Xp Lee Wins Special Election for Hortman’s State House Seat
Voters in House District 34B have elected Xp Lee to the Minnesota House of Representatives in the Sept. 16 special election.
The DFLer and former Brooklyn Park City Council member will take the seat previously held by Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in her home along with her husband and dog on June 14. Prosecutors called the attack “politically-motivated.”
Lee defeated Republican and real estate agent Ruth Bittner.
With 14 of 14 precincts reporting, Lee received 4,331 votes, or 60.8 percent of the total votes cast in the special election, while Bittner received 2,785 votes, or 39.1 percent of the total votes. There were also 5 write-in votes.
“We did our best to make her proud: knocking on doors daily, making phone calls, and texting every neighbor we could,” said Lee in a press statement Tuesday night honoring Hortman. “This victory belongs to everyone who volunteered, donated, and did everything they could to make sure we won tonight.”
House District 34B includes parts of Brooklyn Park and Champlin in Hennepin County, and parts of Coon Rapids in Anoka County.
Voters in Brooklyn Park have elected Xp Lee to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Lee previously bested fellow DFL hopefuls Christian Eriksen and Erickson Saye in the primary election with nearly 60 percent of the vote.
The son of Hmong immigrants, Lee was elected to the Brooklyn Park City Council in a special election in 2022. He served through 2024.
“My story is proof of what’s possible in our country and our state: I was born in a refugee camp, our family got our papers, and we came to this country when I was 10 months old. I worked hard in school, later I joined a union, and I have been serving my community in every way I can,” said Lee in a statement to CCX News.
Lee’s win brings the Minnesota House of Representatives back to a 67-67 tie between the political parties.
Corey Bork contributed to this report
