A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Hortman represents District 34B in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids and parts of Anoka and Hennepin Counties.

From start of the 94th Legislature until early February, she led a boycott of House sessions to deny Republicans a quorum to conduct business.

She earned bachelor's degrees in political science and philosophy from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude in 1991, a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School, cum laude, in 1995, and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2018.

[1][5] In her first term, Hortman was an outspoken advocate for the Northstar Commuter Rail line, which runs through her district.

[8] In 2008, Hortman managed the DFL floor operation during a successful attempt to override then-Governor Tim Pawlenty's veto of a gas tax increase.