Last week, I joined the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for their annual fly-in in Washington, D.C. We spoke to our congressional delegation about reconciliation, efforts to support businesses, and asked questions about how their work was supporting our clients’ priorities. Friday, on my way home, I sat in the airport and wrote a blog about the end of the legislative session in Minnesota, which had wrapped up Monday, June 9. I talked about the bipartisan agreements that came together and what clients should be thinking about ahead of next year. Then on the way home, I sat by Governor Tim Walz on the plane, who had left a contentious congressional hearing the day before about sanctuary state policies.
All of it felt like politics as usual. Then the next day, everything changed.
Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home. Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot a total of 17 times by the same man, and are currently recovering. Dozens of lawmakers in Minnesota and Wisconsin were targeted by an evil man intent on doing harm.
As someone who spent almost a decade at the Minnesota Legislature, this kind of violence is unimaginable and it hit incredibly close to home. I was at the House with Speaker Hortman, and she was a strong leader and woman of integrity. Less than a week before her death, she had to take a tie-breaking vote to change the law around healthcare benefits for undocumented immigrants. She took the vote because it was necessary to end the session and cut a deal with Republicans. She did it because she gave her word, and it was the right thing to do, even though she disagreed with the policy. That was the kind of leader she was.
Now she is gone, and together, Minnesota and our nation grieve a great loss.
Having spent 15 years in politics and advocacy, even when I disagree with those working against me, there is still a foundation of respect. We understand that even though we differ on the issue, we share a commitment at advancing the vision that we believe will make our communities, states, and nation a better place.
While many still feel lost, grappling with the unimaginable murder and violence that happened in Minnesota over the weekend, I am heartened to see the largely bipartisan response condemning this heinous assassination. As we grieve, I see hope that we can take a moment to step back and remember the humanity in politics. We are all people first.
Rest in Peace, Melissa and Mark Hortman. And prayers for recovery and healing for the Hoffmans, for our state, and for our nation.
Chelsea Thompson, Vice President of Public Affairs