Draft:2025 Minnesota House of Representatives district 34B special election
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Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B | |||
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A special election will be held in the U.S. state of Minnesota to elect a new representative for district 34B in the state's House of Representatives. The special election was caused by the assassination of Democratic incumbent Melissa Hortman.[1]
Background
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District 34B in the Minnesota House of Representatives is located in the northern Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area and includes areas of Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids, and Champlin.[2] On the morning of June 14, 2025, a gunman impersonating a police officer assassinated state representative Melissa Hortman in a shooting at her home. Hortman's husband Mark was also killed in the shooting.[3] Earlier in the night, the gunman had also shot state senator John Hoffman and his wife at their home; however, both survived.[2] The shooter, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, was captured on June 16 following a two-day manhunt.[4]
On July 11, Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, called the special election in district 34B for September 16. If necessary, special primary elections will be held on August 12, and candidates had to file before the deadline on July 22.[2]
Primaries
[edit]Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
[edit]On July 7, four days before the special election was announced, Christian Eriksen, a member of the city council of Brooklyn Park and former chair of its Human Rights Commission, announced his campaign.[5][6] On July 14, former Brooklyn Park city councilor Xp Lee announced his candidacy in the special election.[7] Hennepin County prosecutor Erickson Saye also was a candidate.[8]
Republican Party
[edit]Real estate agent Ruth Bittner of Coon Rapids was the only member of the Republican Party to enter the race.[9][6]
References
[edit]- ^ Minor, Nathaniel (June 16, 2025). "Hortman's seat must be filled in special election before next session starts". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c Bettin, Anthony (July 11, 2025). "Special election set for slain Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman's seat". CBS News. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Haworth, Jon; Shapiro, Emily; Margolin, Josh (June 14, 2025). "Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman killed, State Sen. John Hoffman wounded in 'targeted political violence'". ABC News. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Londoño, Ernesto; Cochrane, Emily; Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (June 16, 2025). "Suspect in Minnesota Attacks Is Arrested, Ending Manhunt". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Kilat (July 10, 2025). "Brooklyn Park city council member announces run for Hortman's seat". KMSP-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Wagener, Izzy (July 23, 2025). "The race for Rep. Melissa Hortman's former House seat begins". Minnesota Reformer. States Newsroom. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "House District 34B special election: Xp Lee running for open seat". KMSP-TV. July 14, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Erickson Saye announces campaign for House District 34B". Sun Post. July 15, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Bork, Corey (July 21, 2025). "Ruth Bittner Becomes First Republican To File for Hortman's House Seat". CCX Media. Retrieved August 1, 2025.