Krish Subrahmanian
DemocraticQ1 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
“I use PubMed every day in my work as a pediatrician. When a decision affects a patient, I look for the best available evidence, examine its limits, and use it alongside clinical judgment and the patient’s circumstances. I would approach Senate votes with the same discipline.
I would consult scientists at Minnesota universities and state agencies, listen to people affected by a proposal, and ask what outcomes we will measure after a law takes effect. Evidence should inform a vote and help us recognize when a policy needs to change. Minnesotans deserve to know what evidence guided my decisions.”
KEYWORDS: Scientific evidence, Public health, Accountability
Q2 Recently H.J. Res 140 passed, overturning a 20-year mining ban in the National Forest System land surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. What is your position on mining projects in this region and what policies, if any, would you support to protect the surrounding watershed?
“I support mining in appropriate places under strong environmental standards. I oppose copper-nickel mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The risk to this interconnected water system is too great, and contamination would be extraordinarily difficult to undo.
I would support durable protections for the Boundary Waters watershed, independent scientific review, meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations, and public access to environmental findings. Mining companies must be responsible for the long-term impacts of their operations and the cost of any cleanup.
We can pursue the minerals our economy needs while drawing a clear line around a place Minnesotans have a responsibility to protect.”
KEYWORDS: Boundary Waters, Responsible mining, Clean water
Q3 Contamination from PFAS and other “forever chemicals” in 21 community water systems in Minnesota exceed national regulations, putting residents at risk of negative health impacts. What policies, if any, do you propose to protect Minnesota residents from the potential impacts of PFAS?
“I grew up in the shadow of 3M, in a 3M family. PFAS contamination has affected my community and my family. For me, this is personal as well as a public health issue.
Every family should know whether their drinking water is safe. I support comprehensive testing, clear and timely notice to residents, and funding to treat contaminated water or provide a safe alternative. We must also prevent further contamination by implementing Minnesota’s restrictions on avoidable PFAS uses and monitoring industrial releases.
Polluters should pay for cleanup wherever responsibility can be established. State support must help communities complete the work without placing the full cost on households through water bills or property taxes. I would make progress visible to the public: where contamination remains, what is being done, and when residents can expect safe water.”
KEYWORDS: Safe water, Polluter accountability, Community health
Q4 There have been multiple hyperscale data centers proposed throughout the state, including one currently under construction. What policies and regulations, if any, do you support to assess and act on the potential impacts of these data centers?
“My framework for data centers has four parts: transparency, accountability, reciprocity, and participation.
Transparency: Residents must know a project’s expected energy and water use, public costs, and long-term commitments. Local governments should not sign nondisclosure agreements that keep those facts from the public.
Accountability: Operators must pay for the infrastructure they require and accept responsibility for long-term impacts. Families should not absorb those costs through higher utility bills.
Reciprocity: A project should deliver a demonstrable benefit to the community hosting it, including meaningful jobs and investment.
Participation: Community members must be part of the discussion and decision at every step, before commitments are made.
I support a pause on new hyperscale approvals until Minnesota has enforceable standards that put these principles into practice.”
KEYWORDS: Transparency, Reciprocity, Community participation
Q5 In 2025 alone, the National Institute on Health (NIH) awarded over $700 million for research grants and contracts to Minnesota universities, which directly supported over 7,000 jobs and $1.79 billion of economic activity in Minnesota. What policies, if any, do you plan to implement or support regarding funding for continued science research either at the state or federal level?
“My father chose to work in his lab partly because it devoted 10 percent of its time to new research. He understood that discoveries need room to grow before anyone knows what they might produce. So much of the science that improves our lives begins as basic research.
The federal government should remain a strong, dependable funder of science. But if it retreats from that responsibility, Minnesota has an opportunity to lead. We can support our universities and research institutions, provide competitive state grants, and create a place where talented scientists can build long careers and pursue ambitious questions.
I want Minnesota to be the place researchers choose when they want to stay in the United States and do consequential work. That investment would strengthen our universities and economy, but its greatest return could be discoveries we cannot yet imagine.”
KEYWORDS: Basic research, Scientific talent, Minnesota leadership
Q6 Fatal drug overdoses in Minnesota have significantly declined in recent years, representing a 28% drop from a record peak of 1,392 overdose deaths in 2022. However, compared to White Minnesotans, Indigenous Minnesotans are 7 to 15 times more likely to experience a fatal drug overdose, while Black Minnesotans are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from a drug-related overdose. What policies, if any, do you support to continue the downward trend of overdose deaths for Minnesotans?
“A decline in overdose deaths is good, but far too many families are still losing someone, and the disparities facing Indigenous and Black Minnesotans demand focused action. As a physician and Medicaid leader, I would expand access to naloxone and evidence-based addiction treatment, including medication for opioid-use disorder. A person ready for treatment should be able to get it quickly and stay connected to care after an emergency visit or overdose.
I would direct sustained resources to Tribal Nations and trusted community organizations to design and deliver culturally responsive prevention, treatment, and recovery services. I would also support peer recovery workers and use timely public-health data to identify where services are missing.
We should measure success by lives saved, people connected to effective care, and whether the gaps between communities are closing.”
KEYWORDS: Treatment access, Tribal leadership, Overdose prevention