Democratic Victory Restores Balance to Minnesota House

Democrat Xp Lee won a special election Tuesday to fill the seat of assassinated former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, restoring a 67-67 tie in the state chamber.

Power-Sharing Deal Returns

Lee’s victory in District 34B represents more than just filling a vacant seat. The former Brooklyn Park City Council member defeated Republican Ruth Bittner with 60.82% of the vote, bringing back the power-sharing agreement that had governed the Minnesota House through most of the 2025 legislative session.

The special election drew significant attention because control of the 134-member chamber hung in the balance. Republicans had briefly held a 67-66 majority following Hortman’s death in June, but Lee’s win returns the House to an even split between the parties.

Tragic Circumstances Drive Election

The election stems from one of the most shocking acts of political violence in Minnesota’s recent history. Hortman, who served as House Speaker from 2019 until early 2025, was shot and killed along with her husband Mark at their Brooklyn Park home on June 14.

Federal and state prosecutors describe the attack as a “politically motivated assassination” carried out by Vance Boelter, who allegedly impersonated a police officer during the shooting. The same night, state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot at their nearby home but survived.

Lee Promises to Honor Hortman’s Legacy

Lee, a health equity analyst for the Minnesota Department of Health, campaigned on continuing Hortman’s work and bringing stability to a charged political environment. Born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the Vietnam War, Lee previously served on the Brooklyn Park City Council from 2022 to 2024.

“I am honored to have been elected to represent my neighbors in Brooklyn Park, Champlin, and Coon Rapids,” Lee stated Tuesday evening. “I have never lost sight of the situation that brought us to this moment, and I will work hard every day to carry forward Speaker Melissa Hortman’s legacy”.

Republican Candidate Acknowledges Defeat

Bittner, a real estate agent with no prior political experience, represented the lone Republican challenge in the heavily Democratic district. Despite the unfavorable partisan lean, she campaigned on reducing state spending, cracking down on benefit fraud, and investing in law enforcement.

The violence surrounding recent political assassinations, including conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder last week in Utah, created an atmosphere of concern throughout the campaign. Bittner told reporters the violence briefly gave her pause about running but concluded “there’s no way to solve this problem if we shrink back in fear”.

Impact on State Governance

Lee’s victory restores the power-sharing arrangement that Hortman herself had negotiated earlier in 2025. Under this agreement, Republican Lisa Demuth serves as Speaker while Hortman held the title Speaker Emerita before her death. Legislative committees are split evenly between parties with co-chairs from each side.

The arrangement ended a three-week Democratic boycott at the start of the 2025 session and requires bipartisan cooperation to pass legislation. Lee will serve the remainder of Hortman’s term through 2026.

Additional Elections Ahead

Two more special legislative elections are scheduled for November 4 in Minnesota Senate districts. One will fill the seat vacated by Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell following her July resignation after a burglary conviction, while the other replaces Republican Senator Bruce Anderson, who died in July.

Results from Tuesday’s election remain unofficial until the state canvassing board meets Friday to certify the outcome.