Democrat wins special election for seat held by slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman
Minnesota voters chose a Democratic successor on Tuesday for the State House headquarters who had been detained by Melissa Hortman, who was murdered in June.
Democrat XP Lee beat Republican Ruth Bittner during the solid democratic district of the northwest suburbs of twin cities, projected the Associated Press.
Lee’s victory intervenes three months after Hortman, a former speaker of the State Chamber, and her husband was killed in what the Minnesota authorities described as an “political motivation assassination” at their home in Brooklyn Park on June 14.
Another legislator, the state senator John Hoffman, and his wife, Yvette, were also slaughtered at their home that evening and were seriously injured. The man who was charged in both shots, Vance Boelter, pleaded not guilty to several charges of intentional murder in the second degree and attempted murder.
The shots made fears among legislators across the country and in Washington, DC, about their security in the middle of the climbing of political rhetoric and violent threats. These security problems have been raised again in recent days after the assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk in a college in Utah.
Hortman’s seat had remained vacant after his murder. Lee’s victory will restore equality 67-67 with the minnesota state house.
The result will probably prove to be useful for Democrats while the Legislative Assembly is heading for an expected special session focused on firearms. Democratic Governor Tim Walz said he was planning to convene such an imminent session, following a shooting last month in a Catholic school in Minneapolis, which left two dead.
Lee, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, works for the Minnesota Ministry of Health and sat on the Brooklyn Park municipal council, a northwest suburb of twin cities, from 2022 to 2024.
The Democrats praised Lee for his victory, while continuing to cry Hortman.
“In Minnesota, our hearts are still shattered by the horrible assassination that stole Melissa and her husband Mark,” said Ken Martin, president of the National Democratic Committee, in a statement. “Political violence is a scourge that has taken too many lives. It is enough to end now. And in any case, each of us has the responsibility to condemn and reject political violence wherever it stands.”
“I have no doubt that Rep -Élue Lee will be a champion for the voters of his district, and through this work, proudly carry the inheritance of a leader who worked tirelessly for all minnesotans – my friend, the great Melissa Hortman,” added Martin, who worked in the democratic policy of Minnesota for years.
The president of the democratic legislative campaign committee, Heather Williams, added that “Win de Lee restores equality to Minnesota House and honors the heritage of President Emerita Melissa Hortman, who is deeply lacking”.
