[citation needed] An alumna of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Bronshvag was an interior decorator before making her first run for the California State Assembly in 1990.
She lost that race to then-incumbent Republican Bill Filante, who had represented the Marin-Sonoma based 9th district since 1979.
She spent $250,000 of her own money and won the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote, more than 30 points ahead of her closest competitor.
[4] Then a speeding ticket cost her a suspended driver's license and prompted the nickname "the flying duchess".
[4] Despite once again spending much of her own money, she lost the Democratic primary to then Novato school board member Kerry Mazzoni.