A gunman posing as a police officer who killed a senior Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband on Saturday in an apparent “politically motivated assassination,” and wounded a second lawmaker and his spouse, remains on the run.
“An unspeakable tragedy has unfolded in Minnesota – my good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,” said Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
The gunman went to the Hortmans’ residence after shooting state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, of Champlin, multiple times, according to Walz and local police.
More: Minnesota lawmakers targeted in ‘politically motivated assassination,’ governor says
They underwent surgery, Walz said, adding that he was “cautiously optimistic” that they would survive “this assassination attempt.”
A major search remains underway for the suspect, who fled on foot after firing at police, abandoning a vehicle in which officers found a “manifesto” listing other legislators and officials, law enforcement officials told a news conference
Who is Sen. Melissa Hortman?
Sen. Melissa Hortman, 55, was an attorney serving her 11th term on the Minnesota House of Representatives as a Democrat.
The Spring Lake Park native was first elected in 2004 after earning her bachelor’s in political science/philosophy from Boston University, her law degree from the University of Minnesota, and her Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.
She was married to Mark Hortman, with whom she had two children. The couple purchased their first house in Brooklyn Park, according to her website, where the shooting took place. Mark was also killed in the shooting.
“Together, we can ensure everyone in our community and across the state has access to a quality education, a good paying job, affordable health care, and a successful future,” her campaign website reads.
Outside of work, she volunteered at the Monroe Elementary School, taught Sunday school at Saint Timothy Catholic Church in Blaine and served on several local organizations, per her website.
I am heartbroken and horrified by the tragic loss of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were taken from us in an act of violence.
Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other. She was a true public… pic.twitter.com/lTjZFpV3eA
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 14, 2025
“Melissa was a good friend and we started in politics at the same time and were always there for each other,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, wrote on X. “She was a true public servant to the core, dedicating her life to serving Minnesotans with integrity and compassion.”
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Chair Richard Carlbom issued a statement calling the attack an “evil act of violence” and “an attack on our democracy itself.”
“Melissa Hortman represented the best of Minnesota. She was a tireless, devoted public servant who deeply loved our state and devoted her life to making it a better place,” Carlbom wrote.
Who is Sen. John Hoffman?
Sen. John Hoffman, 60, is currently serving his fourth term on the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2012 and later re-elected in 2016, 2020 and 2022.
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Born in 1965 in Casper, Wyoming, he completed his bachelor’s at the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in 1988 and later returned to education to graduate from the University of Idaho in 2014. The Democrat went on to be an entrepreneur and executive director after founding his consulting firm, Champlin Hoffman Strategic Advisors.
He is married to his wife Yvett, who was also shot and wounded in the attack. The pair share a child together.Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman, John Hoffman?
