Xp Lee Wins Special Election for District 34B, Filling Seat of Slain Rep. Melissa Hortman

Xp Lee Wins Special Election for District 34B, Filling Seat of Slain Rep. Melissa Hortman

Brooklyn Park, MN — DFL candidate Xp Lee has won the special election for Minnesota House District 34B, securing about 60.8% of the vote against Republican challenger Ruth Bittner, who received roughly 39.1%. With all 14 precincts reporting, Lee’s victory returns the seat to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party following the assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman, one of Minnesota’s most prominent political figures.

Hortman, the former Speaker of the Minnesota House, was killed along with her husband, Mark, in June 2025 in what authorities have described as a politically motivated assassination. The attack, linked to the wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife in a related shooting, led to a two-day manhunt for suspect Vance Luther Boelter, who now faces multiple charges including premeditated murder.

The District 34B race drew heightened attention both statewide and nationally, not only for its tragic origins but also for its implications in Minnesota’s divided legislature. The district, covering parts of Brooklyn Park, Champlin, and Coon Rapids, has long leaned Democratic. Hortman herself had won reelection in 2024 with nearly 63% of the vote.

Lee’s victory restores a 67–67 split in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where Democrats and Republicans share power under a unique co-leadership arrangement. That power-sharing deal — originally brokered by Hortman after the 2024 elections resulted in a tie — placed Republican Lisa Demuth as co-leader alongside Hortman, ensuring bipartisan control of committees and legislative priorities.

In his campaign, Lee pledged to continue Hortman’s legacy, emphasizing education, healthcare access, and measures to reduce political violence. His opponent, Bittner, centered her message on safety concerns and public trust in government.

With Lee’s win, Minnesota’s political balance remains delicately poised, but many observers see his election as both a tribute to Hortman’s legacy and a reaffirmation of voters’ desire for continuity in turbulent times.

MinneapoliMedia