# Fue Lee *Minnesota state representative (DFL) for district 59A, first elected in 2016* Fue Lee (born August 26, 1991) has represented district 59A in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since winning the seat in 2016. He sits as a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL), and his district takes in part of north [[Minneapolis]] in Hennepin County.[^1] Lee has chaired the House Capital Investment Committee since 2021. In that post he worked on public works and bonding packages from 2021 through 2023. The source states that the 2021 and 2022 proposals failed to pass, because a bond sale needs approval by a three-fifths majority.[^6][^7] ## Early life, education, and career Lee was born in a refugee camp in Thailand to parents from Laos. His family brought him to [[Minnesota]] in 1992, when he was a toddler, and they lived in public housing. He finished high school at Camden High School in Minneapolis.[^2] Lee earned a bachelor's degree in political science and international relations at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. Before he held office, he interned or volunteered for three officials: - Minneapolis City Council Member Blong Yang - [[Keith Ellison]], who was then a U.S. Representative - [[Steve Simon]] He later joined the office of the [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] as an aide.[^3] Lee co-founded two groups, the Asian American Organizing Project and Progressive Hmong American Organizers. His co-founders were former state Senator Mee Moua, DFL activist Yee Chang, and state representative [[Jay Xiong]].[^3] ## Minnesota House of Representatives In 2016 Lee lost the DFL endorsement by a single delegate. He then defeated Joe Mullery, a ten-term incumbent, in the party primary. As of the source's October 2026 revision, he has won reelection at every two-year election since. In 2018 he was an early endorser of [[Ilhan Omar]] in her race for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.[^4] The source lists these House posts for Lee: - chair of the Capital Investment Committee since 2021 - vice chair of that committee and assistant majority leader for the House DFL Caucus in 2019–2020 - member of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee and the Legacy Finance Committee He belongs to the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Minnesota Asian-Pacific (MAP) Caucus.[^5] ### Infrastructure and capital investment In 2021 Lee and Senator Tom Bakk worked on a $518 million public works package. Lee pointed to its spending on housing infrastructure and on small-business redevelopment after the civil unrest and protests that followed George Floyd's murder. A later Lee bill would have funded $1 billion in infrastructure projects statewide. House Republicans and Bakk opposed it.[^6] In 2022 Lee backed a $3.5 billion package for local projects and housing, which the source describes as focused on marginalized communities across the state. Approving the sale of bonds requires a three-fifths majority, and the source states that the 2021 and 2022 proposals failed to pass.[^7] In 2023 Lee and Senator [[Sandy Pappas]] advanced both cash and bonding infrastructure bills. The source describes these bills as prioritizing racial equity.[^7] ## Personal life Lee lives in the Northside neighborhood of Minneapolis. In September 2020 he and many of his relatives contracted COVID. He afterward spoke publicly about his family's experience and argued for comprehensive, state-led efforts to contain the virus.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — lead: birth date, House district 59A, party, service since 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — early life: birthplace, 1992 arrival, public housing, Camden High School. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — education, internships, Secretary of State aide, co-founded organizations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2016 endorsement and primary, reelections, 2018 Omar endorsement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — committee posts, 2019–2020 leadership role, caucus memberships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2021 $518 million package with Bakk; $1 billion bill and its opponents. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 2022 $3.5 billion package; three-fifths requirement; 2021–2022 failures; 2023 bills with Pappas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Fue Lee* (revision 1365571462, retrieved 2026-10-26) — residence; September 2020 COVID diagnosis; public statements on the virus. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fue_Lee