MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A special legislative election took place on Tuesday to fill a seat previously held by the late Minnesota Democrat, former House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in June 2025. This election is crucial as it will determine control of the Minnesota House, which holds significant implications for state politics.
Melissa Hortman, known for her leadership, was tragically shot and killed in her home along with her husband by a man impersonating a police officer in Brooklyn Park, a suburb northwest of Minneapolis. Another legislator and his spouse were also victims of the attack but managed to survive. The accused shooter, Vance Boelter, 57, faces multiple charges including federal and state murder and attempted murder stemming from the horrific events of June 14.
This special election, pitting Democrat Xp Lee against Republican Ruth Bittner, comes on the heels of other disturbing acts of political violence, most notably the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah just one week prior. Such incidents have raised concerns among voters in the district and prompted candidates to address these issues head-on.
Xp Lee expressed a desire to foster a “calmed atmosphere” in light of the recent violence, emphasizing the need for unity and healing. In contrast, Ruth Bittner shared that the violence momentarily discouraged her from pursuing the election. However, she ultimately decided that retreating out of fear would not solve the underlying problems facing their community.
Lee, who previously served on the Brooklyn Park City Council, won a three-way Democratic primary with ease in August. On the other hand, Bittner, a real estate agent, ran uncontested as the sole Republican on the primary ballot in a district that leans heavily Democratic.
A win for Lee would maintain a 67-67 tie in the House, preserving the power-sharing agreement that emerged during the 2025 legislative session after House Democrats lost their majority following the 2024 elections. Hortman was instrumental in brokering this agreement, which led to an end to a three-week boycott by Democrats. Under its terms, she stepped down from her six-year tenure as speaker, allowing Republican Lisa Demuth to take over the role while Hortman assumed a title of speaker emerita. This arrangement resulted in a split of most legislative committees between Republican and Democratic members, facilitated by co-chairs from each party.
Due to the tie in the House, bipartisan cooperation has become essential in passing any legislation during this year's session. Should Bittner secure an upset victory, it would shift control of the House to Republicans for the first time since 2018, thereby enhancing their leverage amidst a Democratic Governorship under Tim Walz and a Senate where Democrats hold just a single-vote advantage.
Looking ahead, two additional special elections are set for November 4, which will fill vacant seats in two Minnesota Senate districts. One seat was vacated by Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell from Woodbury, who resigned after being convicted of burglary earlier in July. The other election pertains to Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson's seat after he passed away in July.
The political landscape indicates that the districts in question are heavily Democratic and heavily Republican, making a significant shift in Senate control unlikely. Yet, if Democratic candidate Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger wins the seat left by Mitchell, it would necessitate another special election to fill her now vacant House seat.
