Special Election to Fill Vacant House Seat Tuesday, MEDPAC Endorses Candidate Xp Lee

September 11, 2025

A special election to fill the seat left open following the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman is scheduled for September 16. The election for House District 34B includes Brooklyn Park and parts of Coon Rapids. 

MEDPAC, the political action committee for the MMA, announced its endorsement of XP Lee, the DFL-endorsed candidate for the open seat. 

“Xp Lee will be a champion for medicine,” said Chad Fahning, MEDPAC execute director and MMA’s senior manager of lobbying and legislative affairs. “In his professional life, he’s worked as the health equity strategist for the Minnesota Department of Health. Both his professional experience and his personal commitment to advancing health equity line up with the MMA’s advocacy goals.” 

The special election will determine the balance of power in the Minnesota House. Prior to Hortman’s death, Republicans shared a 67-67 power agreement with House DFLers. Since, they have had a single vote majority. If the Republican candidate for House District 34B, Ruth Bittner, comes out victorious on Tuesday, Speaker Lisa Demuth (R – Cold Spring) and House Republicans will have a majority and can dictate committee rosters and chairs. The House currently operates under a power-sharing agreement with equal Republican and DFL representation on committee and co-chairs. 

The special election comes at a contentious time when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has publicly announced his intention to call a special session to address public safety amidst growing number of firearm-related deaths in Minnesota and across the country. 

If elected, Lee will join the DFL caucus under new leadership. On September 9, the House DFL selected Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids) to lead the caucus. Stephenson is in his fourth term and was the previous co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee.