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June 19th, 2025
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Joint Statement from Women Winning and Winning Forward
We are devastated by the politically-motivated assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and the murder of her husband, Mark Hortman. Our grief is compounded by the brutal attack on State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. We continue to hold them and their loved ones in our hearts as they fight to recover from this unspeakable act of violence.
This was more than a violent attack on two families. It was an assault on our democratic values, on principled public service, and on the safety and dignity of those who choose to lead. Political violence has no place in Minnesota—or anywhere in this country.
Melissa Hortman was not only a legislative giant and the longest serving woman Speaker of the Minnesota House—she was a steadfast ally of Women Winning. Over the years, she consistently advanced reproductive freedom, supported pro-choice legislation, and stood publicly for the values our organizations represent. Her presence and advocacy empowered countless women to believe in their right to lead.
As we mourn this profound loss, we also recommit ourselves to the work Speaker Hortman believed in so deeply: safeguarding reproductive rights, protecting our democracy, and ensuring that women in public life are not only elected—but protected.
In the coming days, we will gather, we will grieve, and we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders, families, and communities across Minnesota. We invite you to join us in honoring Speaker Hortman’s legacy, supporting Senator Hoffman’s recovery, and reaffirming our shared commitment to fearless, values-driven leadership and non-violent social change.
Our organizations—one focused on advocacy and political change, the other on education and leadership development—will not be deterred. Speaker Hortman wouldn’t have it any other way.
Standing together,
Nevada Littlewolf, Executive Director
Mary McKinley, Women Winning Board Chair
Joelle Allen, Winning Forward Board Chair
About Women Winning (501c4):
Women Winning is a Minnesota-based 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to electing pro-choice women to all levels of public office. With over 40 years of impact, Women Winning provides strategic campaign support, training, and advocacy to build political power for reproductive freedom.
About Winning Forward (501c3):
Winning Forward is the 501(c)(3) sister organization to Women Winning, focused on leadership development, civic engagement, and education for pro-choice women. Through research-driven programs and partnerships, Winning Forward equips the next generation of values-aligned women leaders.
Rep. Melissa Hortman Was A Champion For Minnesotan Families
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Hortman worked to enact policies that prioritized children and expanded protections for abortion and gender-affirming care.
Hortman, 55, who was elected to the Minnesota House in 2004, became the speaker of the state’s House of Representatives in 2019 and, during her first few years, presided over the chamber under a divided government. In 2022, when the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party won full control of the state government, Hortman played a key role in shaping what legislation the chamber would prioritize, to enact a slew of progressive policies that included major investments in children and families, as well as expanded protections for abortion and gender-affirming care. She left the post in March.
“Our state lost a great leader and I lost the greatest of friends,” Walz said. “Speaker Hortman was someone who served the people of Minnesota with grace, compassion, humour and a sense of service. She was a formidable public servant, a fixture and a giant in Minnesota. She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.”
A man posing as a police officer killed Hortman and her husband, Mark, at their home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park in what Walz described at a news conference as an apparent “politically motivated assassination.” DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot by the same gunman at their home in nearby Champlin. Walz said they were out of surgery and was “cautiously optimistic” that they would make a recovery.
Hours after the attacks, an “extensive manhunt” remained underway for the suspect, who impersonated a law enforcement officer to enter Hortman’s home, Brooklyn Park chief of police Mark Bruley told reporters in a news conference Saturday. The suspect fled on foot, leaving behind his car, where, according to CNN, law enforcement officials found a list containing about 70 names, including abortion providers and advocates, as well as lawmakers.
Here’s a look at Hortman’s legislative history and legacy on key policies:
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Honoring Melissa Hortman’s Legacy
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Women Winning would like to honor the incredible legacy of Melissa by collecting memories and reflections from our community. Melissa touched so many lives with her leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice.
If you have a memory, story, or favorite moment with Melissa that you’d be willing to share, we invite you to contribute below. Your words will help us create a meaningful tribute that celebrates her life and impact.
Please fill out our form here:
Honor Melissa Hortman's Legacy [[link removed]]
Community Resources
📌 Support the Hortmans and the Hoffmans
* If you would like to support the Hoffmans in their recovery, please consider donating to the Hoffmans’ GoFundMe. [[link removed]] Mrs. Yvette Hoffman’s colleagues at Fernbrook Elementary put together this fundraiser, which will help cover the cost of their hospital stay and other necessities as they heal from this attack.
* If you would like to find a way to honor the Hortman family, please consider donating to the Hortman family’s GoFundMe [[link removed]] . Patrick Haluptzok, Melissa’s brother, put together this page to help Colin and Sophie repair the home, car and garage, help cover the costs of the funeral, and the associated costs of laying their parents to rest.
📌 PEN America Online Harassment Field Manual
* Whether you’re experiencing or witnessing online abuse, this Field Manual offers concrete strategies for how to defend yourself and others. We wrote this guidance with and for those disproportionately impacted by online abuse: writers, journalists, artists, and activists who identify as women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQIA+. Whatever your identity or vocation, anyone active online will find useful tools and resources here for navigating online abuse and tightening digital safety.
* Click here for more information * [link removed] [[link removed]]


Community Events
📌 Twin Cities Pride Festival 2025
* The Twin Cities Pride Festival is Minnesota’s second largest festival and the largest FREE Pride festival. Highlighting the best in LGBTQIA+ entertainment on 3 stages, featuring over 650 vendors, including LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC community resources, artists, and businesses.
* Dates: Friday, June 27th - Sunday, June 29th
* Times * Friday June 27th: Twin Cities Pride Youth Night 4:00pm-8:00pm
* Saturday June 28th: 10am-7pm
* Sunday June 29th: 10am-6pm


* Location: Loring Park
* Find more information here [[link removed]] !
📌 Vote Run Lead Action Women’s Leadership Conference
* Are you looking to make a bigger impact in your community? Whether you're thinking about running for office, joining a local board, or advocating for the issues that matter most to you — this training is your next step. Join Vote Run Lead Action on Saturday, June 28 in Owatonna for the Women’s Leadership Conference, a hands-on, values-driven workshop designed for women and gender-expansive leaders. During the session, we’ll walk through “20 Steps to Political Action” — a practical, beginner-friendly guide to navigating your local political landscape, building your leadership capacity, and taking action with confidence. * Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
* Time: 10AM – 12PM
* Location: Grapeful Wine Bar, 306 North Cedar Ave, Suite 2, Owatonna, MN
* RSVP – Space is limited! [[link removed]]


📌 Abortion Access Community Resources from OurJustice
* From locating a clinic to finding childcare or transportation, we know it can be overwhelming to arrange everything necessary to access an abortion. Women Winning partner, OurJustice, has collected lists of community resources and services so that it’s easier to get the care you need.
* Find a clinic, get the abortion pill, find resource funding and more from OurJustice. [[link removed]]
📌 Marlene Johnson and Tom Weber Q&A and book signing
* Join us at Inkwell Bookstore for an interview with Marlene Johnson, Minnesota’s first woman lieutenant governor! After the talk, Marlene will sign copies of her book, Rise to the Challenge: A Memoir of Politics, Leadership, and Love.
* Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:00 PM 7:00 PM
* Find more information here [[link removed]]
Donate to Women Winning [[link removed]]
Women Winning is a Minnesota non-profit corporation that is recognized as a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) organization. Contributions are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes.
Women Winning
2233 University Avenue West
Suite 310
Saint Paul, MN 55114
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