The Ballot Brief
Washington County, Minnesota

Minnesota House District 44B

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota House District 44B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: TJ Hawthorne and Leon M. Lillie. Candidate information follows official Washington County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

TJ Hawthorne (Independence-Alliance), Leon M. Lillie (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) are on the November 3 ballot for Minnesota House District 44B; Leon M. Lillie is the sitting member, per the Minnesota House of Representatives's official member directory (house.mn.gov). Nominees were chosen at the August 11, 2026 primary (where contested) or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified candidate table; Minnesota prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Leon M. Lillie, is on the ballot.

Minnesota › Washington County › Minnesota House District 44B

TJ Hawthorne

Independence-Alliance

Top priorities
  • Supports legislation to prevent the federal government from deploying the Minnesota National Guard overseas without a formal declaration of war from Congress
  • Favors reforming the family court system around more equal parenting time
  • Emphasizes local decision-making over state bureaucracy

Per the East Metro Voter Guide.

Biography

TJ Hawthorne is an industrial automation engineer with more than 20 years of experience working with Oakdale public works and a six-year U.S. Navy veteran, per the East Metro Voter Guide. A lifelong resident of North St. Paul and Oakdale, he serves on the North St. Paul Emergency Food Shelf board and is running for Minnesota House District 44B as an independent after prior Libertarian campaigns.

Leon M. Lillie

Leon M. Lillie

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Incumbent

Biography

Leon Lillie works for an airline and holds a B.S. in political science from Luther College. He has represented District 44B since 2004 and is serving his eleventh term, per his official House profile. He is the DFL lead on the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement and also serves on Capital Investment, Legacy Finance, and Ways and Means. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.

Next on your ballotMinnesota House District 47A

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Minnesota House District 44B in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Minnesota House District 44B on the November 3, 2026 ballot: TJ Hawthorne and Leon M. Lillie. Candidate information follows official Washington County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Minnesota House District 44B election in Minnesota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Minnesota are on the Minnesota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Washington County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Washington County and state election office filings, last verified September 21, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Minnesota election office, or see the full Washington County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Washington County ballot

44 tracked races in Washington County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Minnesota House District 47BMinnesota House District 53BJudge, Minnesota 10th Judicial District Court, Seat 1See all 44 Washington County races
Candidate profiles
TJ Hawthorne, full profileLeon M. Lillie, full profileOfficial Minnesota election office