At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the window closed for candidates to file to run in the special election for Minnesota House District 34B, left vacant after the assassination of former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman.
Three Democrats and one Republican have filed to run. The Democrats that filed by the deadline for the special election are Hennepin County prosecutor Erickson Saye, a Liberian-American, former Brooklyn Park City Council Member XP Lee who served until last year representing the East District and current Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen who represents the Central District.
The only Republican that filed is Ruth Bittner.
A special primary election will be held on August 12 to determine the Democratic party nominee since more than one filed to run. Whoever wins that primary will face Bittner at a special election that will be held on September 16.
Hortman, a Democrat, represented the district for 11 terms having first been elected in 2004. She won by more than 20 points since the district was redrawn in 2022. The district encompasses sections of Champlin, Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park. It has a population of just under 39,000 with a median age of 39, according to the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey.
The Democrats that filed by the deadline for the special election are Hennepin County prosecutor Erickson Saye, a Liberian-American, former Brooklyn Park City Council Member XP Lee who served until last year representing the East District and current Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen who represents the Central District.
U.S. Census data puts the median household income in the district at almost $116,000 compared to the state average of $87,000, with per capita income at $48,000 which is closer to the state average of $47,000. 36% of those living in the district have a bachelor’s degree or higher while 23% have some college degree. More than 92% completed high school.
58% of the population is married and census date puts the median value of owner-occupied homes close to $345,000 – with 86% of the 13,850 housing units in the district classified as owner-occupied. The 6 percent poverty rate in the district is well below the state average of 9 percent.
A lot of military veterans have made the district their home. Census data shows 6 percent of the district’s population have some form of veteran status with the majority having served in Vietnam (almost 800) with almost 350 having served in the first Gulf war and another 250 serving in the second Gulf war. As of the last census, there were at least 20 veterans that served in World War Two and almost 60 veterans that served in the Korean War calling District 34B home.
Many foreign-born Minnesotans have also made the district their home. Census data shows 19% of District 34B residents are foreign-born, with those born in Asia comprising the majority at just over 50% (3,691), followed by those born in Africa at 36% (2,600), and those born in Latin America coming in at 7%.
Here’s what we know about the candidates in the race – listed in the order of filing with the Secretary of State:
Erickson Saye
Saye touts his commitment to public service and as a kid that grew up in the area, left but came up back to start and raise a family. A trained lawyer, he is a Hennepin County prosecutor and prior to that was Governor Tim Walz’s public engagement liaison. His top priorities include public safety strategies that he says on his website will “focus on prevention, intervention, and care,” supporting strong public schools, affordable housing and access to healthcare, among others.
Notable endorsements: Wynfred Russell, former Brooklyn Park City Council member.
XP Lee
XP, as he is commonly known, is the DFL (as Democrats are called in Minnesota) endorsed candidate in the race after he edged Christian Eriksen on Monday, July 21 to win the coveted endorsement during an endorsing convention held in Brooklyn Center. He is a former Brooklyn Park City Council member where he served for half a term. He was elected in a special election on February 2022 to fill a vacant seat that was previously occupied by Lisa Jacobson who had become mayor. He served the remainder of Jacobson’s term which ended in 2024. He did not seek reelection. He describes himself as a refugee, a union member, a father, and a public servant. His day job is as a health equity strategist at the Minnesota Department of Health. His top priorities include healthcare & access, education, tech-onomy & infrastructure and clean energy & environmental justice, according to his website.
Notable endorsements: Minnesota House Reps. Samantaha Vang (38B) andFue Lee (59A); Amanda Cheng Xiong, Brooklyn Park City Council Member – East District; Mike Nelson, former Minnesota House Rep (38A).
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen is serving his first term in the Brooklyn Park City Council. Before his election to the Council, he had served in that city’s Human Rights Commission for six years and was its chair for three years. His platform is perhaps the most expansive of the four candidates running – listing 13 focus areas – many similar to his opponents, but at least five of his priorities caught our eye that do not appear on his opponents’ list including; Reproductive choice, Local Government Aid (LGA), LQBTQ protections, Veterans (he is the son of a veteran).
Notable endorsements: Minnesota House Rep. Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley, District 38A; Shelle Page, Brooklyn Park City Council Member – Central District; Former Brooklyn Park City Council members Tonja West-Hafner and Terry Parks.
Ruth Bittner
Bittner is the only woman in the election to replace Hortman who had the distinction of being the second woman to become Speaker of the Minnesota House. Bittner in a news release announcing her candidacy touts her bona fides as a small business owner and entrepreneur. Before venturing to become a real estate agent, she had started her working career as a food scientist at Land O’Lakes after receiving her degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota. Should she prevail on Sept. 16, her win will maintain the number of women legislators in the 134-member Minnesota House at 54 (where it was at the time of Hortman’s killing).
This is the first time she is running for office but she says “I am far from unprepared for the immense challenges the role will require.” Her priorities include what she calls “commonsense budgets that bring back fiscal stability to Minnesota,” safety and security and lastly, the restoration of educational excellence.
Notable endorsements: None as of the time of publishing this story.
Early In-person Voting
Early in-person voting for the August 12 special primary election will begin next week on July 31 and end on August 11. Anoka County residents can vote early at the Anoka County Government Center and Coon Rapids City Hall.
Hennepin County residents can vote early at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis and the city halls in Brooklyn Park and Champlin.
Candidate Forum
A candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Brooklyn Park, Osseo and Maple Grove will be held at the Brooklyn Park City Council Chambers on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 P.M.
The event is free and open to the public. City Hall is located at 5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55429.
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About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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