Melissa Hortman
| Melissa Hortman | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Minority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives | |
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Assumed office January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Thissen |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 36B district 47B (2005–2013) |
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Assumed office January 4, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Stephanie Olsen |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
May 27, 1970 Fridley, Minnesota |
| Political party | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mark |
| Children | Colin Sophia |
| Residence | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota |
| Alma mater |
Boston University University of Minnesota Law School |
| Occupation | attorney |
Melissa Hortman (born May 27, 1970) is a Minnesota politician and the minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 36B, which includes portions of Anoka and Hennepin counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Hortman graduated from Blaine High School in Blaine, Minnesota in 1988. She earned bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Philosophy from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude in 1991, and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1995.
Hortman won her first term by narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Stephanie Olsen in the 2004 general election by 402 votes out of over 20,000 cast. She had previously lost to Olsen in the 2002 election. She has been re-elected every two years since then.
In her first term, Hortman was an outspoken advocate for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs through her district. She also supported a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. She has been an advocate of environmental issues and in the effort to bring the 2020 Summer Olympics to Minnesota. She is adamantly pro-choice, is not a supporter of the 2nd Amendment, and does not agree with the state requiring legal identification to vote.
After the 2006 election, Hortman was chosen by her peers to serve as one of eight assistant majority leaders in the House. She was again chosen to serve in this capacity after the 2008 elections. She has also served as speaker pro tempore for many of the House sessions. She served as a minority whip during the 2011-2012 legislative session. She was elected by her caucus to be minority leader following the 2016 election.
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