Members of Congress from Minnesota are bringing a diverse group of guests to President Trump’s first formal State of the Union address of his second term. These guests range from individuals personally affected by federal enforcement actions to political family members and local leaders, reflecting the varied concerns and perspectives within the state.
Family Members Honoring Political Legacy
Rep. Kelly Morrison is attending alongside Colin Hortman, son of the late Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. Rep. Betty McCollum will bring Colin’s wife, Alina Bachman Hortman. The Hortman family suffered a tragic loss when Melissa and her husband were fatally shot in a politically motivated attack last June. Their children have emphasized the enduring legacy of community dedication their parents left behind.
Highlighting the Impact of ICE Operations
Rep. Ilhan Omar is bringing four guests who symbolize the humanitarian and social effects of ICE’s enforcement efforts in Minnesota. Among them is Aliya Rahman, whose viral video captured her detainment while driving to a medical appointment, despite having a disability. Rahman recently testified before Congress about the lasting physical harm and poor detention conditions she experienced. Mary Granlund, chair of the Columbia Heights Public School Board, joins the group following national attention on the detention of a young student and his father near a local school. Additionally, Mubashir Hussen, a U.S. citizen subjected to a violent and apparently unwarranted arrest, is part of a lawsuit against the federal government’s alleged racial profiling. Gerardo Orozco Guzman represents efforts to support detained immigrant workers, with his father currently held in a New Mexico correctional facility.
Conservative Voices and Controversial Figures
Rep. Pete Stauber is bringing Nick Shirley, a conservative YouTuber known for his controversial video accusing Somali-owned daycares of fraud. Shirley and another guest, David Hoch, produced the video that preceded a significant federal operation in Minnesota involving thousands of agents focusing on immigration and alleged fraud issues. Despite the declared winding down of the operation, updates on these investigations have been sparse.
Opposition Actions and Alternative Events
Sen. Tina Smith will boycott the State of the Union address. She plans to attend an alternative event, the People’s State of the Union, on the National Mall alongside Fridley Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Lewis. Smith praised Lewis for her leadership in opposing what they describe as aggressive federal policing by ICE. Lewis intends to shed light on the challenges her school district has faced due to federal immigration enforcement.
Additional Guests Reflecting Community and Economic Concerns
Other Minnesota lawmakers are bringing guests such as Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany, local business owner Sean Syverson, who has been affected by federal tariffs, and Dan Glessing, president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau. These guests illustrate the broad economic and law enforcement perspectives represented by the state’s congressional delegation.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is set to deliver the Democratic response to the president’s address, signaling national political counterpoints to the speech featured by Minnesota’s bipartisan mix of guests.
This lineup of attendees from Minnesota highlights the significant local and personal impacts of federal policies, the state’s political divisions, and the ongoing debates over immigration enforcement and community safety.
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