Melissa Hortman

Melissa Hortman (born May 27, 1970) is an American politician and the 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.

Melissa Hortman
61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byKurt Daudt
Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 7, 2019
Preceded byPaul Thissen
Succeeded byKurt Daudt
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 4, 2005
Preceded byStephanie Olsen
Constituency47B district (2005–2013)
36B district (2013–2023)
34B district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born (1970-05-27) May 27, 1970
Fridley, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMark Hortman
Children2
EducationBoston University (BA)
University of Minnesota (JD)
Harvard University (MPA)
WebsiteState House website
Campaign website

Hortman has served as Speaker of the Minnesota House since 2019. From 2017 to 2019, she served as minority leader.[1][2]

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.[1][3]

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.[1]

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.[1]

Hortman on the House Floor surrounded by reporters
Hortman speaks to press after becoming Speaker of the House

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.[1][4]

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,[5] supports gun control policies,[6] and opposes voter identification initiatives.[7] 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.[8] While chair of the Energy Policy Committee, she was the chief author of the state's solar energy standard and community solar laws.[9][10]

Electoral history
Minnesota House of Representatives 47B district election, 2010[11]
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[12]
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[13]
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[14]
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.[15] She has also won awards from Conservation Minnesota.[16]

Personal life

Hortman and her spouse, Mark, have two children. She resides in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.[1] Hortman is Catholic and has taught Sunday school in Blaine.[17]

References
  1. "Hortman, Melissa - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. "Rep. Melissa Hortman (34B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. "After engineering the DFL suburban wave, Melissa Hortman sets sights on 2019 legislative session". Twin Cities. 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
  4. Bakst, Brian (November 9, 2018). "New House DFL leaders hail from suburbs". Minnesota Public Radio.
  5. "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  6. "2012 Candidate Grades (General Election) « Gun Owners Civil Rights Alliance".
  7. "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  8. Bierschbach, Briana. "Hortman brings experience, quiet irreverence to speaker's chair". www.mprnews.org. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  9. "HF 729 Status in the House for the 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014)". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  10. "HF 956 Status in the House for the 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014)". www.revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  11. "State Representative District: 47B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  12. "All Races by Legislative District - Representative District: 47B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 17, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  13. "State Representative District 47B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  14. "Results for State Representative District 47B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  15. "News and Views from Melissa Hortman (DFL) 47B - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. 2005-10-07. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  16. "Conservation Minnesota Voter Center || Legislative News". Mnweathercenter.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  17. "About Melissa". Melissa Hortman for State House. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
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