Photos: Memorial for Rep. Melissa Hortman at Minnesota Capitol

Mourners gathered outside the Minnesota Capitol building Sunday to remember the life of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her spouse, Mark Hortman.

Those in attendance added flowers, cards and candles to a memorial in front of the Capitol steps. Memorials have also formed at Hortman’s desk inside the Capitol and at other locations around the state.

Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, was killed along with her husband, Mark, in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday in what Gov. Tim Walz called a “politically motivated shooting.”

Hortman, 55, served as Speaker of the Minnesota House from 2019 through 2024. Over the last six months, Hortman stepped aside and agreed to serve as speaker emerita after Democrats lost the House majority in November. She helped negotiate a budget deal with Walz and Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth that was passed last week.

Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot and wounded by what is believed to be the same suspect, but they are expected to survive from the injuries.

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