Democrat Bianca Virnig wins special election for Minnesota House seat

Local school board member Bianca Virnig won a special election on Tuesday to replace former Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, maintaining the Democrats’ current 70-64 advantage in the House.

Over 6,500 people in the east metro suburban district, which encompasses Mendota, Mendota Heights and a majority of Eagan, voted Tuesday, according to unofficial election results. This is a relatively high turnout for an off-year special election. Republicans were hoping to use an expected low turnout to their advantage in the largely safe DFL district.

According to unofficial results, Virnig was running 5 points behind Richardson’s 23 point victory in 2020.

Andrew Wagner, a spokesman for the House Republican Campaign Committee, said if they make the same kind of progress across the state in next year’s election, they’ll pick up seven seats, which is enough for a majority.

Read more: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/democrat-bianca-virnig-wins-special-election-for-minnesota-house-seat/