Hortman, Melissa
House 2005-2012 (District 47B); House 2013-2022 (District 36B); House 2023-Present (District 34B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Anoka, Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
5/27/1970
Birth Place:
Fridley, Minnesota
Birth County:
Anoka
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Female
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Brooklyn Park
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
Blaine High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1988
Boston University; B.A.; Political Science and Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, 1991
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.A.; Graduate, 2018
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; Cum Laude, 1995
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States Senate (Intern, Staff of United States Senator Al Gore and United States Senator John Kerry, Washington D.C.);
[Dates Unknown]
Judicial Administration:
Hennepin County, Minnesota (Law Clerk to Judge John Sommerville);
1996 to 1996
Municipal Board/Commission:
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota (City Human Relations Commission);
1998 to 2000
County Attorney:
Hennepin County, Minnesota (Assistant);
09/2013 to 11/2016
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Commission on Uniform State Laws;
05/28/2021 to ?
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Mark
Children:
Two children: Colin and Sophie
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
She ran unsuccessfully as the Democrati-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1998 and 2002 elections.
Religion provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and the Politics in Minnesota Directory, 2005-2006.
Body:
House
District:
34B
Elected:
11/5/2024
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/6/2025 to 1/3/2027
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Body:
House
District:
34B
Elected:
11/8/2022
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/2/2023 to 1/5/2025
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Leadership Position:
Speaker of the House
Body:
House
District:
36B
Elected:
11/3/2020
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/4/2021 to 1/1/2023
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Leadership Position:
Speaker of the House
Body:
House
District:
36B
Elected:
11/6/2018
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/7/2019 to 1/3/2021
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
Leadership Position:
Speaker of the House
Body:
House
District:
36B
Elected:
11/8/2016
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/2/2017 to 1/6/2019
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Rules & Legislative Administration
Minutes
-
Rules & Legislative Administration: Subcommittee on Workplace Safety and Respect
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
36B
Elected:
11/4/2014
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/5/2015 to 1/1/2017
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance
Minutes
-
Rules & Legislative Administration
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Deputy Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
36B
Elected:
11/6/2012
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Civil Law
Minutes
-
Civil Law: Data Practices Subcommittee
Minutes
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
Minutes
-
Energy Policy (Chair)
Minutes
-
Health and Human Services Finance
Minutes
-
Judiciary Finance and Policy
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Speaker Pro Tempore
Body:
House
District:
47B
Elected:
11/2/2010
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Business
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Special Session Bills Authored: 2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
Leadership Position:
Minority Whip
Body:
House
District:
47B
Elected:
11/4/2008
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Family Business; John's Auto Parts, Automotive Recyclers
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Civil Justice
Minutes
[She was a member in 2009 only.]
-
Finance: Energy Finance and Policy Division
Minutes
[She was a member in 2010 only.]
-
Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
House
District:
47B
Elected:
11/7/2006
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Family Businessperson; John's Auto Parts, Retail Automotive Recycling
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: State Government Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance Division: Transportation and Transit Policy
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
House
District:
47B
Elected:
11/2/2004
Residence:
Brooklyn Park
Term of Office:
1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Counties Represented:
Anoka, Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Articles & Books About
-
Schmidtke, Erin. "Collaboration Over Discipline. Whips Rely on Communication as Session Moves Forward." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 24, 2012, p. 19.
-
Martin, Brett. "New Member Reflections: Freshman Legislators Proud of Successes, Bipartisanship." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, July 22, 2005, p. 44-45.
-
Janovec, Patty. "Bound and Determined: Hortman Says Issue, Not Party, Is Important." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 4, 2005, p. 15.
Session Interviews
District Files
2005 (47B)
2007 (47B)
2008 (47B)
2009 (47B)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
Video
The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.
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