Overview
- Lee, a health equity analyst and former Brooklyn Park council member, defeated Republican real estate agent Ruth Bittner in the heavily Democratic 34B district.
- The result returns the House to a 67-67 tie and preserves the bipartisan power-sharing arrangement negotiated after Democrats lost their majority in 2024.
- Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar campaigned for Lee as the race unfolded against broader concerns over political violence.
- The seat was vacated after former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot on June 14; suspect Vance Boelter faces state and federal charges, with prosecutors citing police impersonation and notebooks listing officials.
- Walz has indicated he will convene a gun-policy special session following a recent Minnesota school shooting, and the restored tie keeps committee parity and co-chairs in place.