Tracey Breazeale
DemocraticQ1 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
“I believe good policy starts with balanced fact based information which means evaluating data and listening to the people who have spent their careers studying the problem. When a bill touches public health, clean water, our lakes and land, agriculture, energy, schools, or new technology, I want to hear directly from the experts who know the subject best: researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, engineers, academic experts, etc. I’ll read the research with a critical eye, look at reliable data, and ask the hard questions to arrive at solutions that are grounded in science. Minnesotans deserve leaders who make decisions based on facts, not politics or pressure from special interests.”
KEYWORDS: Fact-based, Independent, Balanced
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?
“Not all mines are created equal and there is a big difference between taconite mining and the copper-sulfide mining being proposed near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a collection of highly interconnected lakes and rivers and it is simply not possible to limit pollution to any one area. Copper-sulfide mining is particularly toxic - when sulfur and water mix, an acid is released and history shows these types of mines leak and pollute the surrounding water. This type of damage cannot be fixed and therefore I will support the “Prove It First” legislation. “Prove It First” would require copper-sulfide mining companies to demonstrate they can operate without polluting the local environment before they can receive a permit in Minnesota.”
KEYWORDS: Protect the BWCA
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?
“Every Minnesotan deserves to know the water coming from their tap is safe. As a member of the Minnetonka Beach City Council that approved a new water plant with PFAS treatment, I’ve seen this challenge up close. Minnetonka Beach is a small city of about 230 households, and building modern treatment was a major financial commitment. Residents shouldn’t have to carry that cost alone. I support the use of state funds to help cities fund necessary investments in water infrastructure. PFAS contamination requires action at both ends: cleaning up existing pollution and preventing more forever chemicals from entering our water. I support strong, science-based drinking-water standards for PFAS, and helping communities test, treat, and remediate contaminated water without placing the burden on local taxpayers and ratepayers. I also support holding manufacturers and polluters responsible for cleanup costs when they caused the contamination. Minnesota is already leading through Amara’s Law, which phases out nonessential uses of PFAS. I support building on it by reducing unnecessary PFAS use, requiring greater transparency from manufacturers, and investing in safer alternatives. We also need continued monitoring of public water systems and private wells, investment in effective treatment technologies, and aggressive cleanup of known contamination sites.”
KEYWORDS: Infrastructure, Clean Water
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?
“I support a moratorium on construction of hyper-scale data centers so we can develop legislation that protects local communities and consumers. It’s unclear how many will actually be needed and it’s important not to overbuild. Legislation should include environmental review, water usage, energy usage and transparency. Environmental review: I support mandatory environmental review before construction. Data centers affect our water, air, and neighborhood noise levels, and current requirements don’t cover all of that. We need a review designed specifically for data centers. Water: Hyper-scale data centers can use a lot of water and we need to ensure they are using as little as possible, encouraging underground cooling so consumers and local businesses do not face water shortages or rate increases. Energy and ratepayers: I support requiring data centers to run on 100% new clean energy. Data centers should pay for the new generation and transmission they require, so families and small businesses aren’t subsidizing big tech. Transparency: I support banning or strictly limiting non-disclosure agreements between local officials and tech developers. Public trust depends on transparency and residents deserve to know what’s proposed, what it will cost them, and what protections are in place.”
KEYWORDS: Planful, Community Focused
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?
“I will be a vocal advocate against federal cuts that jeopardize our researchers, universities, hospitals, and the patients who depend on them. I would also work closely with our congressional delegation to help secure stable funding. At the state level, I would champion sustained investment in the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, and our other public research institutions. That includes modernizing laboratories and research facilities and building partnerships that position Minnesota researchers to compete successfully for outside funding. I would also expand STEM education so that students can pursue rewarding careers in science, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing here at home. Equally important is the scientific expertise within our state agencies. When we confront emerging diseases, invasive species, agricultural challenges, or PFAS contamination, we depend on their knowledge. Eroding that capacity undermines our ability to protect public health and our natural resources.”
KEYWORDS: Science, Research, Jobs
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?
“Overdose deaths in Minnesota have fallen, but the work isn’t finished until help reaches everyone who needs it. My approach is public health first: prevent addiction, make treatment easy to get, reduce the harm of use, and hold traffickers accountable. Naloxone should be available everywhere people gather, including schools, libraries, community groups, and clinics, with training so people can use it confidently. Treatment shouldn’t be blocked by paperwork or cost. That means making medication-assisted treatment, counseling, peer support, and recovery housing available in rural areas and city neighborhoods alike. The gap for non-white Minnesotans is too large to ignore, and general programs won’t close it. Resources should follow the data and serve anyone who needs help. I also support improving prescription tracking, and teaching young people early about the risks. Lasting change depends on stable housing, mental health care, and economic security, too.”
KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Naloxone