2 days ago
Walz calls Sept. 16 special election to fill slain lawmaker Rep. Melissa Hortman's seat
Brooklyn Park voters will take to the polls on Sept. 16 to fill the vacant seat of Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was killed last month in a politically motivated assassination.
Gov. Tim Walz on Friday issued a writ of special election for the House District 34B seat, which encompasses parts of Anoka and Hennepin counties.
A special primary for the seat, if necessary, will be on Aug. 12.
Hortman and her husband were shot and killed on June 14 in their Brooklyn Park home. Their deaths, along with the attempted assassination of Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, and his wife have left Minnesota in a state of shock and grief.
Hortman first ran for the House seat in 1998 and 2002 and lost both times before winning in 2004 in what was then a swing district. Like many suburban districts, it has since become solidly blue. In 2024, Hortman won her race by 26 percentage points over her Republican challenger and served as the House DFL caucus leader until her death.
Given the current status of the House — Republicans hold a 1-seat (67-66) advantage — Democrats are likely to take no chances, despite the near lock on keeping the seat. House Democrats will also likely knock on doors and fundraise to keep the seat blue in honor of their former leader.
Brooklyn Park City Council member Christian Eriksen earlier this week announced that he intends to seek the DFL endorsement for the open seat.
'I know in our communities, this seat will endure as 'Melissa's Seat,'' Eriksen said in a social media post announcing his candidacy. 'It is with great respect to her legacy, as well as the legacy of all those whom have served before us, that I run for this office.'
More: St. Cloud's Minnesota House reps mourn state legislator shot in targeted attack
No Republican candidates have announced for the seat yet.
Hortman, who was among the most influential Minnesota elected officials in the past decade, served as House Speaker from 2019 to 2024.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation's largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz calls special election to fill Hortman's seat
