'The epitome of what you want in a public servant:' Klobuchar, Smith remember Hortman

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'The epitome of what you want in a public servant:' Klobuchar, Smith remember Hortman originally appeared on Bring Me The News.
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith paid tribute to slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, from the Senate floor on Tuesday.
"Melissa is someone that I wish the whole Senate and the whole nation knew," Klobuchar said during her speech. "We treasured her in Minnesota. She was the epitome of what you want in a public servant. She went into it for all the right reasons."
Klobuchar characterized Mark Hortman as "accomplished in business and a kind, kind person," Klobuchar said.
First elected in 2004, Melissa Hortman served in the Minnesota House for 20 years, including six years as House speaker. "She left a lasting impact," the senator stated. "Melissa was one of the most consequential speakers in the history of our state."
Here's how Klobuchar summed up Melissa Hortman's legacy: "Minnesotans will be feeling the impact of her leadership forever. When a Minnesota student gets a free school lunch, that's Melissa. When a Minnesota parent is able to take paid leave to spend those early, precious moments with a newborn, that's Melissa. When a Minnesota voter casts a ballot without facing unfair discrimination, that's Melissa. When a woman is able to access reproductive care in our state, that's Melissa. And when our state achieves 100% clean energy by 2040, that will be because of Melissa."
"She was a generational leader, and she led with integrity and with courage," Klobuchar said.
During her time on the floor, Smith also attempted to paint a picture of who Melissa Hortman was as a person and a leader.
"She believed and acted on one of our most American of values: the conviction that we all have a responsibility to one another," Smith said. "Service to and respect for others was the guiding principle in Melissa's life."
Melissa Hortman's focus on that "shared humanity" helped her win not only the loyalty of fellow Democrats, but also the respect of Republicans on the other side of the aisle, according to Smith.
The senator described Melissa Hortman as someone who "lived her values." By the time, she was elected House speaker, Smith said that Melissa Hortman "had a remarkable record as a negotiator, an honest broker, someone's who's true to her principles even when she had to make tough choices."
"She knew how to stand up for others and insisted that we all treat one another with dignity and respect as we undertake the serious work of public service, even in a political climate that too often rewards meanness and sort of a dehumanizing of one another," Smith said.
Towards the end of her speech, Smith shared her hope for other lawmakers to "take heart and inspiration" from Melissa Hortman's example and rededicate themselves "to what it means to be a legislator."
Melissa and Mark Hortman were assassinated in their Brooklyn Park home early Saturday. Vance Boelter, 57, faces state and federal murder charges in the couple's deaths. He is also charged with attempted murder in an alleged attack on state Sen John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who were shot multiple times in their Champlin home just before the Hortmans were killed.
On Tuesday, the bodies of Melissa and Mark Hortman were transferred in a formal procession from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office in Minnetonka to a south Minneapolis funeral home. The Hortman family hasn't yet announced whether they will take Gov. Tim Walz up on his offer for the couple to lie in state at the Capitol in St. Paul.
A candlelight vigil for the Hortmans is planned for Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the steps of the State Capitol. Attendees are asked to provide their own candles and not to bring signs of any kind.
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.