Public Honoring of Rep. Melissa Hortman (May 27, 1970 – June 14, 2025)

“Our top priority is to change a status quo that is tilted against everyday Minnesotans.”
— Rep. Melissa Hortman, June 12, 2025

On June 27, 2025, Rep. Melissa Hortman was the first woman in Minnesota history to lie in state at the Capitol, along with her husband Mark Hortman and their golden retriever, Gilbert. (All viewing photos by Sarah Whiting, Minnesota Women’s Press)

Thinking about one of my favorite Wellstone quotes today. Upholding the will of the people as expressed in free and fair elections is worth fighting for: “If we don’t fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don’t really stand for them.”
— Rep. Melissa Hortman, February 6, 2025

“In politics, often the easiest thing for anyone to do is run to a microphone, sharpen their dagger, and see who has the best press conference. But what’s excruciatingly difficult in all this high emotion is to get people to the table and to slog through the work that has to happen.”
— Rep. Melissa Hortman

“Multi-layer complex negotiations are exactly what we’re dealing with in state government, because we don’t just have police reform and accountability — we also have to take care of our colleges and universities and pay our state troopers. These are times you think about what makes a good leader in a time of crisis. Some of the most valuable time that I spent at the Kennedy school was looking at leadership through history.”

— Rep. Melissa Hortman

Former President Joe Biden paid his respects at the public viewing

From our 2017 Changemaker profile of Rep. Melissa Hortman:

“I hate to break up the 100 percent white male card game,” occurring in the private break room reserved for state House members, Hortman said, “but I think this is an important debate.”

When a white male colleague on the floor objected and demanded an apology, Hortman remained steadfast. “I have no intention of apologizing,” Hortman replied, adding, “I am really tired of watching women of color in particular being ignored, so I’m not sorry.”

“I’ve thought long and hard about my role as minority leader in the Trump environment,” says Hortman, who was elected to the post on January 3, 2017. “The one thing all of us have in the minority caucus is a microphone. We need to use it to say hate is not normal. Racism is not normal. Sexism is not normal.”

“We’re not going to wait in line,” she says. “We’re going to sit at the table, say what we need to say, and take credit for our ideas. When we see other women struggling we’re going to support each other.”

From the June 18 candlelight vigil

Photo at the candlelight vigil by Nevada Littlewolf, Women Winning

(photos by Minnesota House photographer Michele Jokinen)

A mourner places a candle at a memorial for Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman during a candlelight vigil in memory of Hortman and her husband Mark on the steps of the Capitol June 18. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Rep. Liish Kozlowski, left, and Rep. Emma Greenman share a somber moment at a candlelight vigil in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark June 18 on the steps of the Capitol. (Photo by Michele Jokinen)

Deep story of Rep. Hortman’s legacy (Minnesota Reformer)

Harvard alma mater story about Rep. Hortman

2017 story about Rep. Hortman (MinnPost)