Fact Check: Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025.

Published June 14, 2025

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VERDICT

False

# Fact Check: "Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025." ## What We Know Melissa Hortman was a ...

Fact Check: "Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025."

What We Know

Melissa Hortman was a prominent figure in Minnesota politics, serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2004. She was elected as the Speaker of the House in January 2019 and held that position until 2024, when the House experienced an even partisan split following the elections. As of June 14, 2025, she was referred to as "Speaker Emerita" after her tragic death in a violent incident at her home, which was described as "targeted political violence" by Governor Tim Walz (source-1, source-3).

Analysis

The claim that Melissa Hortman served as speaker from 2019 to 2025 is misleading. While she was indeed the Speaker from 2019 until 2024, the assertion that she served in this role until 2025 is incorrect. Following the 2024 elections, she no longer held the title of Speaker, as the House was evenly divided between parties, leading to a change in leadership (source-5).

Additionally, the timeline of her service is crucial to understanding the claim's inaccuracy. Hortman was killed in June 2025, which means she could not have served as Speaker during that year. The term "Speaker Emerita" indicates she held a ceremonial title post her active leadership role, but it does not equate to her serving as Speaker during that time (source-6).

The sources used to verify this information are credible, including official state documents and reputable news outlets. The timeline and context provided by these sources confirm that the claim is not only misleading but factually incorrect.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025 is inaccurate. While she served as Speaker from 2019 to 2024, she was not in that role in 2025 due to her death and the change in House leadership following the 2024 elections.

Sources

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Fact Check: Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025.

Fact Check: "Melissa Hortman served as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025."

What We Know

Analysis

Conclusion

Sources

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