Democrats will retain the legislative seat previously occupied by Melissa Hortman, the former Democratic speaker of the Minnesota House, who was assassinated at her home in June along with her husband in what authorities say was a political killing.
In a special election held Tuesday in a Minnesota House seat in suburban Minneapolis, Democratic Party nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican nominee Ruth Bittner, the Associated Press reported.
With Democrats and Republicans owning 67 seats in the Minnesota House, Lee’s win in the blue-leaning district will result in another impasse. Additionally, it will reinstate a power-sharing agreement that was negotiated between the two parties following the Democrats’ loss of the majority in the 2024 elections.
A week prior to the special election, the country was rocked by the death of conservative commentator, firebrand, and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, which brought Hortman’s murder back into the public eye.
Vance Boelter, the alleged shooter, is accused by prosecutors of posing as a police officer in order to carry out what they refer to as the “political assassinations” of Hortman and her husband, Mark. Additionally, Boelter is accused of shooting and injuring state senator John Hoffman and his spouse, Yvette, at their home in the vicinity.
Prior to the election, Lee, who was born in a Thai refugee camp after his family escaped the Vietnam War, told the AP that one of the main reasons he ran for office was to carry on Hortman’s legacy.
If it weren’t for Melissa Hortman’s murder, I wouldn’t be running. I am therefore extremely aware of both political and firearm violence. Thus, my goal is to aid in the healing of our community,” Lee stated.
Hortman “was a very unique individual,” Bittner, a real estate agent in Minnesota, said on public radio. We’re not going to try to replace her.”
Late last month, a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis left two young schoolchildren dead and 21 others injured, further shattering Minnesota’s already shaky peace.
