Xp Lee Wins Special Election After Melissa Hortman’s Tragic Death
A significant political moment unfolded in Minnesota this week, where Democrat Xp Lee has been projected as the winner of a special election held to fill the state House seat once occupied by the late Melissa Hortman. This election carried more weight than most, not only because of the political balance at stake but also because it came in the shadow of shocking violence.
Melissa Hortman, a highly respected lawmaker and former Minnesota House speaker, was brutally killed alongside her husband, Mark, in June. Authorities said they were targeted in what Governor Tim Walz described at the time as a politically motivated assassination. The shocking act left Minnesota reeling, and the vacant seat she left behind became a symbol of both loss and resilience.
Just three months later, the people of District 34B—centered in the suburban community of Brooklyn Park—were called upon to decide who would carry on her legacy. The Associated Press has now projected Xp Lee, a Democrat and former Brooklyn Park City Council member, as the victor over Republican candidate Ruth Bittner, a local real estate agent making her first run for office.
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Lee’s win does more than fill a seat—it changes the balance of the Minnesota House. Republicans currently hold a slim majority of 67 to 66, but Lee’s victory restores an even 67–67 split between the parties. This deadlock had been seen before, and in the past it forced lawmakers to enter a rare power-sharing agreement. Hortman herself once described that arrangement as a “golden opportunity” to show bipartisanship, a vision Lee has pledged to continue.
The campaign unfolded against a tense backdrop. Less than a week ago, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, another shocking act of political violence that has drawn national attention. For many voters, these tragedies were fresh reminders of the dangers facing public figures. Lee himself acknowledged the “charged atmosphere” of American politics, saying his goal is to help lower the temperature while also addressing core issues like education, healthcare, and jobs.
Prominent Democrats, including Governor Walz and Senator Amy Klobuchar, rallied behind Lee in the final days of the race, while Republican Ruth Bittner campaigned on her outsider perspective, acknowledging the risks but insisting that fear should not silence political voices.
Reactions to the election have underscored both relief and grief. Minnesota Democratic leaders praised Lee’s victory while condemning the violence that claimed Hortman’s life. National voices echoed the sentiment, with Democratic Party leaders insisting that politics must not be conducted under threats and intimidation.
For Lee, who has personal ties to the district and even recalled seeing Hortman walking her golden retriever in the neighborhood, this win carries deep meaning. As he steps into the role once held by his former neighbor, the challenge ahead is not only political but also deeply human: to honor Hortman’s legacy, to heal a wounded community, and to navigate a political climate where unity feels increasingly rare.
This election has not only restored a legislative balance in Minnesota—it has also served as a reminder of both the fragility of democracy and the enduring strength of communities determined to carry forward, even in the face of violence.
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