Bianca Ward Virnig
2024 - Present
2025
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Bianca Ward Virnig (Democratic Party) is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 52B. She assumed office on January 12, 2024. Her current term ends on January 7, 2025.
Virnig (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 52B. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Bianca Ward Virnig lives in Eagan, Minnesota. Virnig earned an A.A. from Century College and a B.A. in English from the University of Minnesota. Her career experience includes working as a director of health and safety at BrightWorks.[1]
Committee assignments
2024-2025
Virnig was assigned to the following committees:
- Education Finance Committee
- Elections Finance and Policy
- Human Services Finance and Policy Committee
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Elections
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B
Incumbent Bianca Ward Virnig defeated Douglas Willetts in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bianca Ward Virnig (D) | 60.6 | 15,857 |
 | Douglas Willetts (R) | 39.3 | 10,291 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 31 | ||
| Total votes: 26,179 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bianca Ward Virnig advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Douglas Willetts advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Virnig in this election.
2023
See also: Minnesota state legislative special elections, 2023
General election
Special general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B
Bianca Ward Virnig defeated Cynthia Lonnquist and Charles Kuchlenz in the special general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B on December 5, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bianca Ward Virnig (D) | 58.2 | 3,853 |
 | Cynthia Lonnquist (R) | 40.9 | 2,705 | |
 | Charles Kuchlenz (L) | 0.9 | 59 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 1 | ||
| Total votes: 6,618 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B
Bianca Ward Virnig defeated Jay Miller, Cynthia Callais, and Chris Whitfield in the special Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B on November 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bianca Ward Virnig | 39.7 | 781 |
 | Jay Miller | 36.7 | 721 | |
| Cynthia Callais | 19.1 | 376 | |
 | Chris Whitfield | 4.4 | 87 | |
| Total votes: 1,965 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Carl Yaeger (D)
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B
Cynthia Lonnquist advanced from the special Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B on November 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cynthia Lonnquist | 100.0 | 230 |
| Total votes: 230 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Virnig in this election.
2017
Three of the seven seats on the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools school board in Minnesota were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. Incumbents Art Coulson and Mike Roseen won re-election. Craig Angrimson defeated incumbent Gary Huusko for the third seat. Challengers Brian Buechele, Rebecca Gierok, Daniel O'Neil, and Bianca Ward Virnig were also defeated in the election.[2]
Results
| Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Art Coulson Incumbent |
20.70% | 2,779 |
| Mike Roseen Incumbent |
20.17% | 2,708 |
| Craig Angrimson |
16.38% | 2,200 |
| Gary Huusko Incumbent | 11.39% | 1,530 |
| Rebecca Gierok | 11.27% | 1,513 |
| Daniel O'Neil | 8.39% | 1,126 |
| Bianca Ward Virnig | 7.47% | 1,003 |
| Brian Buechele | 3.50% | 470 |
| Write-in votes | 0.74% | 99 |
| Total Votes | 13,428 | |
| Source: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, "Agenda: Nov 13, 2017 - Regular School Board," accessed November 28, 2017 | ||
Funding
Virnig filed a form detailing that she did not spend or receive more than $750 for her campaign. Because of this, she did not have to file additional reports.[3]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bianca Ward Virnig did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2023
Bianca Ward Virnig did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Ballotpedia survey responses
Bianca Ward Virnig participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates.[4] In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on September 24, 2017:
| “ | My goal is to help turn possibilities into realities that create an infinitely better future for all children in our community. I hope to continue to support the initiatives set forth by the board while providing a fresh perspective as a current ISD 196 parent. I would like to reach out to strategic partners to hear their thoughts on how we can grow and improve and support our teachers, families and community.[5][6] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in Minnesota. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| No. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| No. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Expulsion should be used and determined in accordance with the Administrative Regulation 503.3.2AR, Process for Removal from Class, Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion of a Student. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Teachers. I believe parents and the district are equally responsible for success in the classroom. The daily responsibility falls to the teacher but teachers cannot be successful without support from their administration, peers, parents and the community. |
Candidate website
Virnig participated in the following survey conducted by the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. The survey questions appear bolded, and Virnig's responses follow below.
What qualifies you to hold this position?
| “ | I am a full-time working mother of three, a communicator, a researcher; I’m adept in compromise and skilled in planning for the future. I ask a lot of questions and I have over a decade of experience in public service. While I admittedly lack direct school board experience, I bring creativity, a fresh perspective and heart.[6] | ” |
| —Bianca Ward Virnig (2017)[7] | ||
What would your top priorities be if elected?
| “ | Take time to better understand the dynamics of the board and school administration as well as the challenges and initiatives facing the district. Connect more with the community and identify ways to collaborate with strategic partners. Look for ways to further engage parents, staff and the community.[6] | ” |
| —Bianca Ward Virnig (2017)[7] | ||
What do you think is the primary role of government?
| “ | I believe, government’s primary role is to build and maintain resources and services that individuals and small communities can’t do themselves in a responsible fashion. Hopefully, this is done in a progressive, innovative and collaborative way with input from the community.[6] | ” |
| —Bianca Ward Virnig (2017)[7] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Minnesota scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B |
Officeholder Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Bianca Virnig 2023 campaign website, "About," accessed January 2, 2024
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings: 2017 Municipal and School District Elections," accessed August 16, 2017
- ↑ Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools, "Campaign Financial Reports," accessed December 11, 2017
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2017, "Bianca Ward Virnig's responses," September 24, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Twin Cities Pioneer Press, "Minnesota elections: Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school board candidates," October 24, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ruth Richardson (D) |
Minnesota House of Representatives District 52B 2024-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board At-large 2022-2023 |
Succeeded by - |
