Two Minnesota Legislators, Spouses Shot; Two Dead

by Sharon Rondeau

(Jun. 14, 2025) — A Brooklyn Park, MN state legislator and her husband are dead following an early-morning assassination Saturday described by Gov. Tim Walz as “politically-motivated.”

Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat and attorney serving her 11th term in the legislature, was a former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, wife and mother of two children.

Federal agents have launched a search for the killer, multiple outlets reported, was dressed as a police officer and operated what appeared to be an “SUV squad car.”

Earlier, State Senator John Hoffman (D) and his wife were shot at their home in Champlin, MN, Fox News reported at 11:50 a.m. EDT.

Hoffman is serving his fourth term in the legislature and is married with one child, his legislative bio states. According to a report in Newsweek late Saturday morning, both Hoffman and his wife underwent emergency surgery.

Brooklyn Park authorities have declared a “shelter-in-place” order for local residents.

In a press conference earlier Saturday, Walz said he is “cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt” while acknowledging the passing of Hortman and her husband Mark. 

Some in the media and on X speculated Hortman was targeted because of her vote Tuesday to repeal healthcare coverage for illegal aliens, the only Democrat to do so. The passage of the two-year budget reportedly averted a government shutdown.