Christian Eriksen announces candidacy for Melissa Hortman's vacant House seat
- Melissa Hortman was assassinated in June 2025, along with her husband Mark and their dog in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
- The assassination has led to a special election called by Governor Tim Walz to fill the vacant House seat by September 16, 2025.
- Brooklyn Park councilmember Christian Eriksen announced he would run for the seat to honor Hortman's legacy and promote equity.
In June 2025, tragedy struck Minnesota when Melissa Hortman, the Democratic House Speaker Emerita, was assassinated alongside her husband Mark and their dog at their home in Brooklyn Park. This shocking event followed a series of brutal attacks, including an earlier shooting of state Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who survived but were both injured. The suspected perpetrator, Vance Boelter, 57, has been federally charged with murder and stalking, and officials have classified the attacks as political assassinations. Subsequently, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz scheduled a special election to fill the vacant seat in District 34B, which was held by Hortman for many years. The election will occur on September 16, 2025, and Eriksen is seeking the DFL endorsement to continue Hortman's legacy focused on equity and social progress. Since the tragedy, there has been an outpouring of support for Hortman, highlighting her significant contributions and leadership style, as well as the potential shifts in political dynamics caused by her untimely death.