Speaker Emerita Hortman meets with environmental advocates, April 2025. Photo credit: Devon Young Cupery
The Minnesota Environmental Partnership is appalled by the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and by the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. We share the grief of countless Minnesotans and Americans and hope for a swift recovery for the Hoffman family.
This type of violence has no place in our communities, and violence against political leaders is especially disturbing. It is wrong on multiple levels – from the personal loss of a wonderful friend to the chilling message this sends to the civic minded citizens who step up to lead our society at every level of government. We must all defend and support elected leaders of all ideologies and parties during these trying times.
Our community counted Melissa Hortman as a valued partner, champion, and treasured friend. During her service in the Legislature, including under her leadership as committee chair and Speaker, Minnesota achieved historic steps forward on climate action, natural resource protection, and environmental justice. This list of achievements is long, and includes the planned replacement of Minnesota’ lead drinking water service lines, the Solar Electricity Standard, 100% Carbon-Free Electricity Law, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund’s Community Grants Program, and the Cumulative Impacts Law targeting pollution in frontline communities.
Representative Hortman’s legacy of outstanding service to Minnesota’s people and environment will be long remembered. The bills she worked on – and the people of all political affiliations who called her a friend and mentor – will continue to benefit our state for generations to come.