In Grief, In Unity: Honoring the Hortmans and the Hoffmans
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This has been one of the most painful and surreal weeks I’ve ever walked through as a Minnesotan, a legislator, and a friend.
The word “assassination” is not one we ever expected to use to describe something that happened here—especially not to people we worked with and cared about. Yet here we are, mourning the sudden and senseless loss of Speaker-Emerita Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their beloved dog Gilbert.
Melissa was the first person to swear me in as a State Representative. She and I came from different political parties, but that never stopped her from showing kindness, respect, and a willingness to work together. In my first year, we partnered on a bipartisan fix to the School Resource Officer issue—an effort rooted in a shared desire to keep our kids safe. Melissa led with intelligence, compassion, and courage. That experience left a lasting impression on me.
 Her leadership will be missed. But even more than that, we lost someone who knew how to see the human being across the aisle—not just the opponent. She reminded us that the work we do isn’t about party or politics. It’s about people.
And that’s what I keep coming back to:
There are no Democrats or Republicans today—only fellow Minnesotans.
This is a time for mourning, for grace, and for unity. The person responsible for these acts of violence is the source of our anger and grief—not one another. Please, be kind to your neighbors. We are in this together.
Jen and I are praying for the Hortman and Hoffman families. As Senator John and his wife Yvette continue to recover, I hope they feel the love and support of this entire state lifting them up.
And let us also remember Gilbert, who was so loved by Melissa and Mark. Their home was filled with warmth—and that warmth was taken from us far too soon.
In moments like these, we have a choice.
We can turn inward, shut down, and let grief divide us.
Or—we can turn toward one another. We can love more deeply, listen more closely, and walk through this tragedy hand in hand.
Let’s carry the memory of Melissa, Mark, and Gilbert forward by how we live:
With empathy, even when it’s hard.
With civility, even when we disagree.
With love for our neighbors, even when we don’t see eye to eye.
Let’s remember how they lived—not just how they died. And let’s write a better future together. Our kids are watching.
To the incredible men and women of law enforcement who responded with professionalism, speed, and bravery—from the manhunt teams to the officers who stood guard outside my home—thank you. You represent the very best of public service.
If you’d like to hear more, I recently joined Sunday Take with Blois Olson to share a few words from the heart. You can listen here:
🎧 Sunday Take Interview – Listen Now
I will never forget this week. None of us will. But I also won’t forget the light that can come through even the darkest of days when we choose to stand together.
With a heavy heart, but with hope,
Representative Jeff Witte
Minnesota House of Representatives, District 57B
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