# Xp Lee *American politician; member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 34B* Xiongpao "Xp" Lee (born December 1978) is a member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]. He has sat for District 34B since 2025 as a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL).[^1] He took the seat in a special election held after the assassination of the incumbent, [[Melissa Hortman]]. Before that, he served on the Brooklyn Park City Council.[^1] Lee first won municipal office in a 2022 special election for the Brooklyn Park council, finishing first with 45.5% of the vote. He did not seek another council term in 2024.[^2] In the 2025 House special election he received 60.9% of the vote against the Republican nominee, Ruth Bittner.[^3] ## Early life and career Lee was born in December 1978 in a refugee camp at Nong Khai, Thailand. His family had been displaced from Laos during the Vietnam War.[^4] He spent part of his childhood in California. The family later relocated to South Carolina, where his father was employed as a mechanic.[^5] Lee holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design from the University of South Carolina Upstate.[^5] After college, Lee settled in Minnesota, where he took part in nonprofit work and volunteered with the [[Center for Hmong Arts and Talent]].[^6] He established the Hmong American Census Network, which conducted outreach in the Hmong-American community for the 2020 United States census.[^6] During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] he was a community coordinator at the [[Minnesota Department of Health]]. He later held the post of policy and special programs manager at the Minnesota Council on Foundations.[^7] ## Political career ### Brooklyn Park City Council In 2022 Lee stood in a special election to complete the council term of Lisa Jacobson, who had been elected mayor of Brooklyn Park. He was then serving on the city's planning commission.[^2] He finished first with 45.5% of the vote. The other candidates were LaDawn Severin, Benjamin Osemenam and Abraham Bah.[^2] Lee did not stand for reelection in 2024, and Amanda Cheng Xiong succeeded him on the council.[^2] ### Minnesota House of Representatives District 34B fell vacant when Hortman, the sitting representative, was assassinated on June 14, 2025.[^3] Lee won the DFL endorsement and then the August 12 primary.[^8] In the special election he took 60.9% of the vote, defeating the Republican nominee, Ruth Bittner.[^3] Lee lists healthcare, education and infrastructure among his top priorities.[^9] He backs three projects: a proposed biotechnology district in Brooklyn Park, the conversion of [[Minnesota State Highway 252]] into a freeway, and the extension of the Blue Line light rail operated by [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)]].[^9] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee* (revision 1365806084, retrieved 2026-10-26), lead: Lee has served in the Minnesota House since 2025 as a DFL member for District 34B after a special election following Melissa Hortman's assassination, and is a former Brooklyn Park council member. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Brooklyn Park City Council" subsection (retrieved 2026-10-26): the 2022 special election for the remainder of Lisa Jacobson's term, his planning commission service, the 45.5% first-place result, the named opponents, and his 2024 departure and succession by Amanda Cheng Xiong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Minnesota House of Representatives" subsection (retrieved 2026-10-26): the June 14, 2025 vacancy and the 60.9% special-election result over Republican nominee Ruth Bittner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Early life and career" section (retrieved 2026-10-26): his December 1978 birth in a Nong Khai refugee camp and his family's displacement from Laos during the Vietnam War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Early life and career" section (retrieved 2026-10-26): his childhood in California and South Carolina, his father's work as a mechanic, and his University of South Carolina Upstate degree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Early life and career" section (retrieved 2026-10-26): his move to Minnesota, his volunteering at the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, and his founding of the Hmong American Census Network for the 2020 census. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Early life and career" section (retrieved 2026-10-26): his Minnesota Department of Health community coordinator role during COVID-19 and his Minnesota Council on Foundations position. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Minnesota House of Representatives" subsection (retrieved 2026-10-26): his DFL endorsement and his win in the August 12 primary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Xp Lee*, "Minnesota House of Representatives" subsection (retrieved 2026-10-26): his stated priorities and the projects he supports. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xp_Lee