Ben Bakeberg

American politician

Ben Bakeberg

Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 54B district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Tony Albright

Personal details
Born	(1978-07-15) July 15, 1978 (age 45)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lindy
Children	3
Residence	Jordan, Minnesota
Education	University of Northwestern – St. Paul (BS) Minnesota State University, Mankato (MS)
Occupation	Educator Legislator
Website	Government website Campaign website

Ben Bakeberg (born July 15, 1978) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Bakeberg represents District 54B south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Prior Lake and parts of Scott County.^[1]^[2]

Early life, education and career

Bakeberg received his Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul, and his Master's in science in education leadership from Minnesota State University Mankato.^[1]

He worked as the principal of Jordan Middle School in Jordan, Minnesota.^[3]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Bakeberg was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022.^[1] He first ran after redistricting and after five-term Republican incumbent Tony Albright announced he would not seek reelection and resigned to take a lobbying job.^[4]

Bakeberg serves on the Education Finance and Education Policy Committees.^[1]

Political positions

Bakeberg opposed legislation that would require Minnesota high schools to offer an ethnic studies course, saying "local school districts across the state are already doing this, and they don't need us to mandate".^[5] He said a bill guaranteeing one daily breakfast and lunch to all students would not eliminate hunger or school lunch debt because some children may choose to get extra meals.^[6] During a committee hearing on the state's literacy requirements, Bakeberg said that whole language and balanced literacy programs were "quite possibly one of the greatest frauds in education in the past 40 years".^[7]

Electoral history

2022 Minnesota State House - District 54B^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ben Bakeberg	12,317	60.70
	Democratic (DFL)	Brendan Van Alstyne	7,962	39.24
	Write-in		14	0.07
Total votes			20,293	100.0
	Republican hold

Personal life

Bakeberg lives in Jordan, Minnesota, with his wife, Lindy, and has three children.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Bakeberg, Ben - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^ "Rep. Ben Bakeberg (54B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^ Furst, Randy (August 30, 2021). "Laurie Schmidt, Minnesota Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2020, dies at 57". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^ Olson, Rochelle (August 3, 2022). "Prior Lake legislator Tony Albright leaves office early for new job". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^ Faircloth, Ryan (March 2, 2023). "Bills would require Minnesota students to take ethnic studies, personal finance classes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^ Bakst, Brian (2023-02-09). "As hunger rises in Minnesota, House passes school meals for all bill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^ Callaghan, Peter (2023-05-04). "Walz, state lawmakers look to transform how Minnesota kids are taught to read". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 54B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.