Minnesota House deadlocked after Democrats win special election to fill seat of slain lawmaker
Democrats will hold onto the legislative seat once held by Melissa Hortman the former Democratic Minnesota House speaker who along with her husband was killed at their home in June in what prosecutors describe as a political assassination Democratic Party nominee Xp Lee defeated Republican nominee Ruth Bittner in a special voting process Tuesday in a suburban Minneapolis state House district according to the Associated Press Lee's win in the blue-leaning district will once again deadlock the Minnesota House with Democrats and Republicans each holding seats in the chamber And it will restore a power-sharing deal between the two parties hammered out after the Democrats lost their majority in the elections MINNESOTA GOV WALZ LAUNCHES BID FOR THIRD TERM I M STAYING IN THE FIGHT'The special voting process was held a week after the assassination of conservative firebrand commentator and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk rocked the nation and thrust Hortman's murder back into the spotlight CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON THE CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATIONProsecutors charge that alleged gunman Vance Boelter impersonated a police officer as he carried out what they call the political assassinations of Hortman and her husband Mark Boelter is also charged with shooting and wounding state Sen John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at their nearby home Lee who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand after his family fled the Vietnam War notified the AP ahead of the polling that continuing Hortman's legacy was a major motivator in his campaign TRUMP NOT ON BALLOT BUT FRONT-AND-CENTER IN ELECTIONS I wouldn't be running if it wasn't for the murder of Melissa Hortman So I am very conscious of political and gun violence So I want to help our region heal Lee reported Bittner a real estate agent recounted population radio in Minnesota that Hortman was a very unique individual We will not be trying to replace her Minnesota was further rocked by violence late last month when two young school children were killed and people injured in a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis The Associated Press contributed to this record
