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Veda Kanitz
Veda Kanitz (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Minnesota House of Representatives to represent District 57A. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Kanitz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Veda Kanitz was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She earned a high school diploma from East Troy High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1980, and a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 1991. Her career experience includes working as an educator. Kanitz has been affiliated with DFL Environmental Caucus, Education Minnesota, and Climate Reality.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Minnesota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57A
Incumbent Jon Koznick defeated Veda Kanitz in the general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57A on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jon Koznick (R) | 62.6 | 16,479 |
 | Veda Kanitz (D)  | 37.4 | 9,848 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 18 | ||
| Total votes: 26,345 | |||
| = 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. Veda Kanitz advanced from the Democratic primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57A.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jon Koznick advanced from the Republican primary for Minnesota House of Representatives District 57A.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Kanitz's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kanitz in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Veda Kanitz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Kanitz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My dad was a WWII vet who grew up in farming in northern Minnesota but turned to factory work to feed his growing family. From Dad I inherited a very strong work ethic and his love of the land. Mom was a NY city gal, a Hunter college graduate, who taught us to be lifelong learners, and to always speak up when we saw an injustice. I chose teaching to share my love of science and the natural world with students, and put my heart and soul into it for many rewarding years.
Colleagues see me as a leader, an organizer, a problem solver, and a good listener who genuinely cares about people and sustainable solutions. I’ve served many leadership roles in environmental organizations and in the state DFL party. I am the chair emeritus of the DFL Environmental Caucus, and served as chair for 6 years after helping to create it. I’ve also helped organize a Church World Service CROP Hunger walk with South Metro churches, lobbied in Washington DC for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and am a trained Climate Reality Leader.- I’m running for the Minnesota House because I believe good government that works for the people can improve the lives of ALL Minnesotans. I will work for solutions that are healthy and equitable for people, and protect the ecosystems we depend on, prioritizing legislation that helps us mitigate and adapt to our climate crisis. I will work for a Minnesota in which all have clean air, clean water, healthy food, a living wage, affordable comprehensive health care, and a safe, welcoming environment to live, work and play in.
- Minnesotans deserve representatives who protect our rights and freedoms.
I will work for a Minnesota in which no one has to think about the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, or their religion before making a decision about where to walk, drive, live, work, or express a thought. I support a comprehensive single-payer health care plan, the right to make your own reproductive decisions, and to choose your own health care providers. Legislation I support will honor our treaties and protect the rights of Indigenous communities to hunt, fish, and gather from the land and water. I support adequate funding of police and other public safety resources, and holding all stakeholders accountable.
I support honest and fair elections. - Minnesotans value quality public education. I support fully funding our public schools. We must attract and hire a more diverse group of educators to ensure our schools meet students’ needs, while increasing teacher pay and benefits to keep experienced teachers in the classroom.
Education
Environmental and Social justice
Fellow teacher
"Veda has a heart for equality and justice for all. She is a person with impeccable integrity, and she always has a warm smile ready for everyone she greets. Veda will make a great legislator!"
Pastor Jay Steele
"As a long-time high school science teacher, Veda Kanitz has dedicated her life to helping students and their families. She is committed to building a better future, where we protect the environment and help Minnesota thrive with a strong economy and safe communities.
She knows the struggles that many Minnesota families face in paying their bills -- and the huge burden of getting affordable health care. Veda will represent the interests of the people, not the special interests, and she will stand up to powerful lobbyists to do so.
Veda Kanitz will provide strong, thoughtful leadership. Her voice is much needed in the Minnesota House of Representatives."
Minnesota Senator John Marty
“It's my honor to endorse Veda Kanitz for Minnesota House District 57A, who I've come to know through our work together on environmental and clean water issues. Veda is one of the most committed, hard-working, and solution-oriented people I know, and she gets results. I know I can always depend on her to be an ally and champion in protecting Minnesota's waters, and to be thoughtful and collaborative. I am grateful to Veda for her steadfast leadership and delighted to endorse her candidacy for House District 57A.”
As a member of the Minnesota House I will continue to build relationships with others regardless of party.
Senator John Marty, Senator Jen McEwen, Former Senator Greg Clausen, Majority Leader Representative Jamie Long, Representative Patty Acomb, Pastor Jay Steele, Rev. Dr. Paula B Nordhem
Environment and Resources Finance and Policy
Transportation Finance and Policy
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Education Policy
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Minnesota House of Representatives District 57A |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 15, 2024
