Melissa Hortman was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 61st speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. She was a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and represented northern parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the Minnesota House from 2005 until her assassination in 2025. Hortman was known for her advocacy on issues like transportation, environmental rights, abortion rights, police reform, and gun control. She authored Minnesota's solar energy standard and played a significant role in shaping state policies during her tenure. Tragically, she and her husband were fatally shot in their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in June 2025 in what authorities described as a politically motivated assassination.
She was born Melissa Anne Haluptzok on May 27, 1970, in Fridley, Minnesota, and grew up in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis. She earned degrees in philosophy, political science, law, and public administration from Boston University, the University of Minnesota Law School, and Harvard Kennedy School. Hortman was deeply involved in community projects, also volunteering with service dog training and supporting various social causes.
Her leadership was widely respected by colleagues across the political spectrum, and she was remembered as a kind, compassionate, and committed public servant who made a substantial impact on Minnesota politics.
