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Briana Bierschbach

Reporter | Politics and Government

Briana Bierschbach is a politics and government reporter for the Star Tribune.


Bierschbach has spent the last decade covering Minnesota politics for various publications, including MPR News and MinnPost. She started her journalism career in college at the University of Minnesota's campus newspaper, the Minnesota Daily, where she covered city hall. Bierschbach also has worked at the Pioneer Press, the Associated Press and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. In her spare time, she teaches a class on state government at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and spends time with her husband, dog and two cats.
Recent content from Briana Bierschbach
Rep. Jeff Dotseth greets Capitol staff as he arrives at the House chambers on the first day of the 2024 session in February.

Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show

The first-term GOP representative from Kettle River denied the allegations and said he's "worked to put this difficult chapter of my life behind me."
Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, Secretary of State Steve Simon and Deputy Elections Director Paul Linnell, l to r, explain how the new automa

Minnesota intensifies review process for new automatic voter registration system

Republicans sent letters to the Department of Public Safety asking about the security of the new system.
Gov. Tim Walz, center, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, right, joined CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States Ruth Richardson, left, for a discussi

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has not said abortion in ninth month is 'absolutely fine'

Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris' vice presidential nominee from the debate stage Tuesday, but his claims are inaccurate and misleading.
Gov. Tim Walz visited the Minnesota State Fair on Sunday for about a half-hour, eating a pork chop on a stick, serving soft serve ice cream, looking a

Gov. Tim Walz returns to the Minnesota State Fair for the first time as vice presidential nominee

The governor's 30-minute State Fair appearance was tightly controlled as Walz balanced security with home state pride.
The races that could determine control of the Legislature

The races that could determine control of the Legislature

Here's what you should know about 15 key races in Minnesota's swing districts.
Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name will appear on the November ballot unless his campaign takes action to remove it.

RFK Jr. dropped out of presidential race but he's still on Minnesota's November ballot

The campaign must petition the court to get off the ballot once it's set.
Supporters cheer as Tim Walz and Kamala Harris leave the stage at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

Harris and Walz 'politics of joy' theme traced back to another prominent Minnesotan

Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey later regretted using it at a pivotal moment in his political career.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with his wife Gwen Walz and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, cheers as Vice President Kamala Harris briefly takes the stage a

Walz family clarifies they used another common infertility procedure to conceive, not IVF

First Lady Gwen Walz is opening up about their experience with intrauterine insemination to conceive their daughter Hope.
Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz make a campaign stop in Eau Claire on Aug. 7

Minnesota's 'Miracle 2.0′ legislative session is getting a new spotlight in the presidential race

Democrats are pointing to it as a model for how to push long-sought priorities through the process despite narrow majorities. Republicans are using it to cast Walz as an extreme partisan.
Gov. Tim Walz thanks supporters in Eau Claire, Wis., at a rally with Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

A chameleon or pragmatist? Walz's political evolution in the spotlight in VP race

Opponents describe him as a political opportunist, but those who know him say he's pragmatic and knows how to evolve to the constituency he serves to meet the time.
A polling place for the primary at St. Paul’s Landmark Center on Tuesday.

Five takeaways from Minnesota's primary election

Incumbents fared well in their intra-party battles on Tuesday, while the grassroots wing of the Republican Party saw mixed results.
A voter votes at the Ward 3, Precinct 7 polling location at the Machine Shop in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

What to know to cast your ballot in Minnesota's primary election Tuesday

The results of Tuesday's primary will shape the candidate matchups that voters will choose from in November.
The new flag started flying at the Capitol on May 11 after an independent commission spent months on a redesign.

Fact check: Tim Walz did not redesign Minnesota's flag to look like Somalia's flag

A commission created by the Minnesota Legislature redesigned the flag last year and based the final flag design off a concept submitted by a resident.
Vice presidential candidates Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, left, and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, right, in a composite photo.

Walz v. Vance: The veepstakes is going to be a rural-off.

Both vice presidential candidates were added to their tickets to help bring in working-class voters in Midwest and Rust Belt states. Their ability to win those votes will depend on who can be the most authentic messenger.
Gov. Tim Walz greets bystanders as he brings bars to the House chambers at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Feb. 12, the first day of the 20

Harris picks Walz: 'We are going to build a great partnership'

After weeks of speculation, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join the Harris ticket as her vice presidential pick over other candidates, like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Gov. Tim Walz, center, attends an event with the Food Group in New Hope on July 23.

What you should know about Gov. Tim Walz's record in office, as he joins presidential ticket

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about Walz's time in office.
Gov. Tim Walz appeared at a fundraiser in Minnesota on Monday as Kamala Harris deliberates on her pick for vice president.

Gov. Tim Walz appears at Minneapolis fundraiser for Kamala Harris ahead of her vice president announcement

The governor reportedly flew to Washington over the weekend for final interviews for vice president candidates.
Gov. Tim Walz has seen a meteoric rise on the national level since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

How Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz became an unexpected contender for vice president

The governor's sudden ascent has surprised some, but those who know him well say his personal and political resume have positioned him for this moment.
Secretary of State Steve Simon says the National Association of Secretaries of State contacted X about the issue in Minnesota and eight other states a

X's AI chatbot 'Grok' spread misinformation about Minnesota's ballots. Does the tech giant care?

Secretary of State Steve Simon says the social media platform gave the equivalent of a "shoulder shrug" when secretaries of state brought the problem to their attention.
In a file photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, finished My Pillow pallets are wrapped and stored at a Shakopee warehouse.

MyPillow landlord drops eviction after company pays overdue rent

The company was evicted from another warehouse in Shakopee in March after a half dozen default notices.
Gov. Tim Walz is co-chair of the Democratic National Convention's rules committee, putting him in the middle of discussions about how to select the pa

Gov. Tim Walz says virtual nomination process will create Democratic party unity

A DNC rules committee adopted a plan Wednesday to virtually vote on a nominee ahead of the party's convention in Chicago.
Secretary of State Steve Simon said misinformation is circulating that Minnesota's ballots are locked in. "That's not accurate," he said in a statemen

Secretary of State: Contrary to misinformation, presidential candidates not finalized in Minnesota

Both major parties still have time to submit the names of their nominees to the state ahead of the November election.
Gov. Tim Walz takes questions Tuesday in New Hope about speculation he is being considered as Kamala Harris' running mate.

Is Kamala Harris vetting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for vice president? He's not saying.

The second-term DFL governor said it's been "a little weird" to see his name reported as a possible candidate.
Vice President Kamala Harris tours the Planned Parenthood headquarters in St. Paul with Gov. Tim Walz in March.

Gov. Walz backs Kamala Harris, as vice presidential speculation grows

Walz, a two-term governor, is lower down on the list of possible running mates for Kamala Harris than governors of other battleground states.
DFL Chair Ken Martin speaks during a news conference at the party's headquarters on Sunday, following President Joe Biden's announcement that he was d

With Biden out of race, big-name Minnesota Democrats move to Kamala Harris

Biden's stunning decision not to run for president saw Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and Rep. Ilhan Omar, quickly line up behind Biden's favored successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. Gov. Tim Walz, who joined party leaders in lauding Biden, could get swept up in VP chatter.
Nurse practitioner Shira Klane cleans a room after seeing a patient during her shift as a clinician at the Planned Parenthood Mankato Health Center on

Minnesota abortion providers prepare for influx of Iowans

The Iowa Supreme Court recently struck down a lower court injunction that clears the way for a law there that bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy.
Royce White and Joe Fraser, shown at the Minnesota Republican State Convention in St. Paul on May 18, 2024, debated for the first time Thursday evenin

GOP U.S. Senate hopefuls Royce White and Joe Fraser spar over conservative credentials, issues

Both are running in an August primary to take on DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar this fall.
Gov. Tim Walz huddles with Biden-Harris staffers moments before a news conference in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

DNC letter signed by Walz quiets concerns about push to nominate Biden before August

A roll vote on the Democratic Party's presidential nominee won't happen before Aug. 1.
Royce White, the state GOP's candidate for the U.S. Senate, claims in campaign finance reports to have reimbursed nearly $13,000 of non-authorized cam

Royce White campaign claims to reimburse 'non-authorized' charges on strip club, more

The GOP-endorsed Minnesota Senate candidate is facing an FEC complaint for that spending, which campaign finance experts have described as possibly criminal.
Wisconsin's politics have shifted right under an entrenched Republican majority in the state Legislature.

Why is Wisconsin a swing state while Minnesota isn't?

A mix of political history, shifting economies, turnout and state policies have set the two states on diverging paths.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, pictured in June, encouraged people to stay up to date on routine check-ups.

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar again 'cancer-free' after procedure

The Democrat has touted the benefits of routine screenings since she was first diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.
Members of the State Legislative Audit Commission, hearing a special report about the Minnesota Department of Education's oversight of Feeding Our Fut

Many millions lost. Is the Walz administration taking fraud and waste seriously enough?

Minnesota's legislative auditor questions if agencies and the governor's office are taking its recommendations seriously. The governor's office said agencies have implemented many of the auditor's suggestions, but sometimes "we may fundamentally disagree."
In a file photo taken Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, finished My Pillow pallets are wrapped and stored at a Shakopee warehouse.

Mike Lindell's MyPillow facing eviction notice in Shakopee

The company owes its Pennsylvania-based landlord $447,603, according to a court filing, but Lindell says payment is being settled.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden last week at the White House, as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mar

As Walz's national profile rises, he's in the middle of discussions about Biden's future

Minnesota's governor could be one of a few key players to choose a nominee if the president leaves the race after the August nominating convention.
Gov. Tim Walz addresses flooding at the Rapidan Dam in Mankato on Tuesday, while also responding to questions about Wednesday's gathering of Democrati

Walz, Democratic governors to meet with White House after Biden's debate performance

The governor has defended Biden since the debate and thinks he should remain the nominee.
Gov. Tim Walz defended Joe Biden after a halting debate performance that has renewed concerns among some Democrats about his campaign.

Walz: Biden 'had a bad night' in debate but should be Dems' nominee

Some Democratic members of Minnesota's delegation said the debate was "terrible" and the president needs to answer serious questions about his campaign.
The new law restored the right to vote to more than 55,000 Minnesotans who previously couldn't vote because they were on probation related to a felony

Judicial board reprimands Minnesota judge who tried to bar formerly incarcerated felons from voting

The reprimand is the second for central Minnesota Judge Mathew Quinn.
Gov. Tim Walz shook hands with Karl Procaccini, who will become an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Minnesota has contested court races on the ballot this fall. But don't expect battles like Wisconsin's.

Several candidates filed to run in nine Minnesota judicial races this year — after only one contested race on the entire ballot in 2022.
Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson, left, and Secretary of State Steve Simon, center, listen as Deputy Elections Director Paul Linnell explains t

Minnesota's new automatic voter registration system is up and running. How does it work?

The state says the program is already registering between 4,000 and 6,000 people to vote each week.
The campaign of independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it has gathered the required signatures to appear on Minnesota's ballot

What could third-party candidates mean for Minnesota's 2024 presidential election?

The campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says it has met the requirements to appear on Minnesota's ballot this fall, and other candidates are collecting signatures.
After two years of debate, the Legislature passed the checks in 2022 to give a boost to workers who were most at risk during the height of the pandemi

Audit finds discrepancies in Minnesota COVID-era frontline worker payment program

The Department of Labor and Industry pushed back on the audit, arguing the Legislature favored speedy payments to workers during the pandemic.
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York April 26.

Poll: Majority of voters think Trump got a fair trial, felony conviction is disqualifying

Republicans and Democrats are starkly divided on the former president's New York hush-money trial and conviction, the latest Star Tribune/MPR News/KARE 11 Minnesota Poll finds.
A group of protesters against the war in Gaza gathered outside the Duluth Convention Center on the second day of the DFL State Convention Saturday, Ju

'Battle for the soul of our nation:' Minn. DFLers call for unity ahead of November

Divisions in the party over the war in Gaza flared Saturday during the state party convention in Duluth.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks to the delegates after they endorsed her for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, on the first day of the DFL State Convention

By acclamation, DFLers endorse Amy Klobuchar for fourth term in the U.S. Senate

She will appear at the top of the ticket alongside President Joe Biden in an election that will also decide control of Congress and the Minnesota House.
Minnesota Democrats control the 134-member House by six seats. Republicans need to flip at least four seats to gain the majority. 



As the Minnesota

Battle to control House could end DFL control in Minnesota. Five things to know.

Only a handful of the House seats will be competitive, attracting millions of dollars in spending from groups trying to tip the balance of power.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar got a plum speaking role Monday at the Democratic National Convention to talk up Joe Biden's presidential potential while raising h

Do Minnesota Democrats do better in years when Amy Klobuchar is on the ballot?

Party operatives hope her U.S. Senate run this fall will help down the ballot in the battle to control the U.S. and Minnesota House.
The bulk of the Legislature's work this session will be crafting a package of construction projects in a bonding bill.

What passed — and didn't — at the 2024 Minnesota Legislature

From cannabis to sports betting, what happened with the major bills at the State Capitol in 2024.
Gov. Tim Walz signs a bill preventing junk fees that was sponsored by Rep. Emma Greenman, seen left of the governor, and Sen. Lindsey Port, far left,

What Minnesota's new 'junk fees' law means for purchases — and tipping at restaurants

The change will bar hidden service fees and convenience charges from being added at the end of a transaction.
Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, holds up a copy of the rideshare bill and objected to a provision on Sunday.

What did — and did not — pass in the Minnesota Legislature's chaotic final days of session

From cannabis changes to sports betting, a look at what managed to pass as negotiations broke down between the two parties.
Rep. Kristin Bahner, DFL-Maple Grove, leads a cheer of ERA supporters outside the House chamber on Wednesday, ahead of a vote on the amendment.

Equal rights, abortion protections move closer to landing on the 2026 ballot

The Minnesota House passed an expansive version of the Equal Rights Amendment early Sunday morning after more than a dozen hours of debate over the span of several days. The Senate didn't take up the bill before adjourning.
Members of MULDA, the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association, meet on the Capitol steps to talk about the deal on a bill setting minimum pay for them

Minnesota Legislature approves minimum pay for Uber and Lyft drivers

DFL leaders say the deal reached on eve of the Legislature's denouement will prevent the companies from leaving Minneapolis on July 1.
Rep. Danny Nadreau, R-Rogers, speaks during Saturday's floor session at the Capitol.

Minnesota Legislature races toward deadline with bonding, rideshare bills in question

Legislators cannot pass bills after midnight on Sunday, giving them just hours to try to strike a deal on outstanding issues.
President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber at a 2018 campaign rally in Duluth. Rep. Tom Emmer is behind Stauber.

Will Trump be a lifeline or liability for Minnesota Republicans?

"I think Republicans are going to have a good year," Minnesota GOP chairman David Hann said.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth leaves a press conference after complaining that the GOP minority was unfairly shut down on the floor last night by

'Everything is at risk': Tensions flare as Minn. lawmakers race to get work done by deadline

Republicans say bonding bill, sports betting and a deal to keep Uber and Lyft in the state might not happen without their votes.
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig Craig's bill, approved by the House in a voice vote Wednesday, is the first by any of Minnesota's four freshman representatives

Craig bill lifts armored vehicle restrictions for police on heels of Burnsville deaths

First responders used an armored vehicle in the standoff to help rescue injured officers.
Protesters on both sides of the issue gathered outside the Senate chambers last week after an ERA bill was heard in committee.

Minnesota House delays vote on putting equal rights, abortion protections on the ballot in 2026

There's still disagreement between Democrats in the House and Senate about the language and whether it should go on the ballot this fall or in two years, and the House vote is delayed until Wednesday.
Grounds supervisor Charlie Krueger raises the new Minnesota state flag for the first time at sunrise atop the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on S

'Watching history happen': New Minnesota flag flies at Capitol

The historic changeover to mark Statehood Day follows a whirlwind process late last year to rethink and redesign the symbols that have represented Minnesota for most of the state's history.
The Legal Marijuana Now Party will lose its status as a major party in the 2024 election. It's been a major party in Minnesota since 2018.

Minnesota Supreme Court: Legal Marijuana Now failed to meet requirements to remain a major party

The LMN Party could qualify as a third party in the state but will lose major party ballot access in 2024.
Donald Trump spoke during his rally at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He said " We just had news that in Minnesota we are doing fantastic" he

Donald Trump to headline Minnesota GOP dinner

Trump will speak at the Lincoln Reagan dinner on May 17 as he makes the case that Minnesota could be in play in this fall's presidential election.
Protesters on both sides of the issue gather outside the Senate chambers after an ERA bill was heard in committee at the Minnesota State Capitol on Mo

House Democrats push to put protections for equal rights, abortion on Minnesota's ballot in 2026

The proposal faced fierce pushback from opponents and it's unclear if there are enough votes to pass it in the Senate.
Advocates for an equal rights amendment rally in the Capitol rotunda on the first day of the 2024 legislative session.

What to know about a possible Minnesota equal rights amendment on abortion rights

Democrats have been debating for months over language to put a wide-ranging amendment on the ballot.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.

Omar faces pushback for calling some Jewish students 'pro-genocide' at Columbia

The three-term Democrat could face another censure attempt from House Republicans.
Political newcomer Tayler Rahm won the Republican endorsement on Saturday in Minnesota’s competitive Second Congressional District, beating out form

Attorney Tayler Rahm wins GOP backing in battleground Second District

In the Third District, Republican activists endorsed former judge and state legislator Tad Jude. And a contentious convention in the Seventh District ended with no endorsement.
Marchers listed to speakers at the Minnesota State Capitol. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) held a march in front of the Minnesota State

New TV ad rails against Minnesota abortion ballot initiative that hasn't passed the Legislature yet

Democrats in control of the Legislature have been negotiating language differences on the measure for months.
Sen. Nicole Mitchell’s seat was empty at right when GOP Sen. Eric Lucero brought a motion to compel the Rules Committee to expedite an ethics compla

Minnesota Senate GOP files ethics complaint against Sen. Nicole Mitchell

Republicans moved to expedite a hearing on their ethics complaint after the Woodbury DFLer was charged with burglary, but the motion failed in a tie vote.
Republican congressional candidates Joe Teirab, left, and Tayler Rahm talk to supporters during a Senate District 56 GOP Pints and Politics fundraiser

GOP battle for nomination in Minnesota's Second District could head to August primary

The race has bitterly divided Republicans over who is best to take on DFL incumbent Rep. Angie Craig this fall.
Many Otter Tail County activists want to become party delegates so they can support GOP newcomer Steve Boyd over Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischba

Conservatives in Otter Tail County have been fighting for years, with no end in sight

A recent flare-up over precinct caucuses is the latest in a string of battles between local party officials and a group of grassroots activists.
First Lady Jill Biden gives a short campaign speech for her husband, President Joe Biden, for a room of over 100 “Women for Biden” supporters at N

Jill Biden rallies women, teachers for the Biden-Harris ticket in Bloomington speeches

She spoke to women at a brewery and then addressed Education Minnesota's annual convention.
Mohrman, Kaardal & Erickson Attorney Erick Kaardal announces the filing of the lawsuit at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, June 5, 201

Legal Marijuana Now Party fights to keep its major party status before Minnesota Supreme Court

The DFL Party filed a petition arguing LMN failed to meet legal requirements to be certified as a major party.
The sun shines on the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, as Gov. Tim Walz and top legislative leaders continued their budge

DFL disavows endorsed House candidate accused of harassing GOP incumbent

Judd Hoff has a long criminal history, including felony second-degree assault for wielding a machete during an argument.
Gov. Tim Walz highlights Minnesota's new child tax credit, which was passed as part of a $3 billion tax cut and increase package passed last session.

What you need to know to receive Minnesota's $1,750 child tax credit this tax filing season

The state estimates more than 356,000 children have already benefited, with families receiving an average credit of $2,510.
Minnesota state Sen. Lindsey Port, DFL-Burnsville, caught COVID-19 before anyone in the state had died from the virus yet. Now, more than four years l

Minnesota DFL senator to shift to remote work as she battles long COVID

Sen. Lindsey Port said former leader Kari Dziedzic set an example last year of how to serve remotely while battling a cancer diagnosis.
Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, winced as she inserted a used hard drive into the shredder at Global Ewaste Solutions on Wednesday.

Are your unused devices collecting dust? A bill aims to expand electronic recycling in Minnesota.

The proposal would expand a state law to cover all electronics and create a retail fee when purchasing a product to cover the costs of recycling them later.
FILE -- Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, addresses the committee's spring dinner, in Washington,

Campaign check: Emmer falsely claims Biden chose Easter for Trans Day of Visibility

Emmer's posts also said the president banned children from using religious symbols at the White House egg art contest, but that happened under Trump as well.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave the State of the State address from the new Owatonna High School on Tuesday.

Gov. Walz reflects on historic legislative session, urges more gun safety measures

His State of the State address also included a pitch for a $989 million bonding bill, a package of construction projects focusing on affordable housing, water infrastructure projects and repairing buildings on college campuses.