Democrat Xp Lee has won Minnesota’s special election to replace slain Rep. Melissa Hortman, defeating Republican Ruth Bittner. The race has focused on ongoing concerns of political violence and prompted debate over a potential special session on school security and gun policy.

The race comes three months after Hortman and her husband were killed in what Minnesota authorities described as a “politically motivated assassination."

Lee took the oath of office Friday in the House chamber surrounded by family and friends. The former Brooklyn Park city councilman won the special election in House District 34B to fill the seat of fallen House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The Minnesota House is again tied with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans.

ST. PAUL — Voting season began in Minnesota on Sept. 19 for the Nov. 4 local elections. There are 38 city and school district regular elections on ballots around the state in addition to 79 special elections .

Democrat Xp Lee won a special election Tuesday for a seat previously held by the late state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in June. Lee's win also restores a tie in the Minnesota House.

The Minnesota Secretary of State is being sued by the federal government over allegations that election integrity was violated under the Help America Vote Act that President Trump signed earlier this year.

Special election victory by Democrat Xp Lee restores Minnesota House power-sharing deal after replacing seat of assassinated former speaker Melissa Hortman.

M innesotans are set to vote Tuesday in the special election to replace Melissa Hortman, the former Democratic Minnesota House speaker who was killed alongside her husband at their home in June, a politically motivated killing thrust back into the spotlight after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

The Trump ally was at the center of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and supported debunked conspiracy theories about the vote.

The U.S. Justice Department says Secretary of State Steve Simon has failed to provide Minnesota’s voter registration list and has now filed a lawsuit against the elections official.

The Minnesota Secretary of State is being sued by the federal government over allegations that election integrity was violated under the Help America Vote Act that President Trump signed earlier this year.