On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, voters in a suburban district northwest of Minneapolis cast their ballots in a special legislative election that not only determined the immediate balance of power in the Minnesota House but also drew national attention to a disturbing trend of political violence. The election, held in Brooklyn Park, was prompted by the shocking assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in June—a crime that left the state reeling and underscored growing concerns about the safety of public officials.
The contest pitted Democrat Xp Lee, a former Brooklyn Park City Council member, against Republican Ruth Bittner, a real estate agent running for public office for the first time. While the race was, on its face, a battle for a single legislative seat, the stakes were far higher: the outcome would either restore a rare 67-67 tie in the House, preserving a fragile bipartisan power-sharing agreement, or hand Republicans control of the chamber for the first time since 2018.
According to the Associated Press, the murder of Hortman and her husband on June 14, 2025, sent shockwaves through Minnesota’s political community. The couple was gunned down in their home by Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man who, authorities say, impersonated a police officer and wore a realistic latex mask to carry out what prosecutors have described as “political assassinations.” The violence did not end there: State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot that night at their home in nearby Champlin, but survived.
Prosecutors told ABC News that investigators found a notebook in Boelter’s car containing a list of about 45 elected officials and abortion providers as potential targets. Many of the lawmakers named were known for their pro-choice policy positions, raising alarms about the motivations behind the attack. Boelter now faces multiple state and federal charges, including murder and attempted murder.
The tragedy cast a long shadow over the special election. Lee, who won the Democratic primary decisively in August with 59% of the vote, told The Associated Press, “It makes me want to focus on healing and coming together even more. You know, I wouldn’t be running if it wasn’t for the murder of Melissa Hortman. So, I am very conscious of political and gun violence. So, I want to help our community heal.”
Lee’s campaign emphasized not only the need for unity but also his personal story: born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the Vietnam War, Lee has made improving education and access to health care central tenets of his platform. On the Sunday before the election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined Lee for a door-knocking event, rallying support in the blue-leaning district and urging residents to vote.
For Bittner, the decision to run came with its own set of anxieties. She told MPR News that the violence “briefly gave her pause about running for office,” but ultimately concluded, “there’s no way to solve this problem if we shrink back in fear.” Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Bittner described Hortman as a “very unique individual” and insisted, “we will not be trying to replace her.” She positioned herself as a political outsider, highlighting her lack of government experience as a strength and focusing her campaign on eliminating inefficiencies, improving public safety, and bolstering education.
Both candidates acknowledged the heightened fear among Minnesotans in the wake of not only Hortman’s murder but also the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah just days earlier, on September 10, 2025. Lee noted that many voters had brought up both the Kirk shooting and a recent attack at Annunciation Church, reflecting a community grappling with the broader implications of political violence.
In the months following the 2024 elections—when Democrats lost their House majority—the Minnesota legislature had operated under a delicate power-sharing agreement brokered by Hortman. The deal ended a three-week Democratic boycott and saw Hortman step down as speaker in favor of Republican Lisa Demuth, while retaining the honorary title of speaker emerita. Committees were split evenly between parties, with co-chairs sharing leadership. This arrangement, as reported by the Associated Press, required bipartisan cooperation to pass any legislation, a rare experiment in legislative governance.
A victory by Lee would restore this 67-67 deadlock and keep the power-sharing arrangement in place, ensuring that neither party could push through its agenda without at least some support from across the aisle. On the other hand, an upset by Bittner would give Republicans a clear majority, allowing them to set the legislative agenda and putting them in a stronger position to negotiate with Democratic Governor Tim Walz and a narrowly Democratic-controlled Senate.
The special election was not the only political drama unfolding in Minnesota. Two more special elections are scheduled for November 4, 2025, to fill Senate seats vacated by Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell—who resigned following a burglary conviction—and Republican Senator Bruce Anderson, who died in July. Both districts are considered safe for their respective parties, so control of the Senate is not expected to change. However, if state Rep. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, the Democratic candidate for Mitchell’s seat, wins, it would trigger yet another special election for her House seat, keeping the political chessboard in flux.
The broader context for the Minnesota race is a national climate of escalating threats and violence directed at public officials. The ABC News report detailed how Boelter’s “hit list” included not only lawmakers but also abortion providers and pro-choice activists, mirroring a trend of targeted attacks linked to contentious political issues. The assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah further heightened anxieties, with both Lee and Bittner acknowledging the fear and uncertainty permeating the electorate.
Despite these challenges, both candidates expressed a determination to move forward. As Bittner put it, “we have to move forward as a country.” For Lee, the path ahead is about healing and working together. Their campaigns—though sharply different in style and substance—both paid tribute to Hortman’s legacy, a testament to her impact on Minnesota politics and the deep sense of loss felt across party lines.
As the votes were tallied Tuesday night, the outcome would decide not only the immediate future of the Minnesota House but also serve as a barometer for the nation’s ability to confront and overcome the specter of political violence. In a year marked by tragedy and uncertainty, Minnesota’s special election stood as a test of democratic resilience and the enduring hope for a more civil, secure political discourse.
