Lee, Bittner Offer Contrasts in Race for House District 34B Seat

We now know who will be on the ballot in the special election to fill the Minnesota House seat held by the late state Rep. Melissa Hortman.

Democrat Xp Lee will face Republican Ruth Bittner for the seat. Lee won a DFL primary with nearly 60 percent of the vote.

With the matchup now solidified, both candidates are ready to get to work on their campaigns.

“We’ve built really good momentum, we’re at a good pace,” said Lee, a former Brooklyn Park City Council member. “So really, just to carry that through as much as possible through to the special election.”

“I believe I have the skills to do the job, so I want people to be able to get to know me personally,” said Bittner, the Republican candidate. “So, I would prefer that we can evaluate people individually as opposed to being a part of a group.”

XP Lee is a former Brooklyn Park City Council Member.

For Bittner, some of the top issues she’d want to address at the Capitol include the state budget, fraud and education.

“I also am very concerned about safety and crime in our communities, and so that is an area where I want to focus and would probably recommend increasing funding in that area,” Bittner said.

For Lee, his top priorities include public safety, health care, education and infrastructure.

“Of course we’ve got big infrastructure projects like Highway 252, the Blue Line Extension and just kind of building out the 610 corridor,” Lee said.

Ruth Bittner is a real estate agent.

Both candidates will have the next four and a half weeks to connect with voters and get their message across about why they’re the right person to replace Melissa Hortman.

“I want to be able to try to pick up her legacy and be able to do the best that I can, and I feel that I am a very strong candidate to be able to do that,” added Lee.

“I am a real estate agent and I have learned a lot of skills about negotiation and getting along with people who maybe don’t agree with you, and I do believe that I’m a person who can build relationships,” said Bittner.

Voters will have their say on Sept. 16. Early voting for the special election starts Sept. 2

Related: XP Lee Wins DFL Primary in Special Election House 34B Race

Brooklyn Park