"Lee said he wants to calm the "charged atmosphere" in the wake of Kirk's death. Bittner said the violence briefly gave her pause about running for office, but she concluded that "there's no way to solve this problem if we shrink back in fear." Lee, a former Brooklyn Park City Council member, easily won a three-way Democratic primary in August. Bittner, a real estate agent, was the sole Republican on the primary ballot for the seat in the heavily Democratic district."
"A victory by Lee would restore a 67-67 tie and preserve a power-sharing deal that existed for most of the 2025 legislative session after the 2024 elections cost House Democrats their majority. Hortman brokered that agreement, which ended Democrats' three-week boycott. Under the deal, she agreed to end her six-year tenure as speaker and let Republican Lisa Demuth take the position. Hortman then took the title speaker emerita. Most legislative committees became evenly split between Republican and Democratic members, with co-chairs from each party."
Special legislative election Tuesday will fill the Minnesota House seat left vacant after former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in June. The shooter impersonated a police officer; another legislator and his wife were shot and survived. Vance Boelter faces federal and state murder, attempted murder and other charges. Democrat Xp Lee faces Republican Ruth Bittner in the special election. The campaign follows the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, heightening voter concerns. Lee seeks to calm the charged atmosphere; Bittner says retreating in fear is not a solution. Lee's victory would restore a 67-67 tie and preserve power-sharing.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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