Minnesota Governor Tim Walz honored the late Melissa Hortman during a somber press conference on June 14, just hours after the Democratic representative and her husband, Mark, were fatally shot in what officials are calling a “politically motivated assassination.”

“Speaker Hortman was a giant in Minnesota politics—graceful, compassionate, and driven by service,” Walz said. “She woke up every day determined to make this state a better place. She is irreplaceable and will be missed by so many.”

Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were injured in a separate but related attack and are currently recovering after surgery. Walz said they are “cautiously optimistic” about their prognosis.

Authorities were initially alerted to the Hoffman attack around 2 a.m. Upon checking on Hortman’s home in Champlin, officers encountered a gunman posing as law enforcement who opened fire and fled. Brooklyn Park issued a shelter-in-place order as the manhunt continued.

Hortman, elected in 2004, championed transportation, education, and environmental causes. She previously worked with Senators Al Gore and John Kerry and held degrees from Boston University, the University of Minnesota, and Harvard Kennedy School. She is survived by two children.