Melissa Hortman

Melissa Hortman
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 47B district
Incumbent
Assumed office
2005
Preceded by Stephanie Olsen
Personal details
Born May 27, 1970 (1970-05-27) (age 41)
Fridley, Minnesota
Political party Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s) Mark
Children 2 (Colin, Sophia)
Residence Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
Alma mater Boston University
University of Minnesota Law School
Profession attorney, legislator
Religion Catholic

Melissa Hortman (born May 27, 1970) is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 47B, which includes portions of the cities of Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park in Anoka and Hennepin counties in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[1]

Hortman is a member of the House Civil Justice Committee and the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, and also serves on three Finance Subcommittees: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division, and Transportation Finance and Policy Division.[1]

Hortman, a Democrat, won her first term by narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Stephanie Olsen in the 2004 general election by 402 votes out of over 20,000 cast. She had previously lost to Olsen in the 2002 election. She has been re-elected every two years since then.

In her first term, Hortman was an outspoken advocate for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs through her district. She also supported a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins. She has been a leader on environmental issues and in the effort to bring the 2020 Summer Olympics to Minnesota. She also led the house floor on an override of Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of new transportation funding in 2007.

After the 2006 election, Hortman was chosen by her peers to serve as one of eight assistant majority leaders in the House.[1] She was again chosen to serve in this capacity after the 2008 elections. She has also served as speaker pro tempore for many of the House sessions. On November 16, 2010, incoming Minority Leader Paul Thissen announced that she will be one of four Minority Whips during the 2011-2012 legislative session.[2]

Hortman has won awards for her bipartisan work from the 2020 Caucus.[3] She has also won awards from Conservation Minnesota.[4]

Hortman graduated from Blaine High School in Blaine, Minnesota in 1988. She earned bachelors degrees in Political Science and Philosophy from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude in 1991, and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1995.[1]

Electoral history

Minnesota State House of Representatives District 47B 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Melissa Hortman 10,846 50.9
Republican Stephanie Olsen 10,444 49
Minnesota State House of Representatives District 47B 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Melissa Hortman 9,269 55.9
Republican Andrew Reinhardt 7,301 44
Minnesota State House of Representatives District 47B 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Melissa Hortman 12,382 54.7
Republican Andrew Reinhardt 10,187 45
Minnesota State House of Representatives District 47B 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Melissa Hortman 8278 51.3
Republican Linda Etim 7030 43.56
Independence Don Hallblade 822 5.09

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Hortman, Melissa". Leg.state.mn.us. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=12266. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
  2. ^ http://politicsinminnesota.com/blog/2010/11/thissen-names-house-dfl-leadership-team/
  3. ^ "News and Views from Melissa Hortman (DFL) 47B - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. 2005-10-07. http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/pressrelease.asp?pressid=893&party=1&memid=12266. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
  4. ^ "Conservation Minnesota Voter Center || Legislative News". Mnweathercenter.org. http://www.mnweathercenter.org/score/awards/index.cfm?subsec=97&id=2879. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 

External links

Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives
   
  1. A.   Dan Fabian (R)
    B.   Debra Kiel (R)
  2. A.   Kent Eken (DFL)
    B.   David Hancock (R)
  3. A.   Tom Anzelc (DFL)
    B.   Carolyn McElfatrick (R)
  4. A.   John Persell (DFL)
    B.   Larry Howes (R)
  5. A.   Tom Rukavina (DFL)
    B.   Carly Melin (DFL)
  6. A.   David Dill (DFL)
    B.   Mary Murphy (DFL)
  7. A.   Thomas Huntley (DFL)
    B.   Kerry Gauthier (DFL)
  8. A.   Bill Hilty (DFL)
    B.   Roger Crawford (R)
  9. A.   Morrie Lanning (R)
    B.   Paul Marquart (DFL)
  10. A.   Bud Nornes (R)
    B.   Mark Murdock (R)
  11. A.   Torrey Westrom (R)
    B.   Mary Franson (R)
  12. A.   John Ward (DFL)
    B.   Mike LeMieur (R)
  13. A.   Paul Anderson (R)
    B.   Bruce Vogel (R)
  14. A.   Tim O'Driscoll (R)
    B.   Larry Hosch (DFL)
  1. A.   Steve Gottwalt (R)
    B.   King Banaian (R)
  2. A.   Sondra Erickson (R)
    B.   Mary Kiffmeyer (R)
  3. A.   Kurt Daudt (R)
    B.   Bob Barrett (R)
  4. A.   Ron Shimanski (R)
    B.   Dean Urdahl (R)
  5. A.   Bruce Anderson (R)
    B.   Joe McDonald (R)
  6. A.   Andrew Falk (DFL)
    B.   Lyle Koenen (DFL)
  7. A.   Chris Swedzinski (R)
    B.   Paul Torkelson (R)
  8. A.   Joe Schomacker (R)
    B.   Rod Hamilton (R)
  9. A.   Terry Morrow (DFL)
    B.   Kathy Brynaert (DFL)
  10. A.   Bob Gunther (R)
    B.   Tony Cornish (R)
  11. A.   Glenn Gruenhagen (R)
    B.   Kelby Woodard (R)
  12. A.   Kory Kath (DFL)
    B.   Patti Fritz (DFL)
  13. A.   Rich Murray (R)
    B.   Jeanne Poppe (DFL)
  14. A.   Tim Kelly (R)
    B.   Steve Drazkowski (R)
  1. A.   Duane Quam (R)
    B.   Kim Norton (DFL)
  2. A.   Tina Liebling (DFL)
    B.   Mike Benson (R)
  3. A.   Gene Pelowski (DFL)
    B.   Greg Davids (R)
  4. A.   Joyce Peppin (R)
    B.   Kurt Zellers (R)
  5. A.   Steve Smith (R)
    B.   Connie Doepke (R)
  6. A.   Ernie Leidiger (R)
    B.   Joe Hoppe (R)
  7. A.   Michael Beard (R)
    B.   Mark Buesgens (R)
  8. A.   Mary Liz Holberg (R)
    B.   Pat Garofalo (R)
  9. A.   Tara Mack (R)
    B.   Kurt Bills (R)
  10. A.   Diane Anderson (R)
    B.   Doug Wardlow (R)
  11. A.   Rick Hansen (DFL)
    B.   Joe Atkins (DFL)
  12. A.   Pam Myhra (R)
    B.   Ann Lenczewski (DFL)
  13. A.   Keith Downey (R)
    B.   Pat Mazorol (R)
  14. A.   Kirk Stensrud (R)
    B.   Jenifer Loon (R)
  1. A.   Sarah Anderson (R)
    B.   John Benson (DFL)
  2. A.   Steve Simon (DFL)
    B.   Ryan Winkler (DFL)
  3. A.   Sandra Peterson (DFL)
    B.   Lyndon Carlson (DFL)
  4. A.   Michael Nelson (DFL)
    B.   Debra Hilstrom (DFL)
  5. A.   Denise Dittrich (DFL)
    B.   Melissa Hortman (DFL)
  6. A.   Tom Hackbarth (R)
    B.   Jim Abeler (R)
  7. A.   Peggy Scott (R)
    B.   Branden Petersen (R)
  8. A.   Carolyn Laine (DFL)
    B.   Kate Knuth (DFL)
  9. A.   Tim Sanders (R)
    B.   Tom Tillberry (DFL)
  10. A.   Bob Dettmer (R)
    B.   Matt Dean (R)
  11. A.   Linda Runbeck (R)
    B.   Carol McFarlane (R)
  12. A.   Mindy Greiling (DFL)
    B.   Bev Scalze (DFL)
  13. A.   Leon Lillie (DFL)
    B.   Nora Slawik (DFL)
  14. A.   Kathy Lohmer (R)
    B.   Andrea Kieffer (R)
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    B.   Denny McNamara (R)
  2. A.   Joe Mullery (DFL)
    B.   Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
  3. A.   Diane Loeffler (DFL)
    B.   Phyllis Kahn (DFL)
  4. A.   Marion Greene (DFL)
    B.   Frank Hornstein (DFL)
  5. A.   Karen Clark (DFL)
    B.   vacant
  6. A.   Jim Davnie (DFL)
    B.   Jean Wagenius (DFL)
  7. A.   Paul Thissen (DFL)
    B.   Linda Slocum (DFL)
  8. A.   Erin Murphy (DFL)
    B.   Michael Paymar (DFL)
  9. A.   Rena Moran (DFL)
    B.   Carlos Mariani (DFL)
  10. A.   John Lesch (DFL)
    B.   Alice Hausman (DFL)
  11. A.   Tim Mahoney (DFL)
    B.   Sheldon Johnson (DFL)