Statement on June 14th Political Violence and the Assassination of Madam Speaker Hortman
Like so many Minnesotans, I woke up early on Saturday, June 14th, to a disturbing and distressing reality that will forever shape our collective future. In the middle of the night, a gunman impersonated a police officer, stalked, and terrorized four elected officials’ homes — our neighbors and friends who chose public service for the betterment of our communities. No one should have to fear for their life when choosing a job as an elected official or public servant. And yet, this is a reality that we are now forced to confront, alongside many others across Hennepin County, who are carrying fear in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
I am grateful to the Hennepin County Sheriff, County Administration, and the Medical Examiner for their prompt partnership and dedicated service. I am also grateful for federal, State, and local law enforcement for a diligent multi-agency investigation that identified and apprehended the suspect, as well as to the Hennepin County Attorney, State, and federal prosecution for their efforts toward swift accountability.
My heart breaks for the political assassination of Madam Speaker Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to their children, family, friends, and community for this unimaginable loss. I had the immense privilege of directly working with and learning from Melissa. Personable, attentive, open, and determined. A quiet fierceness, a balanced tenacity, an inquisitive studiousness. Deliberate, compassionate, resolute. She governed with an unassuming confidence, a results-oriented practicality, and an overt connection to her values. She used her voice, platform, and gavel to push the envelope on behalf of her colleagues and community members who might be overlooked by systems. And her legacy will live on through her transformational leadership, from codifying abortion access to universal school meals to averting government shutdowns.
Hennepin County’s flags will continue to fly at half-mast for Speaker Hortman, the County Board will honor her at our next Board meeting on July 8th, and the Lowry Avenue Bridge will be lit during her services when they are announced. But I will also say that the gravity of this grief will be with us for some time — so please be gentle with yourselves, as we seek to make sense of a tragedy that should have never happened. A powerful force was taken from us sooner than her time. My heart goes out to her colleagues and co-workers at the Legislature, as they govern through grief.
And I am deeply troubled at the attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and their daughter. I am grateful to the emergency responders and medical professionals who have assisted in their recovery. I have had the privilege of working with John and look forward to strengthening our partnership for disability advocacy and services, health access, and healthcare workers. I extend love and care to his family, friends, and community. My prayers are with all of the victims, their families, and every person feeling the fear and horror of this violence.
The targeting of elected officials who support abortion rights, as well as community leaders and centers who provide lifesaving reproductive healthcare, reminds us just how dangerous it has become to advocate for bodily autonomy and justice. This was a direct attack on democracy, on public officials, on women, and birthing people. These tragedies are not isolated. It reflects a growing and intensifying crisis of safety, fear, and political violence. We must be resilient against the intentional and manufactured chaos taking place across the country, constructed to disrupt and destabilize. From inhumane proposals that decrease health access for children, elders, and those who are vulnerable, to the unlawful efforts toward mass family separation and deportation, to the immoral leadership that prioritizes excessive enrichment for a precious few at the direct expense of those who are marginalized.
It all feels surreal and hits very close to home. I would like to hold space for the fear that many are feeling right now, not just elected officials but also our community members and residents across Minnesota. This fear is real, and it is valid. It will take time, care, and community — but we cannot be defined by fear. And we cannot allow hateful language and acts of violence to become normalized in our communities. In the face of intimidation, we must continue to lead with compassion, bravery, and a sincere belief in what’s possible. Public participation and community-building are necessary in representative democracy. We must choose individual acts of kindness, and we must cultivate a shared future that we are proud to pass onto future generations. No matter who you love, where you were born, your race, gender, or faith — the people’s love for one another can and will prevail.