Minnesota Mourns: Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman To Lie in State At Capitol

Minnesota Mourns: Former House Speaker Melissa Hortman To Lie in State At Capitol

ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota is in mourning as it prepares to honor former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who will lie in state in the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda on Friday, June 27, 2025. This solemn occasion provides Minnesotans with an opportunity to pay their respects to a pivotal figure in state politics, tragically lost in a recent act of violence.

Melissa Hortman, a DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) Party member, will be the first woman and one of fewer than 20 Minnesotans ever to be accorded the honor of lying in state. She will lie in state alongside her husband, Mark Hortman, who was also killed in the June 14, 2025 attack at their Brooklyn Park home. Their beloved golden retriever, Gilbert, who was severely wounded and later euthanized, will also be honored.

Hortman, 55, served as the 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to January 2025. She was first elected to the Minnesota House in 2004, representing various districts in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area throughout her tenure. Her career was marked by significant legislative achievements, particularly during the DFL's full control of state government in 2023 and 2024. Under her leadership, the House passed landmark legislation including universal school meals, paid family and medical leave, protections for abortion rights, and the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Even after the 2024 elections resulted in a tied House (67 DFL, 67 Republican members), Hortman remained a key leader, taking on the title of "Speaker Emerita" and working alongside GOP House Speaker Lisa Demuth in a rare power-sharing agreement for the 2025 legislative session. Her final legislative act, just five days before her death, was casting the lone DFL vote to pass a budget bill, honoring an agreement despite personal opposition to a specific provision, demonstrating her commitment to getting the job done.

The public will have the opportunity to pay their respects at the Capitol Rotunda from noon to 5:00 PM on Friday. The viewing will be livestreamed on House TV, and the Department of Public Safety's YouTube channel will also carry the private funeral service scheduled for 10:30 AM on Saturday.

The attack that claimed the lives of Melissa and Mark Hortman also resulted in the shooting and wounding of State Senator John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) and his wife, Yvette, at their home. Authorities have charged Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, with murder and attempted murder in connection with the shootings. Federal prosecutors have described the incident as a "political assassination." Boelter is due in court on Friday to face charges, though he is not expected to enter a plea at this hearing.

The outpouring of grief and tributes from across the political spectrum reflects Hortman's respected leadership and dedication to public service. Friends and colleagues remember her for her integrity, compassion, and tireless work to improve the lives of Minnesotans. Her legacy includes not only her legislative accomplishments but also her personal commitment to training service dogs. As Minnesotans gather to mourn her profound loss, her impact on the state's political landscape and the lives of its citizens will undoubtedly endure.

MinneapoliMedia