Xp Lee
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xiongpao "Xp" Lee (pronounced /ˈɛks ˈpiː/; born December 1978) is an American politician serving since 2025 in the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Lee has represented District 34B since winning a special election after the assassination of Melissa Hortman. He was previously a city council member in Brooklyn Park.
Xp Lee | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 34B district | |
| Assumed office September 26, 2025[1] | |
| Preceded by | Melissa Hortman |
| Member of the Brooklyn Park City Council for the East District | |
| In office February 22, 2022 – December 31, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lisa Jacobson |
| Succeeded by | Amanda Cheng Xiong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Xiongpao Lee December 1978 (age 46) |
| Party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Education | University of South Carolina, Upstate (BA) |
Early life and career
Lee was born in a refugee camp in Nong Khai, Thailand, in December 1978 after his Hmong family was displaced from Laos during the Vietnam War.[2][3] He spent part of his childhood in California before his family moved to South Carolina, where his father worked as a mechanic.[4] He earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design from the University of South Carolina Upstate.[5]
Lee moved to Minnesota after graduating from college, becoming involved in the nonprofit community and volunteering at the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent.[4] He founded the Hmong American Census Network to work on outreach efforts in the Hmong-American community for the 2020 United States census.[6] He then worked at the Minnesota Department of Health as a community coordinator during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a policy and special programs manager for the Minnesota Council on Foundations.[7]
Political career
Brooklyn Park City Council
In 2022, Lee ran for a special election to the Brooklyn Park City Council to serve the remainder of Lisa Jacobson's term after she was elected mayor. At the time, he served as a member of the city's planning commission.[8] He placed first with 45.5% of the vote, defeating LaDawn Severin, Benjamin Osemenam, and Abraham Bah. His election marked the first time the city's councilmembers were majority nonwhite.[9]
Lee did not run for reelection to Brooklyn Park City Council in 2024, and was succeeded by Amanda Cheng Xiong.[10]
Minnesota House of Representatives
Lee won the 2025 special election in District 34B of the Minnesota House of Representatives, taking 60.9% of the vote over Republican nominee Ruth Bittner.[11] The seat became vacant upon the June 14, 2025, assassination of incumbent representative Melissa Hortman. Lee received the DFL's endorsement and won the primary election on August 12.[12]
Lee named healthcare, education, and infrastructure among his top priorities, and supports a planned biotechnology district in Brooklyn Park, the conversion of Minnesota State Highway 252 to a freeway, and the planned extension of Metro Transit's light rail Blue Line.[13]
Electoral history
Brooklyn Park City Council (2022)
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xp Lee | 803 | 45.54% | |
| LaDawn Severin | 596 | 33.81% | |
| Benjamin Osemenam | 186 | 10.55% | |
| Abraham Bah | 178 | 10.10% | |
| Total votes | 1,763 | 100.00% | |
Minnesota House (2025)
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Xp Lee | 1,186 | 59.15% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Christian Eriksen | 489 | 24.39% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Erickson Saye | 330 | 16.46% | |
| Total votes | 2,005 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Xp Lee | 4,331 | 60.9% | −2.26 | |
| Republican | Ruth Bittner | 2,785 | 39.1% | +2.37 | |
| Write-in | 5 | 0.07% | -0.11 | ||
| Total votes | 7,116 | 100% | |||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | |||||
