Melissa Hortman — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Served as 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2019-2025)
Chief author of Minnesota's state solar energy standard
Advocated for transportation, environmental rights, abortion rights, police reform, and gun control policies
Received a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the University of Minnesota Law School (1995)
Received a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School (2018)
Won a record $490,181 civil award for a client in a housing discrimination case (1997)

Biography

Melissa Anne Hortman was an American politician and lawyer, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, who served as the 61st Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. She represented northern parts of the Twin Cities metropolitan area in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2025.