their golden retriever Gilbert. I was stunned to learn they were shot and killed at their home by a man impersonating a police officer. Shortly after that, I heard that another lawmaker, State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife were shot earlier that night by the same man.
In the lead up to Melissa and Mark Hortman’s funeral, a couple of my campaign volunteers that knew Melissa Hortman shared stories about her, and I closely followed news about her accomplishments as a lawmaker and Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. I was very impressed.
An Accessible Leader
One of my campaign volunteers (Chad) recalled running into Melissa at the State Fair while buying Pronto Pup Corn Dogs several years ago. “We hadn’t seen her in a couple of years, she must have saw us and came over,” Chad said. “We talked for 20 minutes about our kids’ lives while her staffer kept nudging her to get going to her TV or radio interview,” Chad continued. “Finally, the staffer won her attention over, I asked her what she was going to talk about, and she smiled and said the “people’s business.”
Instrumental in passing Minnesota’s solar energy standard
In addition to her accessibility as a leader, which I value both as a voter and as a candidate for the Minnesota State Senate, I learned from news reports that Melissa was passionate about many of the issues I care deeply about, such as renewable energy.
For example, Melissa was instrumental in passing Minnesota’s first-ever solar energy standard when she chaired the Energy Policy Committee (2013–2014). That wasn’t just legislation, it was a transformation. By making solar energy accessible to renters, small businesses, and community institutions, Melissa helped to lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more democratic energy future. Under Melissa’s stewardship as Speaker, these solar initiatives gained broader momentum, transforming Minnesota into a national leader in renewable power.
There is so much more that could be said about Melissa Hortman’s leadership, and about her husband Mark. My heart and prayers go out to Melissa’s children Sophie and Colin, and the entire family. Melissa’s legislative legacy had an impact on the things I and many others deeply care about. She was accessible, focused on a better future for our state, and prioritized the “people’s business” over politics. She will be greatly missed, and her leadership style epitomizes how public officials should lead.
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