by Steve Timmer

Jul 15, 2025, 9:00 AM

Remembering Melissa and Mark Hortman

As some of you know, I am a host of the Minneapolis chapter of Drinking Liberally. This event won’t happen for a while, but we wanted to let you know about it to consider getting it on your calendars.

On Thursday, August 14^th, Drinking Liberally will have a gathering to remember Rep. and House Speaker emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, shot and killed in an unprecedented act of political violence in Minnesota. We’ll meet at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis; the program will start at 7 PM.

To help us remember this important political couple, two of Rep. Hortman’s House DFL caucus colleagues will be there to tell stories about them and about Melissa’s career as a policy maker and caucus leader:

Rep. Mike Freiberg (Dist. 43B – Golden Valley and Robbinsdale) has been a colleague of Rep. Hortman’s in the legislature since the 2012 election.

Rep. Sydney Jordan (Dist. 60A – N.E. Minneapolis) is in her fourth term as a legislator and was there during the 2023 session, probably then-Speaker Hortman’s finest.

We’ll save some time for an update on Senator John Hoffman (DFL – Dist. 34) and his wife Yvette who were also shot by the same shooter that early morning but thankfully survived.

We’ll also save some time for attendees to share a story, if you have one.

While many people are still reeling over the shootings on June 14^th, and the processes of affixing blame and determining causes are continuing, our purpose will be to salute and toast the lives of Melissa and Mark Hortman.

Drinking Liberally – Minneapolis is the local chapter of a national social organization. This is our chapter’s page on the national’s website. Our chapter meets every Thursday evening at the 331 Club from six to nine PM; when we have programs, they start at seven PM. Please join us on August 14^th, or any other Thursday you can make it. There isn’t always a speaker, but there is always good conversation and companionship.