WASHINGTON — Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced Minnesota HD-52B DFL candidate Bianca Virnig as the newest addition to our slate of Spotlight candidates this year. In 2022, the DLCC secured a Democratic trifecta in Minnesota for the first time in nearly a decade. Since then, Democrats in the legislature have passed legislation to fund free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students, increased funding for mental health services, and expanded MinnesotaCare to undocumented residents, granting access to more than 40,000 people in the state. DFLers also passed a paid family and medical leave program so that workers don’t have to choose between their health and a paycheck, and protected access to abortion.
On December 5, Bianca will run for a seat that has important implications for the Minnesota House majority, where Democrats are up by only 5 seats. While state legislative districts are small, single seats have an enormous impact and this special election is essential for maintaining a strong and durable Democratic majority.
DLCC interim President Heather Williams released the following statement:
“Our majorities in Minnesota have made history this year with a long list of accomplishments but we know there is still so much more to be done. We are thrilled to support Bianca in her bid for this seat in the Minnesota House and know that she will bring her expertise in education to the work and will be another strong voice in the fight to keep Minnesota moving forward.”
As the official party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures, the DLCC is committed to investing and competing in special elections all year round. In 2023, DLCC has won the majority of special elections at our level of the ballot with more than two dozen victories and our candidates overperformed by an average of 7 points. Special elections are shifting power and deciding majorities in key chambers where single seats can make the difference for protecting abortion access, keeping our communities safe, and cutting costs for working families.
The DLCC is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures. Last year, the DLCC defied the odds by not losing any state legislative majorities, flipping four key chambers, and creating four new Democratic trifectas – the best midterm year for the party in power since at least 1934. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and pass the policies that have the biggest impact on Americans’ day-to-day lives.
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