Just over two weeks ago, Minnesota was shaken by a devastating act of political violence—leaving Senator John Hoffman and his wife severely wounded, and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark tragically killed. Over the last few days, Minnesotans celebrated Melissa and Mark Hortman’s lives as they were given the honor of lying in state on Friday and laid to rest at a funeral on Saturday. Former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris attended these events, along with family, close friends, Minnesota legislators and dignitaries and thousands more who made the trek to St. Paul to pay their respects for Melissa and Mark and their contributions as public servants.
Former President Biden even made a stop at the hospital to visit Sen. John Hoffman as he continues to recover from multiple gunshot wounds. A picture of John’s smiling face with wife Yvette and daughter Hope was sent around on social media and brought a further sense of relief that better days may be yet to come. Still, this act of political violence will undoubtedly bring a sharpened focus to the need for enhanced security measures for legislators and their families. The debate about how much security around the Capitol complex will be revisited this interim.
Governor Walz will eventually need to call a special election to fill Melissa’s seat and that election bid will come with a heavy emotional burden for those who weigh into it. The vacuum of leadership that Melissa’s death leave is enormous. The House DFL as a caucus must chart a path forward. Leadership dynamics, which relied so heavily on Melissa’s talents, will be reshaped and everyone must step up to help the legislative process close up business each session. Our democracy has suffered a massive blow; it’s our jobs to pick up the broken pieces and find a way forward. As Americans, we must do better. Resolving our issues at the ballot box instead of at gunpoint is the hallmark of our democracy. It makes us who we are, especially when we talk about American exceptionalism and pursuing the American dream. We can do this, but it requires us to understand the American experiment and to commit to it.
As our legislative community grapples with these tragic events, please show empathy, compassion, and support for your legislative leaders and their families during this incredibly difficult time.
