A former Brooklyn Park City Council member has earned the Democratic endorsement for a north metro seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The seat, District 34B, was formerly held by Melissa Hortman.
On Monday, delegates to the local DFL convention gathered at the Hennepin County Library in Brooklyn Park and endorsed XP Lee among a field of three Democratic candidates.
“I am humbled and honored to receive the DFL endorsement,” said Lee in a statement. “This campaign is deeply personal to me—not just as a proud Democrat, but as a refugee, union member, public servant, and father fighting for a better future for all Minnesotans.”
Lee served on the Brooklyn Park City Council for two years before opting against re-election last fall. Born in a refugee camp before immigrating to the United States, Lee works as a “Health Equity Strategist” for the Minnesota Department of Health.
Lee bested fellow Democrats Erickson Saye and Christian Eriksen in the race for the DFL endorsement. Despite Lee’s victory in the endorsement battle, Saye has announced he will continue his campaign and run in the Aug. 12 primary.
“While we did not win the endorsement, our work is far from over,” said Saye, an associate attorney at the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (HCAO). “Starting Wednesday, we’ll be launching daily door knocks, and I welcome all the support we can get to keep building momentum.”
Prior to his work at the HCAO, Saye served as a public engagement liaison for Gov. Tim Walz and was a field organizer for the Minnesota DFL. Eriksen, a Brooklyn Park city councilor, has not indicated whether he will run in the primary.
The winner of the Aug. 12 primary will face Republican Ruth Bittner in the Sept. 16 general election. A small business owner, Bittner has volunteered on Anoka-Hennepin School Board campaigns and serves as vice chair for the Third Congressional District Republicans.
Bittner, who grew up in the district and raised her family there, told Alpha News she intends to advocate for “fiscal responsibility in our state budget, safety and security in our communities and educational excellence in our schools” if elected.
Gov. Walz called the special election for House District 34B earlier this month following the June 14 assassinations of DFL legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
