In Grief and in Prayer: Honoring Melissa and Mark Hortman, and Lifting Up the HoffmansDear Friends and Neighbors, There are moments when words feel small—this is one of them. Our state is heartbroken. We are grieving the tragic loss of former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. And at the same time, we are praying without ceasing for Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as they begin the long road of recovery after surviving a brutal and senseless act of violence. None of this should have happened. The pain our state is feeling right now is raw and real. Political violence has no place in our democracy. These attacks are not just on individuals—they are attacks on our shared values and the very fabric of our Democracy. As we mourn Melissa, I find myself returning to a personal memory—one that I now cherish more than ever. It was the day Democrats returned to work at the Capitol after a long standoff. We had just wrapped up a long floor session. As I walked back to my office through the tunnel, I saw Melissa with two of her colleagues. They were laughing—really laughing—arms around each other, joy echoing through the quiet halls. Her laughter filled the tunnel, and as we passed, we exchanged a smile and a simple greeting. That brief moment captured her humanity—her warmth, her joy, and her ability to bring light even in long, difficult days. I keep thinking about Melissa not just as a political leader, but as a woman, a mother, and a wife. She led the House for six years under the watchful gaze of President Lincoln’s portrait—a fitting symbol of her steadiness and strength. And now, her passing feels like the closing of a chapter we were not ready to end. But we must go on. We must choose light. We must recommit ourselves to the ideals that hold us together—freedom, respect, community, and peace. President Lincoln’s words echo in my heart today, just as they did in Melissa’s chamber: “With malice toward none, with charity for all… let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”
As we grieve, may we also resolve. Let us reject hate in all its forms and lead with compassion, humility, and courage. Please keep the Hortman and Hoffman families in your prayers. And please join me in praying for our state—that we may begin to heal, together.  In peace and remembrance, Representative Erica Schwartz Minnesota House of Representatives, District 18A |