# Melissa Hortman

Melissa Hortman (born May 27, 1970) is an American politician and former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Hortman represents District 34B in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids and parts of Anoka and Hennepin Counties.
Hortman served as minority leader from 2017 to 2019 and as speaker from 2019 to 2025. From start of the 94th Legislature until early February, she led a boycott of House sessions to deny Republicans a quorum to conduct business. After a power-sharing agreement was reached, Hortman served again as minority leader through March 17th of 2025, when a special election created a tie between the parties in the House; at that time, her title changed to "DFL Leader," and she was granted significant powers alongside the Republican speaker, Lisa Demuth.

## Early life, education and career

Hortman was born in Fridley, Minnesota, and graduated from Blaine High School in 1988. She earned bachelor's degrees in political science and philosophy from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude in 1991, a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1995, and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2018.
Hortman worked as an intern in the United States Senate for Al Gore and John Kerry, and clerked for Judge John Sommerville while in law school. She served on the Brooklyn Park City Human Relations Commission and worked as an assistant county attorney for Hennepin County.

## Minnesota House of Representatives

Hortman was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran unsuccessfully in 1998, and again in 2002. She defeated one-term Republican incumbent Stephanie Olsen.
Hortman served as an assistant majority leader from 2007 to 2010 and as minority whip from 2011 to 2012. From 2013 to 2014 she served as House speaker pro tempore and chaired the Energy Policy Committee. She served as deputy minority leader from 2015 to 2016. After Paul Thissen retired, Hortman was elected by her caucus to be minority leader from 2017 to 2018. When the DFL caucus retook the majority in the 2018 election, her colleagues elected her Speaker of the House.
In her first term, Hortman was an outspoken advocate for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs through her district. She also supported a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. She has been an advocate of environmental issues and in the effort to bring the 2020 Summer Olympics to Minnesota. She is pro-choice, supports gun control policies, and opposes voter identification initiatives. In 2008, Hortman managed the DFL floor operation during a successful attempt to override then-Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a gas tax increase. While chair of the Energy Policy Committee, she was the chief author of the state's solar energy standard and community solar laws.

## Electoral history

Minnesota House of Representatives 47B district election, 2010 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Democratic (DFL) | Melissa Hortman (incumbent) | 8,278 | 51.30 | −3.44pp |
| Republican | Linda Etim | 7,030 | 43.56 | |
| Independence | Don Hallblade | 822 | 5.09 | |
Minnesota House of Representatives 47B district election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Melissa Hortman (incumbent) | 12,382 | 54.74 | −1.12pp |
| | Republican | Andrew Reinhardt | 10,187 | 45.04 | +1.04pp |
Minnesota House of Representatives 47B district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Melissa Hortman (incumbent) | 9,269 | 55.86 | +4.96pp |
| | Republican | Andrew Reinhardt | 7,301 | 44.00 | |
Minnesota House of Representatives 47B district election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Melissa Hortman | 10,846 | 50.90 | +7.30pp |
| | Republican | Stephanie Olsen (incumbent) | 10,444 | 49.01 | −2.66pp |

## Honors and accolades

Hortman won awards from the 2020 caucus for her bipartisan work. She has also won awards from Conservation Minnesota.

## Personal life

Hortman and her spouse, Mark, have two children. She resides in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Hortman is Catholic and has taught Sunday school in Blaine.