Statements On ‘Politically Motivated Assassination’ of DFL Leader Melissa Hortman

Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and husband Mark were killed in a “targeted political attack” in their home in Brooklyn Park early Saturday morning. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot in the Champlin Park home earlier Saturday morning by the same suspect. 

The news of the assassination of the Hortmans was made by Gov. Tim Walz and a press conference Saturday morning.

“My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination. Our state lost a great leader, and I lost the dearest of friends,” Walz said. “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humor and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.”

Walz said the Hoffmans both underwent surgery, and he was “cautiously optimistic that they will survive this assassination attempt,”

“This was an act of targeted political violence. Peaceful discourse is the foundation of our democracy,” he said. “We don’t settle our differences with violence or at gunpoint.”

The manhunt for a single suspect is ongoing; law enforcement officials said the male suspect was impersonating a police officer, wearing a blue shirt and pants with body armor and a badge. His vehicle was apprehended at the Hortman’s home and he fired shots at officers before leaving the scene on foot. 

“There was a list of individuals and the individuals that were targeted were on that list,” said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “It’s a large number of people.”

Said Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley: “When we did a search of the vehicle there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials, we immediately made alerts to the state, who took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary.”

Click on the name below to navigate to a statement from Jewish organizations and Jewish elected officials. More will be added as they are received.

JCRC and Minneapolis and St. Paul Jewish Federations

“Our community is devastated by the horrifying assassinations of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the attempted assassinations of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette,” said Steve Hunegs, JCRC Executive Director. “We are praying fervently for the Hoffmans’ complete and swift recovery.”

“This unfathomable attack targeted two of our state’s most beloved public servants,” said Ethan Roberts, JCRC Deputy Executive Director. “I had the privilege of working with Speaker Emerita Hortman for eighteen years, including most memorably when Melissa and Mark traveled to Israel with the JCRC in 2019. She was a steadfast ally of our Jewish community. Most of all, Melissa was a remarkable leader, respected by everyone, whose wise leadership at the Capitol will be missed beyond measure.”

“Senator Hoffman is a tireless advocate for Minnesotans with disabilities with close ties to our Jewish community,” Roberts added. “We are hopeful he and Yvette will survive this.

Hunegs concluded: “We mourn with the Hortman family, and we hold the Hoffman family in our hearts as we pray for healing. Our JCRC security team continues to monitor developments and remains vigilant in safeguarding our community.

“Acts of political violence are an assault on democracy itself. They aim to instill fear, silence public servants, and unravel the civic fabric that holds us together. We cannot allow them to succeed.

“We are grateful to law enforcement for responding swiftly and for carrying out a dangerous investigation with courage and professionalism.

“May justice be swiftly brought to the perpetrator of this heinous crime.

“May the memories of Melissa and Mark forever be a blessing.”

State Sen. Ron Latz

I am so sorry to lose my friend Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. I’m hopeful for my dear colleague John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. Melissa and John are outstanding public servants. And both have been sensitive and steadfast supporters of the Jewish community.

Public service should not be a death penalty. As such, this is an attack on democracy and the fabric of our community. We will not let violence from any quarter destroy our state or country. I call upon all people to promote the freedom of speech and assembly and protest without violence.

Secretary of State Steve Simon

Rep. Melissa Hortman was a bright shining light of a human being. She was my good friend. We went to law school together and entered the legislature at the same time. She was one of the most extraordinary public servants I’ve ever known. Her assassination is a loss not just for her family, but for all of Minnesota. (via social media)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

I am sickened by the assassination of Speaker Hortman and the attack on Senator Hoffman. I have been in contact with our Commissioner, Chief and safety partners all morning, and we have assigned additional police resources to check on the safety of public officials who may be at risk, and to actively participate in the manhunt to bring this suspect to justice. 

Political violence is evil. It cannot be tolerated, and neither can those who condone it or make excuses for it.

Rep. Angie Craig

I am absolutely devastated by the loss of my friend, Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Melissa was a force for good and a dedicated public servant who devoted her career to improving the lives of Minnesotans.

My heart breaks for their children, family and loved ones as we grieve this unimaginable loss. Cheryl and I continue to keep them and their entire community in our thoughts.

Our prayers are also with Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette as we hope for a full recovery. (via social media)

Jewish Community Outreach Organization

We are devastated by the news of the assassination of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attempted assassination of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. This is an unimaginable act of political violence that has left our entire state reeling

Rep. Hortman and Sen. Hoffman have been true friends to Minnesota’s Jewish community, showing up time and again with compassion, courage, and unwavering support.
Melissa Hortman represented the very best of Minnesota. She was the very soul of what we aspire to be in Minnesota: courageous in leadership, fierce in her convictions, and deeply devoted to the people she served. Her loss is immeasurable.

To Senator Hoffman and Yvette, we send our love, strength and prayers for a refuah shlemah, (a speedy and complete recovery). May you feel the support of a community that is holding you close.

May the memories of Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark forever be a blessing and a reminder to keep building a Minnesota rooted in compassion, safety, and community.

Jewish Community Action

We are horrified. We are devastated.

We are in shock. We are in sorrow.

The entire JCA community is shaken by the politically motivated assassinations of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in their home in Brooklyn Park earlier today.

Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman was a fixture at the state legislature, and someone with deep connections to the Minnesota Jewish community. She was a sustaining member of JCA, and a frequent collaborator and advocate for our community, and all Minnesotans. We have lost not just a state leader, but a community member, and a friend.

And we offer mi sheiberach, a prayer of healing, for State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were severely wounded in a related assassination attempt in their home in Champlin. We wish them both speedy and full refuah shlema, healing of body and spirit.

Amidst our grief we say, Dayenu. Enough is enough.

There must be no room in Minnesota for political violence. Acts like this are fundamentally antithetical to the inclusive, free, and democratic future that we all deserve.

Baruch Dayan HaEmet. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם דַּיָּן הָאֱמֶת

May Melissa and Mark’s memories be a blessing, and may we honor their legacies by continuing to strive toward a better, more peaceful future for all Minnesotans.

State Rep. Sandra Feist

I am devastated by the loss of my friend, colleague, and leader, Melissa Hortman. Minnesota is better off because she chose to dedicate herself to public service. As we move forward from this tragedy, we must come together in community and dialogue. When we “other” people we disagree with, we dehumanize them. The result is unspeakable and pointless violence such as this. We can and must do better.

Shir Tikvah

The political assassination of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, is a devastating loss – to their loved ones, to our state, and to all who labor for a more just and humane society. The attempted assassination of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, reminds us of the vulnerability of those who serve the public good – and the crisis of political violence that threatens the foundations of our democracy.

In Pirkei Avot we are taught:

במקום שאין אנשים, השתדל להיות איש

b’makom she’ein anashim, hishtadel lihiyot ish

In a place where no one is willing to be a person, strive to be one.

We are called to respond in this moment not with despair, but with resolve. With broken hearts and steady hands. We must strive to remain human, compassionate, and connected.

Let us honor Representative Melissa Hortman’s life by acting on what she stood for: the protection of the vulnerable, the pursuit of equity and a safer world for our children. Let this grief fuel our determination to demand change – including meaningful gun reform, now.

To those in our community who serve in public life – elected officials, past and present – we see you. We recognize the weight of your service. Your courage matters. Your safety matters. Your leadership matters. We are with you – not just in prayer, but in purpose.

Let Shir Tikvah be a sanctuary in practice – a place where we can show up with our heartbreak, our righteous anger, and our relentless commitment to the world as it ought to be. Please be in touch if you are seeking pastoral care – the rabbinic team is here with you.

May the memories of Representative Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman be a blessing. May Senator John Hoffman and Yvette Hoffman know healing, strength, and support. May we, as a community, refuse to be numb – and instead meet this moment with clarity and love.

Downtown Interfaith Clergy

We are a multi-faith coalition of clergy representing more than 35,000 Minnesotans from congregations across the city of Minneapolis.

Many of us have had the honor of offering prayers in the chambers of the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Senate. As clergy, we pray for unity, peace, and guidance for our elected officials—public servants working toward the well-being of all Minnesotans.

It is unimaginable that Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and Senator John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and their daughter were targeted in an act of extreme political violence. We mourn alongside the family of Speaker Emerita Hortman and her husband in their time of inconceivable grief, and we send our prayers for a complete healing of body and spirit to Senator Hoffman, Yvette, and their daughter.

In these deeply troubling times, we stand united against the rising culture of hatred and fear that has been allowed to take root in our communities. Violent words lead to violent actions, and we must not let depravity become the new normal in our world. Together, we will work to counter it wherever we see it.

This is a time of great divisiveness in our country. As people of faith, we are called, as the prophet Jeremiah teaches us, to seek “peace in the city, and in the places where we dwell.” (Jeremiah, 29:7) As interfaith religious leaders, we have worked to maintain connections across faiths through thoughtful and respectful dialogue, even when we disagree. Such conversations between people of faith offer a powerful alternative to division and hostility.

Interfaith relationships have brought us closer to our own faith and convictions. This work has opened the door to deeper engagement with our holy texts, our sacred communities, and our relationships with God.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” But it does not bend on its own. We must bend it—with courage, conviction, compassion, and action.

May God help us to live our lives with moral courage, to strengthen our communities, and to stand together for justice.

Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman, on behalf of the Downtown Interfaith Clergy.

ADL Midwest

We are shocked by the murder of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark, and the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette. We express our deepest condolences to the Hortman family and pray for Senator and Mrs. Hoffman’s recovery.

The ADL Center on Extremism is actively monitoring the situation and ADL staff in Minnesota have been in touch with law enforcement and local leaders all morning.

As we are still gathering information and there is an active investigation, we will say clearly that political violence has ha no place in our country.

Beth El Synagogue

We were shocked to hear about the horrifying assassinations of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the attempted assassinations of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, yesterday morning.

We are praying for a full and quick recovery for the Hoffmans, and we join the Jewish community and all of Minnesota in holding both of these beloved public servants and their families in our hearts.

Such acts of political violence have no place here, and go against the values we hold so dear as Americans and as Jews. As we say each week in the prayer for our country:

May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of our country.