Devin Bruce of Minneapolis placed flowers at a memorial for Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home on June 14. Tuesday, candidate Xp Lee, a Democrat, won the seat. File Photo by Craig Lassig/EPA
Sept. 17 (UPI) — Voters in Minnesota chose another Democrat to replace slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman on Tuesday.
Xp Lee, a health equity analyst, beat Republican candidate Ruth Bittner for the seat. That seat that covers portions of Hennepin and Anoka counties in Minneapolis.
“I’ve seen Rep.-elect Lee’s leadership up close while he was a Brooklyn Park City Councilmember, and I have no doubt he’ll continue that leadership as a statehouse member,” said Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, who once led the state Democratic Party in Minnesota.
Hortman, 55, her husband, Mark, 58, and their dog, Gilbert, were shot and killed in June in their home. State Sen. John Hoffman, 60, and his wife Yvette were also shot multiple times 5 miles away in their home. Vance Boelter, 57, faces federal murder charges for the shootings.
Hortman’s seat was vacant after her death. Lee’s victory will restore a 67-67 tie to the Minnesota House.
“Rep.-elect Xp Lee’s win restores a tie in the Minnesota House and honors the legacy of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, who is deeply missed by DFLers [Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party members] across Minnesota and by the DLCC,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams in a statement. “Expanding opportunities for working families to thrive is the best way to honor her legacy, and that’s exactly what DFLers will be able to do with Rep.-elect Lee’s leadership. The DLCC is committed to supporting Minnesota DFLers every step of the way, now and into 2026, when all 134 House District seats will be up for election.”
Gov. Tim Walz has called a special session to focus on gun issues in the state after a school shooting in Minneapolis. The session is expected to begin soon.
