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Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B is vacant. It was last represented by Melissa Hortman (D). Xp Lee (D) won a special election for the seat on September 18, 2025.
As of the 2020 Census, Minnesota state representatives represented an average of 42,610 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 39,663 residents.
To learn more about the 2025 special election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B, click here.
About the chamber
Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Minnesota legislators assume office on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January after the election. When the first Monday in January falls on January 1, legislators assume office on the first Wednesday after the first Monday.[1][2]
Qualifications
To be eligible to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives, a candidate must:[3]
- Be eligible to vote in Minnesota
- Be 21 years of age or more upon assuming office
- Be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
- Be a resident of the legislative district for at least six months before the general election
- Have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
- Participated in the party's most recent precinct caucuses, or intend to vote for a majority of the party's candidates at the next general election (if major party candidate)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $51,750/year | For senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day. |
Vacancies
Vacancies in the Minnesota State Legislature are filled through election. If there are more than 150 days before the next state general election, and the legislature will not be in session before the results are canvassed, then any vacancy is filled at the next state general election.[5][6]
If the vacancy happens during the legislative session, the governor has five days to issue a writ calling for a special election. The election must take place no more than 35 days after the issuance of the writ. If the legislature is out of session and there are fewer than 150 days before the next state general election, the governor must call for a special election so the winner of the election can take office when the legislature reconvenes.[6][7]
See sources: Minnesota Cons. Art. 4, § 4 and Minnesota Stat. § 204D.19
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
Minnesota enacted new legislative district boundaries on February 15, 2022, when a special judicial redistricting panel issued an order adopting final maps. Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea established the five-judge special redistricting panel in June 2021 to hear legal challenges regarding redistricting and adopt maps should the legislature not agree on them. The panel consisted of two state court of appeals justices and three state district court judges. Republican governors originally appointed two of the five justices, Democratic governors originally appointed two, and former Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform) originally appointed one justice.
On June 2, 2022, Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed legislation containing adjustments to Senate Districts 15 and 16 as well as to House Districts 15, 16, and 58.[8] The changes were effective for the 2022 elections. On May 24, 2023, Walz signed a state budget bill that included modifications to Senate Districts 9, 12, 17, and 24.[9][10][11] The changes were effective for the 2024 elections.
How does redistricting in Minnesota work? In Minnesota, congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Minnesota State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[12]
The Minnesota Constitution requires "that state Senate districts be contiguous, and that Representative districts be nested within Senate districts." State statutes apply contiguity requirements to all congressional and state legislative districts. Furthermore, state statutes stipulate that political subdivisions should not be divided "more than necessary."[12]
Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
before 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
after 2020 redistricting cycle
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2025
A special election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B was called for September 16, 2025. A primary was scheduled to take place on August 12, 2025. The candidate filing deadline was July 22, 2025.[13]
The seat became vacant after the assassination of Melissa Hortman on June 14, 2025.[13]
General election
Special general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Xp Lee defeated Ruth Bittner in the special general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on September 16, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Xp Lee (D) | 60.9 | 4,331 | |
 | Ruth Bittner (R)  | 39.1 | 2,785 | |
| Total votes: 7,116 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Xp Lee defeated Christian Eriksen and Erickson Saye in the special Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on August 12, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Xp Lee | 59.2 | 1,186 | |
| Christian Eriksen | 24.4 | 489 | ||
| Erickson Saye | 16.5 | 330 | ||
| Total votes: 2,005 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Ruth Bittner advanced from the special Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on August 12, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ruth Bittner | 100.0 | 209 |
| Total votes: 209 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Incumbent Melissa Hortman defeated Scott Simmons in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Melissa Hortman (D) | 63.1 | 13,649 |
 | Scott Simmons (R) | 36.7 | 7,950 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 40 | ||
| Total votes: 21,639 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Melissa Hortman advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Scott Simmons advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
2022
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Incumbent Melissa Hortman defeated Scott Simmons in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melissa Hortman (D) | 62.5 | 10,469 |
| Scott Simmons (R) | 37.4 | 6,268 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 16,756 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Melissa Hortman advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Scott Simmons advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
2020
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Incumbent Kristin Bahner defeated Dori Trossen in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kristin Bahner (D) | 53.7 | 15,337 |
| Dori Trossen (R) | 46.3 | 13,232 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 16 | ||
| Total votes: 28,585 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kristin Bahner advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Dori Trossen advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B.
2018
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Kristin Bahner defeated incumbent Dennis Smith in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Bahner (D) | 52.8 | 12,194 |
 | Dennis Smith (R) | 47.1 | 10,873 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 33 | ||
| Total votes: 23,100 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Kristin Bahner advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kristin Bahner |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B
Incumbent Dennis Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Dennis Smith |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 31, 2016.
Incumbent Dennis Smith defeated Kristin Bahner in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B general election.[14][15]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 34B General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Dennis Smith Incumbent |
55.96% | 13,773 | |
| Democratic | Kristin Bahner | 44.04% | 10,841 | |
| Total Votes | 24,614 | |||
| Source: Minnesota Secretary of State | ||||
Kristin Bahner ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B Democratic primary.[16][17]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 34B Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Kristin Bahner (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Dennis Smith ran unopposed in the Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B Republican primary.[16][17]
| Minnesota House of Representatives, District 34B Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Dennis Smith Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 12, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 3, 2014. David Hoden was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Dennis Smith was unopposed in the Republican primary. Smith defeated Hoden in the general election.[18][19][20]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dennis Smith |
56.4% | 9,016 | |
| Democratic | David Hoden | 43.5% | 6,965 | |
| Write-in | Write-in | 0.1% | 17 | |
| Total Votes | 15,998 | |||
2012
Elections for the Minnesota House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 14, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 5, 2012. Incumbent Kurt Zellers (R) defeated David Hoden (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[21][22]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kurt Zellers Incumbent |
54.6% | 12,802 | |
| Democratic | David Hoden | 45.4% | 10,652 | |
| Total Votes | 23,454 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B raised a total of $1,043,724. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $41,749 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $148,831 | 2 | $74,415 |
| 2022 | $146,719 | 2 | $73,359 |
| 2020 | $93,181 | 2 | $46,591 |
| 2018 | $173,625 | 2 | $86,812 |
| 2016 | $53,950 | 2 | $26,975 |
| 2014 | $72,663 | 2 | $36,332 |
| 2012 | $126,204 | 2 | $63,102 |
| 2010 | $19,500 | 1 | $19,500 |
| 2008 | $37,352 | 2 | $18,676 |
| 2006 | $36,636 | 2 | $18,318 |
| 2004 | $45,548 | 2 | $22,774 |
| 2002 | $30,819 | 2 | $15,410 |
| 2000 | $58,696 | 2 | $29,348 |
| Total | $1,043,724 | 25 | $41,749 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.05," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota.gov, "Minnesota Statute 3.011," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualifications," accessed May 22, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "Constitution of the State of Minnesota," accessed February 12, 2021 (Article 4, Section 4)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204D.19 (1)-(3))
- ↑ Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, "2020 Minnesota Statutes," accessed February 12, 2021 (Statute 204B.13)
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedchange2 - ↑ 12.0 12.1 All About Redistricting, "Minnesota," accessed May 4, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 KSTP, ""Date set for special election to fill vacant House seat caused by assassination of Melissa Hortman,"" July 11, 2025
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filing Search," accessed August 25, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings," accessed June 3, 2016
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Minnesota Secretary of State, "Minnesota State Primary: Tuesday, August 9, 2016," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "State Canvassing Board Report," August 19, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 State General Election Candidate Filings," accessed July 25, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "2014 Election Results," accessed November 4, 2014
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed November 12, 2013
