EMILYs List Statement on the Assassination of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses were targeted in shootings in their homes. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed in what appears to be a politically motivated act of violence, and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife have been hospitalized. EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement in response: 

“Today, we face an unspeakable tragedy. Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, an EMILYs List community member and a public servant, has had her life taken from her in a senseless act of political violence. Known as a trailblazer, Melissa’s goal was always to make her community a better place, and she worked every day to make that a reality. Her leadership in her community should serve as a permanent reminder that inspires and guides future lawmakers for generations to come. 

“Political violence is a threat to the fabric of our democracy and must be stopped. No one should have to live in fear because of the violent rhetoric infecting our politics. Today and forever, we are proud of Melissa’s vocal, public leadership. We are keeping the Hortman and Hoffman families and all of the people of Minnesota in our prayers, and we will continue to stand against the senseless violence that is plaguing our country.”

###

EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Over 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit www.emilyslist.org for more information.