Hmong American Democrat wins special election to fill seat of slain Minnesota lawmaker

A former city councilman whose family fled war-torn Laos has won the Minnesota House seat left vacant by an assassinated Democratic leader, returning the chamber to an even partisan split that requires bipartisan cooperation.

Election result: Xiongpao “Xp” Lee received 60.8% of the vote against Republican Ruth Bittner in Tuesday’s District 34B special election in the suburban Minneapolis area. The victory, which reinstates the 67-67 chamber balance that emerged when Democrats lost control in 2024, preserves an unusual bipartisan framework in which Republican Lisa Demuth holds the speaker’s gavel while committees operate with dual leadership from both parties.

The seat became available following the assassination of longtime Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark by gunman Vance Boelter in June.

About Lee: Lee’s background reflects the immigrant experience. His parents fled Laos during the Vietnam War, leading to his birth in a Thai refugee camp before his family came to the U.S. After living in Fresno, California, he established himself in Minnesota as a health equity strategist with the state Department of Health while serving Brooklyn Park residents on their city council through 2024.

On policy priorities, Lee supports expanding state healthcare programs, increasing education investment and limits on assault-style weapons. He has pledged continued dedication to Hortman’s policy priorities and constituent service approach.

Why this matters: Lee’s victory holds particular significance for Minnesota’s Hmong community, which represents the nation’s second-largest concentration at 95,000 residents, trailing only California’s 110,000. Lee expands Hmong representation in the state capitol, joining other legislators from this community in advancing Asian American political participation. The Twin Cities metropolitan region, which encompasses his district, houses roughly 90,000 Hmong Americans.