Special DFL primary for suburban House seat is on Thursday. Here’s who’s running.

Voters in Mendota, Mendota Heights and a majority of Eagan will take to the polls Thursday for a special primary election for DFL candidates in the race to replace former Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights.

Six candidates have filed for the House seat — four Democrats, one Republican and one Libertarian. Voters on Thursday will vote for which Democrat they would like to see on the Dec. 5 special election ballot. 

Thursday’s primary will include DFL candidates exclusively, but Republican candidate Cynthia Lonnquist has raised the second-most cash among all candidates — about $13,000. Lonnquist, a small business owner, ran against Richardson in 2020 and 2022, but she lost by over 23 points last year in the safe DFL district. Chares Kuchlenz of Eagan is running as a Libertarian. 

Here’s more information about the DFL candidates on the special primary ballot:

Cynthia Callais

Callais currently works as a lobbyist for the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance (the nonprofit doesn’t endorse political candidates) and was a DFL legislative aide in the state Senate.

She’s been endorsed by a number of lawmakers, including DFL Sens. Lindsey Port of Burnsville, Scott Dibble of Minneapolis, John Hoffman of Champlin, and organizations like gun control group Moms Demand Action and democracy advocates FairVote Minnesota. 

Callais raised nearly $19,000 in individual and lobbyist donations as of Nov. 2 — the most of any candidate running for the seat, according to campaign finance reports.

Her campaign website lays out a number of Callais’ progressive priorities, like reproductive rights, gun control and environmental justice. 

In 2021, Callais accused a Senate DFL staffer of sexual harassment. Then-Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent was criticized for the handling of Callais’ complaint. An investigation later found that the Senate’s sexual harassment policy wasn’t property enforced and lacked clarity.

“Being a survivor is part of my identity, and I believe that politics is a place that needs to be transformed,” Callais previously told the Reformer.

Bianca Virnig

Virnig is currently a Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school board member, and the director of health and safety at BrightWorks, an education advocacy organization. 

She’s raised over $9,000 as of Nov. 2, and secured endorsements from DFL lawmakers, including Sens. Erin Maye Quade of Apple Valley and Matt Klein of Mendota Heights and organizations, including Moms Demand Action and FairVote Minnesota — both also endorsed Callais.

Virnig’s key issues, according to her campaign website: quality education, reproductive rights, disability advocacy and affordable health care.

“This is an incredible opportunity to take what I have done locally to the next level to support quality education, affordable health care, reproductive freedoms, and so much more,” Virnig said in a statement.

Jay Miller

Miller is a special education teacher and Mendota Heights City Council member, girl’s soccer coach, assistant track and field coach and a Mendota Heights Fire Department captain.

He said he’s passionate about three issues: education, the environment and public safety.

Miller previously told the Reformer that Richardson had called him and asked if he would be interested in running for her seat.

He’s raised over $6,500 in donations — including a $1,000 donation from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association’s political action committee.

Miller has also been endorsed by organizations like the MPPOA, Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters, the state’s teachers union Education Minnesota and also by Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul.

The MPPOA’s endorsement of Miller is notable, as the group is typically right-leaning. 

“Miller is an extraordinary supporter of first responders and public safety officials. He will promote public safety proposals that keep communities safe,” MPPOA said in its endorsement statement.

Chris Whitfield 

Whitfield is a volunteer with the Senate District 52 DFL Committee and he works for a Minneapolis-based supply chain company. He also serves as secretary for Eagan’s advisory planning commission. 

Whitfield has raised over $2,000 in donations, with most of the funds going to lawn signs and flyers, according to campaign finance reports.

His top issues include education, quality health care, public safety and affordable housing.

“There is much work to be done, from investing in our children’s future through well funded education, keeping our community safe from violence, and better mental health funding,” Whitfield said on his Facebook page. “Economically, it is imperative to keeping good paying jobs local, support labor unions and local businesses.”