Minnesota lawmakers walked into the Capitol Tuesday for the first time in over 20 years without Rep. Melissa Hortman, among the state’s most influential elected officials this century who was respected for her selflessness and conviction to better Minnesotans’ lives through public policy.
Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14 in what prosecutors say was a politically motivated assassination. Tuesday was also the first day Democratic Sen. John Hoffman climbed the Capitol’s steps since he was shot nine times on the same night the Hortmans were killed.
Lawmakers on Tuesday embraced bipartisanship to honor the Hortmans, with many wearing green as a tribute to Melissa Hortman’s love of gardening and leafy trees.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.The Prayer of St. Francis
The ceremonial proceeding began with a reading of the prayer of St. Francis, a copy of which Melissa Hortman carried in her wallet.
A group of Girl Scouts led lawmakers through the Pledge of Allegiance — a tribute to her time as a Girl Scout and a Girl Scout leader for many years.
Hortman was first elected to the Legislature in 2004 and served as House speaker from 2019 to 2024. She lost two elections before winning, which she said gave her an understanding of what it takes to win swing seats and hold them.
Hortman’s desk was roped off and displayed a large photo of the smiling former House speaker.
A large bouquet of red roses sat on her desk. House Chief Clerk Patrick Duffy Murphy first placed a rose bouquet on her desk in the hours after he heard the news in June. Murphy has kept them fresh since she died eight months ago.
The Hortmans’ son, Colin, sat next to a bouquet of red roses in the House gallery. The flowers marked the seat where Mark Hortman sat when Melissa Hortman was first sworn in as speaker in 2019.
Therapy dogs, including a golden retriever, walked through the Capitol for guests and lawmakers to pet. The Hortman’s golden retriever, Gilbert, wound up with the Hortmans after he failed his service dog training. He was also killed in the home invasion.
Gov. Tim Walz shared memories of Hortman during a 10-minute speech, opening the legislative session for the first time without his close governing partner and friend.
Walz first got to know Melissa Hortman in 2019 shortly after getting elected to his first term. The Legislature was divided, and Walz, Hortman and then-Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka — a Republican — had to work together to pass a bipartisan budget.
Hortman gifted the two men copies of the book, Getting To Yes, which details how to reach agreement in negotiations. Walz brought a copy of the book Tuesday.
The governor read aloud a card he received from Hortman that accompanied the book:
Dear Gov. Walz,
I’m looking forward to our work in the coming weeks to finalize a budget that gives Minnesotans the quality of public services they deserve. I also do believe that you, Senate Majority Leader Gazelka and I can do this differently than it’s been done in recent years in Minnesota and certainly Washington D.C. Governing is very different from campaigning. We’ll take the fight to our opponents in the 2020 elections, but in the meantime, we need to find win-wins together and the humanity in each other. Thanks for doing what you’re doing. I look forward to our deliberations.
Always,
MelissaMelissa Hortman, in a card to Gov. Tim Walz
Walz said that he misses her every day.
“I just hope the work that we do here does her proud, because she cared so deeply about this institution that it’s with all of our responsibilities to continue to carry that out,” Walz said.
Legislators placed flowers on Melissa Hortman’s desk as they left the first day of session on Feb. 17, 2026. (Photo by Glen Stubbe/Minnesota Reformer) House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said that she learned lessons from Hortman about how to lead as speaker of the House — with conviction and kindness.
“We built something that has become too far and too rare in politics — we built a relationship that was rooted in respect,” Demuth said.
The memorial ceremony concluded with remarks from House DFL caucus leader Zack Stephenson, Melissa Hortman’s protege who first met her when he was 17. Hortman mentored Stephenson for 20 years, teaching him about campaigning, fundraising and serving a Twin Cities metro swing district. Stephenson was also a good friend.
Stephenson said only one member of the House — Rep. Greg Davids — knew what it was like to serve in the House without Hortman.
He noted that Hortman allocated funds to plant trees throughout Minnesota. Stephenson closed his remarks by citing a Greek proverb:
“A society grows great when old men and women plant trees knowing that they will never get to sit under their shade,” Stephenson said. “Our society still has some work to do, but Melissa Hortman was great.”
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com.
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