3 Democrats, 1 Republican file to run for Melissa Hortman's Minnesota House seat

Allison Kite, Star Tribune on Jul 22, 2025

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Four candidates have filed paperwork to run for the Minnesota House seat left by murdered Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party leader Melissa Hortman.

Gov. Tim Walz earlier this month ordered a special election for Sept. 16 to fill Hortman’s seat representing parts of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids. A special primary election will take place Aug. 12.

Three Democrats — Christian Eriksen, Xp Lee and Erickson Saye — filed paperwork to run for the seat. Ruth Bittner was the sole Republican to enter the race and will automatically advance to the September general special election.

Eriksen is a member of the Brooklyn Park City Council; Lee previously served on the council. Saye is a prosecutor in Hennepin County. Bittner is a real estate agent.

Scott Simmons, who unsuccessfully ran against Hortman in her last three reelection bids, did not file to enter the special election.

Hortman was first elected in 2004, flipping a Republican seat and, over the years, making her northern suburban district reliably Democratic. She won more than 60% of the vote in her last four reelection bids.

Hortman rose in the House Democratic caucus and became speaker in 2019. When the House became tied with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans following the 2024 election, Hortman yielded the speaker’s gavel to Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth, becoming speaker emerita.

Hortman was killed in her home last month alongside her husband, Mark Hortman, by a gunman allegedly targeting Democratic lawmakers and abortion providers. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were shot the same night and survived.

Vance Boelter has been charged in state and federal courts in connection with the shootings.

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