Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has scheduled a special election for September 16th to fill the vacant seat of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was tragically killed last month.
The election will determine representation for District 34B, with primaries set for August 12th if necessary. Candidates must file by July 22nd. According to reliable sources, Democrats have held this seat since 2018.
Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House since 2004 and was re-elected in 2024 by a substantial margin. State law mandates that the seat be filled before the next legislative session convenes.
This special election follows what authorities have described as a politically motivated attack. On June 14th, Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in their Brooklyn Park home. The evidence suggests a connection to another incident involving state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, who were wounded in a separate attack.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson has characterized the incident as a “political assassination.” A suspect, Vance Boelter, faces both federal and state charges, including murder and attempted murder.
As of now, only one candidate, Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen, has announced intentions to seek the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsement. No Republican candidates have yet declared their intentions to run.
This raises important questions about the safety of public officials and the impact of political violence on our democratic processes. The coming weeks will likely see further developments in both the investigation and the election campaign.
