Former President Biden and Vice President Harris attended the Saturday funeral of slain Minnesota lawmaker, state Rep. Melissa Hortman, in Minneapolis.
A man impersonating a police officer shot and killed Hortman, her husband Mark and their golden retriever in an attack officials describes as “politically motivated.” State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife Yvetter were also shot in their homes. The suspected shooter, Vance Boelter, is in custody.
Biden and Harris were joined by over a thousand mourners who gathered to celebrate the life of Hortman and her husband on Saturday. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), his wife Gwen, former Gov. Mark Dayton (D), Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) and Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) also attended the funeral.
“Melissa Hortman will be remembered as the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history. I get to remember her as a close friend, a mentor, and the most talented legislator I have ever known,” Gov. Tim Walz said in his eulogy, according to the Associated Press.
“For seven years, I have had the privilege of signing her agenda into law. I know millions of Minnesotans get to live their lives better because she and Mark chose public service and politics.”
Hortman was remembered for her tenure as Speaker in the state legislature as well as her extensive legislative agenda, which included free public school lunch.
Walz honored her as the first woman to lie in the Minnesota Capitol rotunda in St. Paul on Friday for public viewing. Biden also paid his respects at the state Capitol on Friday.
During his eulogy, Walz lauded the lawmaker as a close friend and public servant.
“Maybe it is this moment where each of us can examine the way we work together, the way we talk about each other, the way we fight for things we care about,” Walz said, per AP.
“A moment when each of us can recommit to engaging in politics and life the way Mark and Melissa did — fiercely, enthusiastically, heartily, but without ever losing sight of our common humanity.”
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