Minnesota

“I have an extremely high level of trust in traditional science. As a career attorney I know that the facts, not the biases, lead to the result.”

KEYWORDS: Complete inescapable reliable

“Absent a major world war, no mining should occur in the BWCAW watershed.”

KEYWORDS: protect the BWCAW

“locate mitigate regulate litigate (if needed) similar to superfund CERCLA cleanup processes”

KEYWORDS: locate mitigate regulate

“Prority #3 on my web presentation: “3. Highly tax cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence operations, particularly as to their energy usage, and closely regulate artificial intelligence.” As a brief elaboration, insure the integrity of AI-generated communications over any media, and encourage full transparency in local permitting processes.”

KEYWORDS: honesty, accuracy, transparency

“Continue funding at (at least) 2024 levels.”

KEYWORDS: preserve historical funding

“I have over 25 years of experience with Mental Health and Chemical Dependency cases in Hennepin County District Court. Continue treatment funding, case management inside and outside of treatment facilities, and community education”

KEYWORDS: treatment management education

“I would like to hear from more than one scientist or school even the knowledge of other countries. I would also like to consult other colleagues in the profession and workforce.”

KEYWORDS: I like real data and facts more than just written words.

“This is very concerning. I worry about a self-sustaining ecosystem and the consequences of water contamination. I think studies should be done asking other countries how they have protected the environment. We used to be Minnesota kind. Look at where we are today. At present we are the land of 10,000 lakes will that still be the case? Will that also be past tense.”

KEYWORDS: Ecosystem

“I think it is time for facts. We need a student count of the health problems that our youth are facing. Then we need to get the facts on who and why. Can a better alternative be found? Slow down and research the decision first.”

KEYWORDS: Contamination the cannot be reversed is my concern.

“”Right to privacy” is implied by a combination of amendments the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 15th. 9th non-enumerated rights. I feel like the internet and social media together have crossed the line on infringing on right to privacy. They seem to use entrapment as a means of justification rather than it being unjust. The law should protect people from these desires rather than let corporations entrap them. AI is to unregulated at this time. Very hard on our children. Data centers will create more chaos.”

KEYWORDS: Loss of privacy.

“I feel like debate teams should be set up to justify if the grant was justified and have it televised for public learning and knowledge. I would also like to see where the grants have gone. Take a pause on the funding.”

KEYWORDS: Three ways of showing evidence of value to society.

“Border security, mail security, US random highway checks for drug trafficking 90 and 35. Stricter border checks between the U>S> and Canada. Both governments working together to target drug trafficking.”

KEYWORDS: Working with other states and countries.

“I would rely on scientists and other subject mattered experts whenever legislation involves technical or scientific issues. This includes public health, environmental policy, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, emerging technologies, cyber security and National security. I would review the best available scientific evidence, consider differing expert viewpoints when appropriate and evaluate the likely benefits, risk and unintended consequences of a proposal. Scientific expertise should inform policy decisions, while elected officials remain responsible for balancing scientific evidence with constitutional principles, economic impacts, ethical considerations and the needs and values of the people they represent.”

KEYWORDS: Science Informed Policymaking

“I’d support responsible mining only if the project passed strict, science-based environmental reviews and demonstrated clear benefits. I’d prioritize protection of the watershed through robust buffers, continuous water quality monitoring, meaningful tribal consultation and enforceable safeguards. If those standards can’t be met, the project shouldn’t proceed.”

KEYWORDS: Science Based Stewardship

“I support a comprehensive approach to PFAS contamination that prioritizes safe drinking water and public health. That includes regular testing of public water systems, transparent reporting of contamination levels, targeted funding to help communities install effective treatment technologies and holding polluters accountable when contamination can be traced to responsible parties. I also support reducing future PFAS releases through practical regulations and continued investment in research and safer alternatives.”

KEYWORDS: Science Based Prevention

“I support reasonable development of data centers that strengthens our economy while protecting local communities and natural resources. Before approval, projects should undergo thorough environmental and infrastructure reviews that evaluate impacts on energy demand, Water use, land use and local transportation. I support transparency in these assessments, meaningful public input and requirements for developers to help offset infrastructure costs. I also encourage the use of energy efficient technologies, water conservation measures and increased use of reliable, low emission energy sources where feasible. The goal is to welcome investments while ensuring the communities are not left bearing the environmental or financial cost.”

KEYWORDS: Responsible Technology Development

“I support sustained public investment in scientific research because it drives innovation, strengthens our economy, improves public health and creates high quality jobs. I would support stable, merit-based funding for research institutions, universities and National laboratories while ensuring transparency, accountability and reasonable stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I also encourage partnerships between government, academia and private industry to accelerate the development of new technologies and medical breakthroughs. Investments and research should be guided by scientific merit, National priorities and the potential to deliver meaningful public benefits.”

KEYWORDS: Research Fuels Prosperity

“I support a comprehensive approach to reducing overdose deaths that combines prevention, treatment, recovery and public safety. This includes expanding access to evidence-based addiction treatment, increasing the availability of overdose reversal medications such as the naloxone, strengthening mental health services and disrupting the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs. I also support improving community outreach and ensuring that prevention and treatment resources are accessible to populations experiencing disproportionately high overdose rates. The goal is to save lives, support long-term recovery and reduce the impact of addiction across all Minnesota communities.”

KEYWORDS: Recovery - Prevention - Enforcement

“Scientists serve an explicitly advisory, technical capacity to provide empirical data, rigorous risk assessments, and verifiable research metrics. They do not hold legislative authority. When evaluating policy, scientific data will be heavily weighed for factual accuracy and engineering viability, but any resulting legislative action must strictly pass constitutional muster. Scientific consensus can never be weaponized as a tool of administrative overreach to override individual sovereignty, personal liberty, or property rights. Data informs, but the Constitution governs.”

KEYWORDS: Empirical Evidence. Liberty

“The passage of H.J. Res 140 properly scales back federal overreach by returning land-use and resource decisions to state and local jurisdictions. Economic optimization and domestic resource independence should be pursued, provided they are governed by a strict property-rights framework. Rather than blanket federal prohibitions, I support local and state-level enforcement of strict tort liability for any direct, verifiable downstream pollution or physical degradation of the watershed. This ensures that extraction projects must absorb 100% of their operational risks, legally protecting private and public property boundaries without choking local economic sovereignty through centralized regulatory standstills.”

KEYWORDS: Decentralization. Property Rights.

“The presence of hazardous contaminants in local water supplies represents a direct physical trespass against private property and bodily sovereignty. Rather than enacting top-down federal regulations that paralyze industrial production through administrative red tape, enforcement must pivot to strict corporate tort liability. Industrial polluters must be held legally and financially accountable for the verifiable physical degradation of shared watersheds and private water tables. I support policies that mandate complete toxicological disclosure by manufacturing entities, enforce strict accountability for remediation costs on the responsible parties, and empower local municipalities to deploy modern filtration technologies without bureaucratic delay.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency .Local Remediation

“Recent public data from SurveyUSA shows that 60% of Minnesotans strictly oppose local hyperscale data center construction. This massive public backlash stems from backroom corporate deals, secret non-disclosure agreements, and unmitigated strains on municipal water tables and energy grids.Under a constitutional first framework, local community consent holds absolute sovereignty. Multi-billion-dollar tech conglomerates possess zero right to force high-consumption computing clusters onto neighborhoods that explicitly reject their footprint. I stand firmly with residents in supporting voter-approved municipal zoning moratoria to protect local resource infrastructure. Furthermore, all state-funded corporate tax subsidies for these projects must be immediately abolished. If a locality chooses to host a facility, the private operator must entirely fund their own dedicated power grids. This structurally insulates everyday citizens from skyrocketing utility bills and resource depletion. Local citizens govern their communities, not unaccountable tech monopolies.”

KEYWORDS: Local Consent. Sustainability.

“Under a constitutional first framework, government science funding must be governed by strict structural auditing, complete toxicological and research transparency, and absolute local accountability. While federal grants can stimulate localized research, centralized agencies must never use public funds to subsidize private corporate monopolies, fund unchecked gain-of-function research, or create top-down institutional echo chambers. I support policies that mandate a 100% open-source, public data requirement for any project utilizing taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, we must decentralize funding allocations by shifting oversight from unelected federal bureaucracies directly to state and local research bodies. This structurally prevents the weaponization of public science capital to protect corporate interests over the health and economic sovereignty of everyday citizens.”

KEYWORDS: Open-Source-Transparency. Fiscal-Accountability. Institutional-Decentralization

“To continue the downward trend of overdose deaths, public health policy must transition completely away from state-funded, short-term stabilization models that keep individuals trapped in an endless loop of addiction. The current framework merely manages the symptoms of substance abuse while keeping patients dependent on partial, state-subsidized treatments. I support policies that aggressively focus on comprehensive, long-term rehabilitation infrastructure and root-cause mental health recovery. This means prioritizing private and community-led inpatient initiatives that provide complete detoxification, intensive cognitive therapies, and foundational career reintegration programs. Furthermore, we must enforce strict criminal tort liability on corporate pharmaceutical siphons that profit from manufacturing these chemical dependencies in vulnerable populations. Public capital should only fund complete, permanent recovery pathways that restore personal sovereignty and financial independence, rather than financing a multi-billion-dollar administrative loop that leaves patients perpetually broken.”

KEYWORDS: Root Cause Rehabilitation

“Science should inform public policy, especially when decisions affect public health, the environment, agriculture, emerging technologies, national security, and our economy. If elected, I will seek input from scientists with relevant expertise, review credible peer-reviewed research, and listen to federal scientific agencies and independent experts before making decisions.

I also believe elected officials have a responsibility to distinguish scientific evidence from political preference. Science does not make every policy decision for us—Congress must also weigh costs, implementation, competing priorities, and the real-world effects on the people we represent. But we should begin with an honest understanding of the facts.

I have seen firsthand the importance of scientific research and strong federal research institutions, particularly through the NIH and the rare disease community. I will defend the independence and integrity of federal scientists and oppose efforts to suppress, distort, or politicize scientific findings.

Good government requires good information. I will seek out qualified experts, ask hard questions, examine the evidence, and then make the decision I believe best serves Minnesota and the country.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence -Expertise -Integrity

“The Boundary Waters is one of Minnesota’s greatest natural treasures, and I oppose sulfide-ore copper mining that puts this irreplaceable watershed at risk. I would have opposed H.J. Res. 140 and support restoring protections for the lands surrounding the Boundary Waters.

Minnesota has a proud mining tradition, and critical minerals are important to our economy and national security. But not every form of mining belongs in every location. The Boundary Waters watershed is uniquely interconnected, and contamination does not respect property lines or political boundaries. Once a pristine watershed is damaged, we cannot simply put it back together.

I support permanent federal protections against sulfide-ore mining in the Rainy River watershed surrounding the Boundary Waters, rigorous science-based environmental review, strong water-quality standards, meaningful Tribal consultation and protection of treaty rights.

We can support responsible mining, good-paying Minnesota jobs, and domestic mineral production while recognizing that some places are simply too valuable—and too vulnerable—to gamble with. The Boundary Waters should remain clean, wild, and accessible for generations to come.”

KEYWORDS: Conservation-Clean Water-Stewardship

“Every Minnesotan deserves confidence that the water coming from their tap is safe. 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 federal drinking-water standards for PFAS and increased federal funding to help communities test, treat, and remediate contaminated water without placing the financial burden on local taxpayers and ratepayers. I would 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 that approach nationally 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, federal investment in effective treatment technologies, and aggressive cleanup of known contamination sites.

PFAS pollution accumulated over decades and will not disappear overnight. Our goal must be straightforward: stop adding to the problem, clean up what we can, protect drinking water, and ensure polluters—not Minnesota families—bear responsibility for the contamination they caused.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention • Accountability • Public Health

“Data centers can bring investment, jobs, and technological infrastructure to Minnesota, but their enormous demands for electricity, water, and infrastructure require thoughtful oversight.

I support requiring hyperscale data centers to undergo comprehensive environmental and infrastructure review before approval, including projected water consumption, energy demand, grid capacity, backup generation, noise, and cumulative impacts on surrounding communities. Developers should demonstrate that adequate resources exist without jeopardizing drinking water, agricultural needs, or reliability for existing residents and businesses.

I strongly support Minnesota’s requirement that data centers pay the costs of the electrical infrastructure necessary to serve them rather than shifting those costs to residential ratepayers. I would also support greater transparency around water and energy consumption and incentives for water recycling, energy efficiency, renewable and carbon-free power, and reuse of waste heat.

AI and data infrastructure will be part of our economic future. Minnesota should welcome innovation, but communities should not subsidize private development through higher utility bills or depleted natural resources. Growth should be responsible, transparent, and beneficial to the communities hosting it.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability - Sustainability -Innovation

“Federal investment in scientific research is an investment in Minnesota’s economy, national competitiveness, and the health of our families. I strongly support robust, reliable funding for the NIH, NSF, CDC, and other federal research agencies.

Minnesota’s universities, health systems, researchers, and biotechnology companies have made our state a national leader in medical and scientific innovation. Federal research dollars support thousands of Minnesota jobs while producing discoveries that improve and save lives.

I am particularly committed to protecting NIH funding and strengthening research into rare and undiagnosed diseases. I have seen firsthand what federally supported research can mean to families searching for answers, treatments, and hope.

I will oppose politically motivated cuts or interference that undermine peer-reviewed research, disrupt promising studies, or drive talented scientists away from public service. I also support expanding partnerships among federal agencies, universities, research institutions, and responsible private-sector innovators.

America’s scientific leadership was built through sustained investment. We should strengthen it—not retreat from it.”

KEYWORDS: Research-Innovation-Investment

“Minnesota’s declining overdose deaths show that prevention and treatment efforts can work, but the enormous disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans demand focused action.

I support treating substance use disorder as a public-health issue while aggressively pursuing those who traffic fentanyl and other deadly drugs. We need both approaches.

I support expanding access to naloxone, evidence-based treatment, medication-assisted treatment, mental-health services, recovery programs, and culturally responsive community-based care. Treatment must also be accessible in rural Minnesota, where distance and provider shortages can create significant barriers.

Federal opioid settlement and prevention dollars should be directed toward strategies demonstrated to reduce deaths, with particular attention to communities experiencing disproportionately high overdose rates. We should also strengthen overdose surveillance and culturally specific fatality reviews so resources follow the evidence.

Prevention matters as much as emergency response. That means addressing mental health, educating young people about fentanyl, supporting people in recovery, and reducing barriers to treatment.

Our goal should not simply be fewer overdose deaths. It should be helping more Minnesotans recover and rebuild their lives.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention-Treatment-Recovery

“I trust science.”

KEYWORDS: verification

“Continue ban. Full, transparent, environmental review.”

KEYWORDS: thorough, regulated, transparent

“Monitoring and oversite”

KEYWORDS: Safety First

“Building something smarter than us is a reality that should give us pause. One of the scientists who invented AI, predicted that it would take over in ten years. We can not stop the billions of dollars invested in AI. I will author legislation to limit the construction of 765-kv transmission towers between states and regulatory agencies. I have e-mailed my concerns about the lack of need and eminent domain easements of 250 feet to connect@gophertobadgerlink.com. Re: Docket # 25-117, E002,ET2,ET6675,CN-22-532.”

KEYWORDS: Moratorium, fear, oversite

“I will fully support science and research. First, I need a miracle to get elected.”

KEYWORDS: science communication

“Decriminalization, return funding”

KEYWORDS: Love your neighbor.

“I am a farmer and beekeeper. Science is not abstract to me. I use it to test soil, water, and hive health. I use it everyday because my livelihood depends on getting the facts right. If a vote touches science, I want to hear from scientists before I vote. I would seek input directly from researchers, including the University of Minnesota Extension and scientists who live and work in the Eighth District, not just whoever a lobbyist sends to my office. I would never vote on something without hearing multiple positions on it. Good science includes disagreements. I want to hear the strongest case on each side, ask hard questions, and then make the call myself. That is what I would owe the people I represent. I don’t take PAC money, and would not take lobbyist money. That matters here. When a member of Congress hears from a scientist, the question is whether they are listening to evidence or a donor. I answer to my district, so the evidence can actually reach me.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based decisions, multiple perspectives, accountability

“I am not against mining. Iron Range miners built this district and I want mining jobs here. But H.J. Res 140 is not about American mining. Twin Metals is owned by Antofagasta, a Chilean conglomerate. The minerals would likely be processed in Chinese-owned smelters. The President signed an executive order treating critical minerals as a national security issue. Handing our copper and nickel to a foreign firm feeding China’s supply chain contradicts that order. Pete Stauber sponsored this resolution. Look at his donor list and ask who he was working for. The Boundary Waters is a national treasure and an economic engine. Sulfide-ore mining in that watershed carries acid drainage risk that lasts generations. Water flows north into the wilderness. You do not get a second chance with that. My position: no sulfide-ore mining in the Rainy River watershed until independent science proves it can be done without polluting it, and the burden of proof sits on the mining company. American-owned projects outside sensitive watersheds should get faster permits, not slower. Protect the water, put Americans first in our own mines, and make Congress answer to voters instead of mining PACs.”

KEYWORDS: Antofagasta, foreign ownership, national security

“PFAS was invented in Minnesota. 3M made these chemicals for decades while knowing the risks, and now 21 Minnesota community water systems exceed federal limits. Families drank that water. That is not a partisan issue. It is a poisoning issue. I live on well water. My family eats what we grow and drinks what comes out of the ground. Clean water is not an environmental slogan to me. It is dinner. My policies are simple. First, polluter pays. The companies that made and dumped PFAS fund the cleanup and the filtration, not the ratepayers and not the taxpayers. Second, fund testing for private wells, because rural families are on their own right now. Third, stop new PFAS from entering products where safer alternatives exist. Fourth, hold the Pentagon to the same cleanup standards as everyone else on contaminated bases. In 2021 the House voted on the PFAS Action Act to set drinking water standards and force cleanup. Pete Stauber voted no. Check his donor list, then check that vote. I take no PAC money, so when the polluter and the water bill are on opposite sides, I am free to side with the water.”

KEYWORDS: clean drinking water, 3M, PFAS Action Act

“I am partially against data centers. I am fully against ordinary families paying for them. These facilities use as much electricity as a small city and millions of gallons of water for cooling. When a hyperscaler plugs into the grid, somebody builds the new generation and transmission to serve it. Too often that cost lands on every household’s electric bill while the tech company gets a tax break for showing up. My policies. First, the data center pays its own way. Full cost of the power and grid upgrades it demands, locked in by contract, so residential ratepayers are protected. Second, no water permits without an independent assessment of what the aquifer and local wells can spare. Farmers and rural families were there first. Third, tax breaks only if they are earned with permanent local jobs, not construction jobs that vanish in two years. Fourth, local governments keep the final say. No state or federal preemption of township and county decisions. Big Tech has plenty of lobbyists in Washington. I take no PAC money and no lobbyist money, so when the data center and your electric bill disagree, I work for you.”

KEYWORDS: electric rates, ratepayer protection, water use

“Research pays. As a farmer I benefit every season from work done at land grant universities. Disease resistant crops, soil science, pollinator research that keeps beekeepers like me in business. The NIH numbers in your question tell the same story in medicine. This is one of the few places government spends a dollar and gets more than a dollar back. Here is my problem. Congress cannot fund research reliably because Congress cannot budget at all. Continuing resolutions, shutdown threats, and last minute deals whiplash every lab in the country. Scientists spend their time writing grant applications instead of doing science because nobody knows what next year looks like. My policies. Stable multi-year funding for core research agencies so labs can plan. Grants awarded on merit and open competition, not on which university hired the better lobbyist. Full public transparency on where every research dollar goes, because taxpayer confidence is what keeps the money flowing. And my CAPT Act suspends congressional pay when Congress fails to pass a real budget, because the biggest threat to American research is not any one cut. It is a Congress that will not do its job.”

KEYWORDS: merit-based grants, CAPT Act, congressional accountability

“Every one of those numbers is a neighbor. The Eighth District is home to several Ojibwe nations, so the disparity in your question is not a statistic to me. It is families in my district burying their kids. The decline proves something works. Naloxone saves lives, so keep it cheap and everywhere, including schools, bars, and squad cars. Treatment works when you can actually get it, so my first priority is rural access. In much of my district the nearest detox bed or medication-assisted treatment provider is an hour or more away. That kills people. Second, fund tribal nations directly. Tribes run some of the most effective recovery programs in Minnesota because they built them for their own communities. Money should go straight to them, not through layers of agencies that skim and slow it. Third, hit supply hard. Fentanyl traffickers and the Chinese precursor pipeline deserve prosecution, not the addict who needs a bed. Fourth, follow the evidence. If a program saves lives, fund it. If it does not, cut it. I take no pharmaceutical PAC money, so I can back what works instead of what pays.”

KEYWORDS: naloxone, rural treatment access, tribal nations

“I would consult scientists as subject-matter experts through legislative hearings, direct briefings, advisory panels, and review of published research. Their expertise would help me evaluate the factual basis of proposed legislation, its likely consequences, and whether its provisions can accomplish their stated objectives.

On policies involving public health, energy, environmental protection, infrastructure, or emerging technologies, I would seek specialists with relevant research and practical experience. I would ask them to explain the evidence, distinguish established findings from preliminary conclusions, identify uncertainties, and assess both immediate and long-term effects. Where credible scientific disagreement exists, I would examine its basis and the strength of the competing evidence.

I would also scrutinize funding sources and conflicts of interest, particularly when research informs decisions involving corporate interests or government programs. Scientific expertise should inform how legislation is written, amended, and evaluated after implementation. My responsibility would be to weigh that evidence alongside constitutional rights, public safety, economic consequences, and the interests of the people I represent, while explaining the basis of my decisions to constituents.”

KEYWORDS: Expertise, Evidence, Accountability.

“I support protecting the Boundary Waters and its surrounding watershed. My position on mining projects in this region would depend on whether credible, independent scientific assessment demonstrates that they can proceed without unacceptable harm to water quality, ecosystems, and public health.

Science should help us identify risks, evaluate proposed safeguards, and develop better methods of resource extraction and pollution prevention. However, the possibility of future innovation is not sufficient justification for approving a project whose risks remain unresolved.

I would support rigorous environmental review, transparent scientific findings, enforceable water protections, and continued research into safer technologies. Where evidence shows that a project cannot adequately protect the watershed, I would oppose its approval. Economic development should be pursued with environmental responsibility and an honest assessment of what available technology can achieve.”

KEYWORDS: Protection, Evidence, Innovation.

“I support enforceable, science-based drinking-water standards, regular testing, and public disclosure of PFAS contamination. Residents should receive clear information about what is in their water, the potential health implications, and the steps being taken to protect them.

At the federal level, I would support funding for community water systems to identify contamination and install effective treatment, with assistance reaching smaller and under-resourced communities and households relying on private wells. Responsible polluters should bear cleanup costs rather than leaving families and local ratepayers to absorb the burden.

Protection must also address contamination at its source. I would support restrictions on avoidable PFAS uses where safer alternatives are available, stronger controls on industrial discharges, and research into safer materials, treatment, and destruction technologies. Scientific review should evaluate the full consequences of replacement chemicals and disposal methods so we do not simply move contamination elsewhere.

My approach is to reduce exposure now, prevent further contamination, and hold responsible companies and government agencies accountable through transparent oversight and enforceable obligations.”

KEYWORDS: Testing, Cleanup, Prevention.

“At this time, I oppose new large-scale data centers. My platform treats protection of our air, water, power system, and neighborhoods as a public-safety responsibility. These facilities can impose substantial electricity and water demands, burden ratepayers, and increase pollution through backup generators and the additional power generation they require.

I support strong federal action against pollution and misuse of shared resources, alongside investment in clean, renewable energy. Assessments should examine cumulative electricity demand, water consumption, emissions, infrastructure costs, and effects on surrounding communities. Findings should be publicly accessible and independently evaluated, with enforceable protections against shifting corporate costs onto households.

My concerns also extend to what this infrastructure enables. I support comprehensive federal privacy and data-rights protections governing the collection, use, sale, and retention of personal information, including safeguards against unauthorized surveillance and exploitation.

Scientific and technological progress should improve public well-being. The benefits of expansion should not flow primarily to billionaires and technology corporations while working people bear the environmental, financial, and privacy consequences.”

KEYWORDS: Resources, Protection, Privacy.

“I support sustained, predictable federal funding for scientific research through the National Institutes of Health, universities, and other public research institutions. Funding decisions should be guided by scientific merit, independent peer review, and public benefit, with support for both basic research and practical applications.

My platform connects research investment to healthcare capacity, workforce training, domestic production, and economic opportunity. I would support funding that develops treatments, strengthens public health, advances clean energy, addresses environmental contamination, and improves our understanding of emerging technologies and their risks. Minnesota institutions should have opportunities to translate discoveries into accessible care, useful technologies, and good jobs.

Accountability should include transparent grant criteria, disclosure of conflicts of interest, responsible financial oversight, and evaluation appropriate to each field. Basic research should not have to promise immediate commercial returns to justify its value.

I oppose arbitrary or politically motivated cancellation of lawful research funding. Congress should protect scientific independence, ensure appropriated funds are administered lawfully, and expand pathways for students and early-career researchers to contribute.”

KEYWORDS: Investment, Merit, Opportunity.

“I support a coordinated federal response that expands overdose prevention, accessible addiction treatment, mental healthcare, and long-term recovery support. That includes wider access to naloxone, medications for opioid use disorder, trained addiction specialists, and timely treatment without unnecessary insurance or administrative barriers.

My platform calls for expanding healthcare capacity and investing in addiction treatment, housing, and community services. People should have continuity of care after an overdose, hospitalization, or release from incarceration, with connections to treatment, stable housing, and recovery support.

The disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans require deliberate attention. I would support sustained funding for Tribal health systems and community-based providers, with affected communities helping design and evaluate services. Resources should follow demonstrated need, and programs should address barriers involving cost, transportation, provider availability, and trust.

Congress should fund research and timely public-health monitoring while protecting patient privacy. Oversight should measure lives saved, access to care, treatment retention, and reductions in disparities. Enforcement against dangerous drug trafficking should accompany, not replace, prevention and treatment. Our responsibility is to keep people alive and make recovery attainable.”

KEYWORDS: Access, Treatment, Equity.

“My record in Congress reflects a strong deference to science on health and environmental issues. My staff and I regularly meet with subject matter experts from various fields and interests, including scientists, to ensure professional expertise and the facts are at the forefront of my decisions as a member of Congress. My congressional office has also employed fellows from scientific backgrounds over the years, who’ve helped provide their professional perspective and expertise to help educate and inform my staff and I.”

KEYWORDS: deference, facts, evidence-based

“In the 119th Congress, Republicans have weaponized the Congressional Review Act (CRA) against environmental protections and our public lands. In February, I led the fight in the House against Representative Stauber’s bill, H.J. Res. 140, that overturned the 2023 mineral withdrawal using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). With the unfortunate passage of this bill, I will keep fighting to pass my bill, the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588), to permanently protect the Boundary Waters Wilderness from toxic sulfide-ore mining. Additionally, I have voted against all bills that have weaponized the CRA against resource management and land management plans, as well as bills that repeal Biden-era rules that protect our land, air, and water and help us address climate change.”

KEYWORDS: wilderness, pristine, irreplaceable

“Earlier this year, I reintroduced the Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act (H.R. 8016) to phase out the use of PFAS chemicals within ten years. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’ve funded clean water projects in the East Metro to decontaminate PFAS from our drinking water sources. I’ve also funded efforts to research PFAS destruction as the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.”

KEYWORDS: clean, health, remediation

“I’m committed to ensuring data centers can’t be constructed at the expense of our environment, our health, or our utility bills. I’m co-sponsoring the Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act (H.R. 10448), which would repeal the massive tax breaks for data centers that were included in Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill. I just voted to pass the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 9340) to help prevent data centers from passing the cost of their increased energy consumption on to local communities.”

KEYWORDS: health, sustainability, affordability

“The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress have time and time again tried to cut funding for the NIH. As an appropriator, I’ve worked to protect and restore funding for the NIH, and as the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I work to support robust funding for medical research at the Department of Defense.”

KEYWORDS: health, research, innovation

“Congress needs to take a comprehensive approach to stop the sale of illicit drugs and compassionately treat addiction by bringing together medical professionals, addiction specialists, researchers, and law enforcement to implement evidence-based strategies. Criminalizing addiction, particularly through mandatory minimum sentencing policies, has failed to achieve that goal. I’ve previously helped lead the bipartisan Community Action Opioid Response Act to provide grants to local entities that are effectively working to address the root causes and consequences of addiction.”

KEYWORDS: compassion, prevention, treatment

“Science helps to prove or dispute applications for quality of life for all living organisms, including humans.”

KEYWORDS: Science is necessary for theory into facts, and practice.

“I believe in protecting our beautiful State of Minnesota, and our environment from harmful mining practices which include financial benefits, harmful chemicals and gasses that disrupt the natural cycles of earth we live on, also this effect all animals too.”

KEYWORDS: We should continue to implement the ban to protect the kand, and thise whoe live near it.

“We as a state should support eliminating PFAS, by continuing testing, eliminating products that carry high levels of PFAS, plastics, do more of organic materials, paper products, and glass as safer alternatives.”

KEYWORDS: Eliminate harmful products, improve quality of life

“I do not support Data centers, not enough information on cause and effects.”

KEYWORDS: Data centers may be harmful to the environment and to humans.

“We will continue to support Science Funding with research grants and contracts to Minnesota University’s, to improve research regarding Science for State and Federal levels.”

KEYWORDS: Science Funding is necessary.

“We need to move from voluntary treatment rehabilitation, to involuntary treatment after 3 months to decline drug impact on human life, and to improve quality of life and longterm, for all communities affected.”

KEYWORDS: Treatment, rehabilitate, longterm.

“I would rely upon input from different scientific bodies and individuals to ground my decisions in consensus. I understand the scientific method and engineering principles to a great degree, so I believe I can make solid decisions in policy and know when and who to ask about specific issues.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“I don’t believe we should be mining in areas where there is extreme risk for environmental disaster. Couple that with the fact that industrial mining can hurt tourism which helps to drive the economies of small towns. There are locations around the U.S. that would be much better candidates for large industrial mining operations.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“It’s a two pronged approach. On the prevention side we need to advocate for less plastic waste and more recycling options and operations. Secondly we employ bold civil engineering to go beyond wide spread clean up efforts. Forever chemicals and PFAS will not come out of the water unless we filter it out. I believe in hyper-industrialization that actually works with and aids our environment, and it really is the only way to keep up with what our modern society demands.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“AI Data Centers are being built for the purposes of handling the data process of listing, categorizing and surveilling people without their knowledge and consent. AI is over hyped algorithmic intelligence, not “artificial intelligence.” I would advocate strongly against the expansion of AI Data Centers where they are not wanted. This applies to AI enabled hardware like surveillance cameras, which constitute a violation of the fourteenth amendment.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“We need a wide sweeping federal audit of all research and development grants and contracts to make sure progress is delivered from that funding. Employing people to do work that isn’t valuable is not something the Federal Government can afford to fund when we are 40 trillion dollars in debt. Not saying the work they do isn’t valuable but I would need to assess that for myself and for the regular constituents of this state.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“Minnesota still has a major issue with Fentanyl even after the Covid-lockdown peaks. Stopping overdoses starts with border security and foreign policy. I would advocate for the full designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations and involve U.S. Military intervention against them. I would advocate to place penalties on Latin American countries who we see the drug trade coming from. I stand firm by the Monroe Doctrine and would enforce the naval supremacy of the United States in the Western Hemisphere to deter Fentanyl shipments from China to Latin America. Strict border protections would then act as a secondary barrier against these drugs entering the country.

At home we need a complete overhaul of our justice system. For criminals of victimless crimes I see no problem in restorative justice, but for those who placed others in harms way we need to bring back punitive justice. The only way to keep minority neighborhoods safe from crime is to keep the criminals off the street and in prison. That doesn’t mean over-policing that punishes people for minor infractions, but it does mean that when the real bad guys do get caught they don’t come back to the neighborhood anytime soon.”

KEYWORDS: N/A

“As a union president, I know that it is imperative that we reach out to subject matter experts, especially when it comes to matters of great importance. It would be a pleasure to work with all to get pertinent information in regards to Policy and issues.”

KEYWORDS: Pleasure to work with all

“Overturning the 20 year mining band was a significant blow to this beautiful area. Twin Metals which is a subsidiary of a Chilean mining company, is looking for profits over environmental protections. While I want good paying jobs in the region, we also need to look at protecting our most valuable resource here in Minnesota: our water. I was support legislation to protect the watershed and to ban mining in the Boundary Waters.”

KEYWORDS: Valuable resource

“PFAS have major health risks associated with exposure. The chemicals travel from industrial processes up and down the region. The way that the legislation was written was that there could be no future bans on mining. This is unacceptable. We must regulate significantly around environmental protections and mining in the boundary waters.”

KEYWORDS: Environmental harm

“Data centers must be regulated in order to protect Community. They have been significant environmental impacts as well as an impact on jobs. I have talked to several union members about artificial intelligence and how it can impact their employment. Many want technological advances, but they don’t want it at the expense of the environment. We must explore options such as cold water input into data centers and an increase in environmental legislation/ordinances from the city government all the way up to the Federal level”

KEYWORDS: Cold water input

“Research in science is how we move communities. We must allow our skilled scientists to be able to research their areas of interest and discuss legislation to policy makers in orderto make informed decisions.”

KEYWORDS: Skilled workers

“As a probation officer, I see firsthand how our in action harms the most vulnerable. We need to invest in chemical dependency treatment, sober housing, alternatives to Policing, mental health initiatives, and housing programs that will allow people the time to work on their sobriety. This is very hard to do if you’re homeless. We need to look at the programs being realized and ensuring quality assurance, accountability and oversight. This is a public health crisis not just a public safety one.”

KEYWORDS: Public health crisis

“Good policy starts with good information, and scientists are the key experts in their fields. I would rely on scientists, career agency experts, and other subject-matter experts to help establish the facts, identify risks, and explain the likely consequences of policy choices. That is especially important on issues involving public health, the environment, energy, agriculture, technology, and national security. Science should inform our decisions, while elected officials remain responsible for weighing competing priorities, listening to affected communities, and being accountable for the final decision.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Accountability

“I support mining in northern and central Minnesota when it can be done responsibly, meet strong environmental standards, and create good union jobs. But the Boundary Waters watershed deserves special protection, because contamination there could cause lasting, irreversible harm. I support restoring the protections overturned by H.J. Res. 140 and establishing permanent protections for the watershed. I also support rigorous environmental review, meaningful Tribal consultation, strong water-quality standards, and financial assurance requirements so mining companies, not taxpayers, are responsible for cleanup.”

KEYWORDS: Ban, Responsibility, Water

“Every Minnesotan should be able to trust the water coming from their tap. I will continue to support the Investing in America funding for drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades, along with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Clean Water Fund to ensure the safety of Minnesota’s water systems. I support strong, science-based federal drinking-water standards for PFAS, continued testing of public water systems, and federal assistance to help communities install treatment systems without placing the entire cost on local ratepayers. Companies responsible for PFAS contamination should also be held accountable for cleanup costs. We should continue investing in research on the health effects of PFAS and technologies that can safely remove and destroy these chemicals.”

KEYWORDS: Water, Accountability, Cleanup

“Data centers theoretically could bring investment and good construction and technology jobs to Minnesota, but families should not be asked to subsidize their enormous demands for electricity, water, and infrastructure. Local government leaders should not be allowed to enter into NDAs to conduct secret negotiations with AI companies. AI companies must prove the benefits of a data center before they are permitted to break ground. I support requiring data centers to disclose projected energy and water use, and pay for any necessary grid and infrastructure upgrades. Regulators should ensure these projects do not drive up utility bills for residential customers or threaten grid reliability. Public incentives should be tied to measurable benefits for Minnesota workers and communities.”

KEYWORDS: Ratepayers, Resources, Accountability

“I strongly support continued federal investment in scientific and medical research through agencies such as NIH and NSF. These investments lead to medical breakthroughs, new technologies, good-paying jobs, and economic growth, and Minnesota has benefited enormously from them. Research funding should be stable, competitive, peer-reviewed, and based on scientific merit. I would oppose arbitrary cuts that disrupt promising research, clinical trials, or the ability of Minnesota universities and medical centers to attract talented researchers and remain leaders in innovation.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, Jobs

“We should continue investing in approaches that are saving lives, including widespread access to naloxone, evidence-based addiction treatment, prevention, recovery services, and mental-health care. We also need to address the severe disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans by working directly with Tribal Nations and community organizations on effective, culturally appropriate programs. In rural Minnesota, we need more treatment and recovery options where providers are scarce. These public-health efforts should be paired with strong law enforcement focused on the traffickers bringing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our communities.”

KEYWORDS: Naloxone, Treatment, Prevention

“I’m very good at science. I admire certain scientists who have done more to progress the field than those who simply obtained a doctorate by writing an academic journal about something inconclusive that they needed to make seem significant, worsening the problem of distrust in science. I keep those real and good scientists in mind always and for everything, even if it’s just my starbucks order.”

KEYWORDS: Healthcare reform starts with reform and higher standards in academia.

“I want to protect preserved nature at all costs. I would definitely oppose anything that could risk other life forms we have never and will never have the right to take.”

KEYWORDS: Protect the environment over profits

“It’s not too much to ask that we mandate use of new science that allows people to recycle water and have their own closed cooling systems. I would push to update science in a republican way. Keith Ellison will lose a lawsuit and gripe, I’ll vote to give financial incentives to companies that update their systems in order to protect the environment. Why is the democratic stance of suing businesses for doing business they initially allowed presented as scientific? Nonsense.”

KEYWORDS: Democrats are generally dumber and poorly educated, either that or lying evil people

“I do not support data centers. This is the exact type of thing that needs to have cooling mechanisms regulated. If y’all knew the information they’re storing and who gets to use it for what, you would be 2A mfs, too. Data centers are for cities that can’t manage an economy so they need to sell out the environment and worsen global warming to compensate for their incompetent leadership. Instead, we should push ScIeNcE in order to develop something less detrimental to the environment. I’ve seen proposed space centers naturally cooled by the vacuum, but that seems unnecessary costly. We could also prioritize life on earth over every narcissist’s every GRWM being saved because that is the real cost of these sell-out options tech gives to incompetent leaders.”

KEYWORDS: Ai is a bubble because it will never generate revenue to be worth every American’s retirement fund investing in it, so we should stop.

“I would support a fully government-run healthcare system that is a lot more competitive than the current industry because that would shift the incentives and push scientists to do real science again. The U of M just put out recently that they developed the first artificial cell. No they didn’t and I don’t want to pay for entitled kids to be deluded into thinking they did something significant only to be preachy and wrong while the government mandates that we listen to them. That was done at UNC last month and has been an ongoing project since last century. Science has started to feel like every 4 year old who built a robotic car with a pre-made kit gets a news segments for their genius invention and no, taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for any part of that ego-chasing, ignorant delusion.”

KEYWORDS: Universal healthcare cured cancer in Europe.

“First of all, I worked at a nonprofit and no they’re not. The MN government just crashed the systems so they would not have to count the people who made it look like they were running the government terribly and Tim Walz would look like a good VP pick. Actually, no one in charge cares about them and when the bodies are found, no one investigates it at all. Native Americans just kept on keeping track of each other and they care when their people just start disappearing. Narcan is great, though. I also support the DEA, but this survey is full of misinformation in the questions. Legit journalists wouldn’t cite a hacked system unless it was to report on what was happening with the hack.”

KEYWORDS: Healthcare kills people for profit and there is no public health, only public illness and a few, “crazy” people who are healthy because they believe in cures instead of pain management, which goes against MN scientists.

“Science should be a cornerstone of good government, but it should never be the only voice at the table. As Governor, I will rely on scientists, engineers, physicians, economists, agricultural experts, and researchers when evaluating policies involving public health, infrastructure, natural resources, energy, education, and emerging technologies. I believe decisions should be guided by credible evidence, peer-reviewed research, and transparent data while also considering economic impacts, constitutional rights, and the everyday experiences of Minnesotans. Science helps us understand what is possible and what the likely consequences of our choices will be. It is the responsibility of elected leaders to balance that knowledge with the values and priorities of the people they serve.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-Based, Transparency, Collaboration

“Minnesota’s environment and natural resources are among our greatest assets, and they deserve careful stewardship. Mining has long been an important part of our economy, providing good-paying jobs and supporting communities across the state. I support responsible mining projects that meet rigorous, science-based environmental standards. Any project affecting the Boundary Waters watershed should undergo independent environmental review, continuous water-quality monitoring, strong financial assurances for cleanup, and meaningful public engagement. If credible scientific evidence demonstrates an unacceptable risk to the watershed or surrounding ecosystems, the project should not move forward. We should invest in cleaner mining technologies and modern environmental protections so Minnesota can remain both an environmental leader and a leader in responsible resource development.”

KEYWORDS: Stewardship, Responsible Mining, Science

“Every Minnesotan deserves access to safe drinking water. PFAS contamination is a serious public health issue that requires prevention, accountability, and long-term investment. I support expanding statewide water testing, identifying contamination early, assisting communities with treatment infrastructure, and accelerating cleanup of affected sites. Companies responsible for contamination should be held financially accountable whenever permitted under the law. Minnesota should continue supporting research into effective PFAS treatment technologies while strengthening regulations that prevent future contamination. By combining sound science, responsible regulation, and targeted investment, we can protect public health without placing unnecessary burdens on local communities or taxpayers.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Prevention, Accountability

“Artificial intelligence and data centers represent significant opportunities for Minnesota’s economy, but growth must be managed responsibly. I support requiring large data center projects to evaluate impacts on electricity demand, water resources, transportation infrastructure, cybersecurity, and local communities before approval. Developers should prioritize energy efficiency, water conservation, grid reliability, and partnerships with local utilities. Minnesota should encourage innovation while ensuring taxpayers are not left paying for infrastructure upgrades that primarily benefit private companies. AI also requires thoughtful governance that protects privacy, promotes transparency where appropriate, and prepares our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. We should welcome technological investment while protecting the communities that host it.”

KEYWORDS: Innovation, Sustainability, Infrastructure

“Scientific research is one of Minnesota’s greatest competitive advantages. Our universities, healthcare systems, and private research institutions create discoveries that improve lives while supporting thousands of high-quality jobs. I support continued investment in scientific research at both the state and federal levels, particularly in medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, clean energy, and artificial intelligence. Research funding should encourage collaboration between universities, government, and private industry to move discoveries from the laboratory into Minnesota businesses and communities. Taxpayer investments should be transparent, accountable, and focused on delivering measurable public benefits while preserving scientific independence. Investing in research today strengthens Minnesota’s economy, workforce, and quality of life for generations to come.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, Economic Growth

“Minnesota’s recent decline in overdose deaths is encouraging, but every life lost is one too many. I support expanding access to mental health care, substance use treatment, medication-assisted treatment, recovery housing, peer support, and overdose prevention resources such as naloxone. We must continue disrupting fentanyl trafficking while recognizing that addiction is both a public health and public safety challenge. I also support community-based partnerships that improve outreach and treatment in populations experiencing disproportionately high overdose rates, including Indigenous and Black Minnesotans. Success will require better coordination between healthcare providers, social services, law enforcement, and local communities. Our goal should be to save lives, strengthen families, and help people recover so they can fully participate in Minnesota’s economy and communities.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Recovery, Public Health

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

Sen. Klobuchar provided this letter to the Minnesota Stance on Science team.

“Boni fide scientific research is essentail to progress. Trusted advisors.”

KEYWORDS: trust, advisors, progress

“I support environmentally safe mining.”

KEYWORDS: envirentally safe

“Pursue the poluters, make them pay for restoration, and enforce laws to protect us going forward.”

KEYWORDS: poluters pay, protection

“A one-year moratorium on the licensning of any new hylerscale data centers, with the interim period being used to carefully evaluate all the ramifications. Then a decision on how the state should regulate them.”

KEYWORDS: hyperscale moratorium

“Protecting the taxpayers’ money is the first obligation of a Governor. We can support research that will benefit a broad constituency but must carefully examine that suppor prior to any awards and then closely monitor progress.”

KEYWORDS: essential, scrutinized

“Strong law enforcement to remove those who sell illegal narcotics, work with private mental health and addiction care centers to treat addiction, education in all communities.”

KEYWORDS: law enforcement, treatment

“When it involves environmental policies.”

KEYWORDS: No because there’s always new info and stufies being found and certain scientists are bought out by the Epstein class.

“I understand it brings jobs, but we have to be cautious of the environmental damage and pollution it can cause especially to our waters. It’s extremely important to have clean waters. Since it has already passed, I would propose policies to require any mining companies in the area to clean after themselves. Keep the waters clean and if there is an ounce of pollution in the water, the mining company will be sued and required to clean up the water in the area.”

KEYWORDS: A healthy Environment = Clean food, Clean food = Healthy foods, Healthy food = wealthy state.

“Force the companies that caused the forever chemicals to be in the water to clean the water. if not they will be sued and cease to operate in MN.”

KEYWORDS: A healthy Environment = Clean food, Clean food = Healthy foods, Healthy food = wealthy state.

“I would actually halt any current hyperscale data centers currently being built and actually ban it. It does nothing except increase people’s electricity and water bills, pollute the water and is obnoxiously loud. And it’s useless when the AI bubble is about to pop. It is not the hype the media makes it to be.”

KEYWORDS: All hype, another dotcom bubble waiting to burst. MN will should bear the wait of the incoming crash. AI is fake. we’re nowhere close to it.

“I would continue the current plan, but emphasize more on health, food, and finding cures to chronic illness. All research is useless if there is no healthy people to do the research.”

KEYWORDS: important, but must focus on Health, Food, and Chronic illness. The people’s well being matters more than profit.

“Actually bring in experts who know how to reduce the issue for blacks and natives. Help uplift their communities economically and try our best to fix communities instead of trying to create a criminal class.”

KEYWORDS: The #1 important thing to me. A healthy MN is a wealthy MN.

“As an Independent State Senator, I will use non-partisan scientific evidence—not political party line or corporate talking points—to guide policy decisions. I will consult state researchers, academic institutions, and technical experts at agencies like the MPCA and MDH to evaluate environmental risk, public health data, and economic impacts before casting votes on complex legislation.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based, Independent, Non-partisan

“Minnesota stewards roughly 20% of the nation’s fresh surface water, including the pristine Rainy River watershed, alongside domestic reserves that include 95% of the country’s nickel and 34% of its copper resources. Protecting our water and advancing national mineral security are not mutually exclusive—they require pragmatic, non-political oversight. State authority through the DNR and MPCA must enforce rigorous clean water standards to protect critical watersheds. At the same time, we must support modern, highly regulated mining practices to prevent emergency mineral shortages during geopolitical crises that could force hasty development under lowered environmental standards.”

KEYWORDS: Watershed-Protection, Strategic-Minerals, Environmental-Review

“Clean drinking water is a basic infrastructure requirement, not a partisan debate. Eden Prairie and Minnetonka residents shouldn’t face utility rate hikes or property tax increases to clean up industrial contaminants. I support ensuring state resources and legacy polluter settlements—not local taxpayers—fund necessary municipal filtration upgrades. State agencies must establish clear, science-based PFAS standards while providing local utilities with the funding flexibility and technical support required to deploy effective treatment technologies without administrative delays.”

KEYWORDS: Remediation, Water-Quality, Accountability

“Hyperscale data centers offer needed technological growth but place immense strains on state power grids and local water resources. I support policy requiring grid-impact assessments, water-efficiency standards, transparent energy sourcing, and ensuring data center operators cover their fair share of infrastructure upgrades so residential utility ratepayers aren’t burdened. We must build energy abundance.”

KEYWORDS: Grid-Impact, Efficiency, Infrastructure

“State policy must actively protect and multiply scientific research investments to keep Minnesota competitive. I support expanding state matching grants through the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, modernizing state R&D tax credits for startups, and streamlining commercialization pathways for university research. By aligning state incentives with federal NIH capital, we keep high-paying tech and medical jobs in Minnesota, strengthen our world-class healthcare economy, and turn raw research into market-ready solutions.”

KEYWORDS: Commercialization, Investment, Competitiveness

“Disparities in overdose mortality require a pragmatic, results-oriented strategy focused on what works. I support expanding access to lifesaving overdose reversal tools like naloxone, increasing funding for community-led and culturally specific recovery programs in direct partnership with Tribal Nations and Urban Indian health organizations, and cutting red tape to expand outpatient addiction medicine and peer recovery specialists across Hennepin County and underserved communities.”

KEYWORDS: Recovery, Harm-Reduction, Local-Partnerships

“As an electrical engineer and project manager, I rely on facts, testing, and expert knowledge when making decisions. I would bring that same approach to the Minnesota Senate.

I would consult scientists when considering policies involving public health, clean water, energy, agriculture, education, emerging technology, infrastructure, and environmental protection. This would include reviewing peer-reviewed research, requesting testimony from qualified experts, consulting Minnesota universities and state scientific agencies, and listening to scientists who live and work in affected communities.

Scientists should help lawmakers understand the evidence, risks, costs, and likely outcomes of a proposal. Policymakers must also consider community experiences, economic effects, and ethical concerns. Science should not be ignored or manipulated for political convenience. I will support transparent, evidence-based policymaking that explains the facts and uncertainties to the public.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Transparency

“I oppose mining projects that could permanently threaten the Boundary Waters watershed. The Boundary Waters is an irreplaceable source of clean water, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, tourism, and jobs. Once this interconnected watershed is contaminated, restoring it may be impossible.

I oppose the decision to overturn the 20-year mining protections. I would support strong state safeguards for the watershed, independent scientific review, meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations, and full consideration of cumulative environmental impacts. Mining companies must demonstrate that their operations will not pollute surrounding waters, and taxpayers must never be left responsible for cleanup costs.

Minnesota can support responsible economic development and good-paying jobs without risking one of our most valuable natural resources. Decisions involving the Boundary Waters must be based on long-term scientific evidence, not short-term political or corporate pressure.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Protection, Accountability

“Every Minnesotan deserves safe drinking water, regardless of their ZIP code or income. I support comprehensive testing of public water systems and private wells, transparent reporting of PFAS results, and prompt notification when unsafe contamination is found.

The state should help affected communities install effective treatment systems and secure available federal funding, with priority given to small communities and families that cannot afford these costs. Minnesota should also identify and control PFAS at its source, strengthen monitoring of industries that use or release these chemicals, and hold responsible polluters accountable for cleanup expenses.

I support continued investment in PFAS research, statewide contamination mapping, and assistance for communities to meet federal drinking-water standards. Prevention is less expensive and safer than allowing contamination to spread. The cost should not simply be passed to homeowners and local utility customers who did not cause the pollution.”

KEYWORDS: Safe Water, Prevention, Polluter Accountability

“Data centers can bring construction work, technology investment, and economic opportunities to Minnesota, but their benefits must be balanced against their significant demands on electricity, water, land, and public infrastructure.

I support requiring large data-center proposals to undergo transparent assessments of their water consumption, energy needs, backup-generator emissions, noise, and effects on nearby communities. Reviews should consider cumulative impacts when multiple facilities are proposed in the same region. Companies should pay the full infrastructure and energy costs created by their projects so those expenses are not shifted to families or small businesses.

I also support strong water-conservation and clean-energy requirements, responsible siting, public participation, and regular reporting of actual resource use. Any tax incentives should be transparent and tied to measurable benefits, including permanent local jobs, workforce training, and community investment.

Minnesota should welcome innovation, but development must be responsible and should not leave residents with higher utility bills or fewer natural resources.”

KEYWORDS: Responsible Innovation, Resource Protection, Accountability

“I support strong and dependable funding for scientific and medical research. Investments through the NIH and other public research programs support Minnesota universities, hospitals, businesses, thousands of jobs, and discoveries that improve and save lives.

This issue is also personal to me. My family saw how research and access to a trial medicine gave my brother additional years of life while he fought cancer. Families across Minnesota are depending on researchers to develop the next treatment or cure.

I would support state partnerships with Minnesota universities, research institutions, hospitals, and responsible private-sector innovators. I would also advocate for continued federal research funding and oppose politically motivated cuts or interference that weaken legitimate scientific work. State investments should encourage medical research, clean-energy technology, agricultural innovation, environmental science, and opportunities for students and early-career scientists.

Research funding is not simply an expense. It is an investment in lives, skilled jobs, new businesses, and Minnesota’s long-term competitiveness.”

KEYWORDS: Medical Research, Innovation, Investment

“Minnesota should continue reducing overdose deaths by treating substance-use disorder as a public-health issue while holding illegal drug traffickers accountable.

I support expanding access to naloxone, including through schools, first responders, libraries, treatment providers, and community organizations. We must also improve access to evidence-based treatment, mental-health services, recovery programs, stable housing, and follow-up care after a nonfatal overdose.

The severe disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans require targeted solutions developed with those communities. Funding should support Tribal Nations and trusted local organizations that understand cultural needs and can connect people with treatment before a crisis occurs. Minnesota should use overdose data to direct resources toward communities experiencing the greatest harm.

Prevention must begin early through honest education, responsible prescribing, and support for families. People in recovery should be treated with dignity and given a real opportunity to rebuild their lives. Our policies should be measured by whether they save lives and make treatment easier to reach.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Equity

“I refer to scientific expertise when legislation touches on related issues. My background as a nurse trained me to make decisions based on evidence, not assumptions, so I seek out researchers, data analysts, and subject‑matter experts early in the policymaking process. I consult scientists to help interpret data, understand emerging research, and evaluate the real‑world impacts of proposed policies on Minnesotans. I value their insight and expertise and take it into account as I decide how to vote on issues that come before me.”

KEYWORDS: evidence-based, expertise, partnership

“I have deep concerns about the risks mining near the Boundary Waters poses to one of the most fragile and beloved watersheds in the country. I oppose projects that threaten the region’s interconnected lakes, rivers, and wetlands, especially those involving sulfide‑ore mining, which, to my knowledge, has never been done safely in a water‑rich ecosystem like this. I support restoring long‑term protections for the Rainy River watershed, strengthening federal and state environmental review standards, and requiring independent, science‑based assessments of any proposed project. Minnesotans deserve policies that safeguard clean water, protect the outdoor economy, and ensure that decisions about this region are guided by rigorous scientific evidence.”

KEYWORDS: clean water, science-driven, protection

“PFAS contamination is a serious public health threat, and Minnesota needs strong, science‑based protections. I support fully enforcing and expanding Amara’s Law to restrict PFAS in consumer products and industrial uses, along with requiring manufacturers—not taxpayers—to pay for cleanup and long‑term monitoring. I also back stronger drinking‑water standards, statewide testing, and investments to help communities upgrade treatment systems. Finally, I support transparent reporting requirements and independent scientific review of any facility that uses or discharges PFAS, so Minnesotans can trust that their water is safe.”

KEYWORDS: protect, enforce, health

“Hyperscale data centers pose significant risks to groundwater, energy demand, air quality, and long‑term community health, and Minnesota needs far more rigorous oversight before allowing additional projects. I support a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers until comprehensive, science‑based standards are in place. Those standards must include independent environmental reviews, limits on groundwater withdrawals, strict emissions rules for diesel backup generators, requirements for renewable‑energy sourcing, and transparent public reporting. I also support mandatory decommissioning plans that ensure facilities are responsibly dismantled, contaminated materials are removed, and sites are restored without leaving communities to shoulder the cost. Minnesota should move forward only when data—not industry pressure—shows these facilities can operate without harming our watersheds, air quality, or public health.”

KEYWORDS: moratorium, protections, accountability

“Minnesota’s research institutions are national leaders, and continued investment in science is essential for our state’s health, economy, and innovation. We should continue to make state‑level investments that help Minnesota universities compete for major research grants. I also back policies that expand research infrastructure, strengthen partnerships between universities and industry, and ensure scientists have the resources needed to pursue long‑term, high‑impact work. While federal funding is now unpredictable, we know sustained science funding supports jobs, drives discovery, and keeps Minnesota at the forefront of medical, environmental, and technological innovation.”

KEYWORDS: investment, innovation, research

“Minnesota’s progress on reducing overdose deaths is encouraging, but the stark racial disparities make clear that we need stronger, targeted, evidence‑based interventions. I support expanding access to harm‑reduction tools like naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and medication‑assisted treatment, especially in communities experiencing the highest overdose rates. I also back culturally specific, community‑led programs for Indigenous and Black Minnesotans, along with increased funding for tribal nations and organizations already doing this work. Strengthening mental‑health and substance‑use treatment, improving access to stable housing, and expanding peer‑support services are essential to sustaining the downward trend. Finally, I support real‑time overdose surveillance and data‑sharing so policy decisions are guided by science and communities get resources where they’re needed most.”

KEYWORDS: equity, harm-reduction, data-driven

“When evaluating policy, referring to scientists and empirical data is not just important—it is an absolute necessity for objective, human-centric governance.

I will consistently look to scientific experts to understand the objective reality of complex issues, free from corporate spin. This is especially vital when navigating major public health initiatives, mapping out localized environmental protections to defend our air and water, and managing emerging technologies like AI data centers to ensure they do not devastate our power grids or ground water resources.

However, looking to science means seeking objective data on what is happening, not letting unelected bodies dictate how we govern. Scientists provide the crucial facts and risk assessments, but as an elected official, my job is to take that evidence and balance it with a fierce dedication to civil liberties, worker protections, and constitutional rights. I will use science as a guiding light to cut through special-interest lobbying, ensuring our state’s policies are grounded in hard truth while firmly protecting the autonomy and well-being of everyday working Minnesotans.”

KEYWORDS: Empirical Fact-Finding

“I am completely unyielding in my opposition to copper-sulfide mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The passage of H.J. Res 140 is a devastating blow that strips away vital protections from 225,000 acres of public land, inviting irreversible “acid mine drainage” that can poison our pristine waterways with toxic heavy metals for centuries.

Now that federal shields have been dismantled, the State of Minnesota must act as an aggressive backstop to protect our environment, public health, and outdoor economy from corporate exploitation. I support the following state-level policies to defend the watershed:

State-Level Permanent Mineral Withdrawal: Enacting a state-level ban on copper-sulfide mining within the Rainy River watershed to create a permanent barrier that future congressional maneuvers cannot undo.”

KEYWORDS: Watershed Preservation Promised

“The presence of toxic “forever chemicals” exceeding safety standards in 21 of our community water systems is a direct public health crisis. While Minnesota has taken steps through Amara’s Law to phase out nonessential PFAS use, we must scale up our response to protect residents’ health right now.

I propose a three-pronged legislative strategy to secure our drinking water:

Clean Water Emergency Funding: Meeting national safety standards will cost local communities heavily. We must establish a state-funded emergency grant program to help cities fast-track advanced filtration systems without passing the bill onto working-class families through skyrocketing water utility rates.

Enforce “Polluter Pays”: Large corporate manufacturers responsible for introducing these toxins into our environment must bear the financial burden of remediation. I support aggressive state legal action to force corporate polluters to pay for long-term water treatment infrastructure.

Choke Off Source Contamination: We must halt PFAS contamination at the source by strictly enforcing disclosures and aggressively restricting the industrial use of intentionally added PFAS unless independent, science-based reviews prove the use is completely unavoidable.”

KEYWORDS: Polluter Pays Principle

“The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers threatens to push our clean energy grid to its limit and strain local water supplies. While recent legislation took steps by ending electricity sales tax exemptions and requiring basic DNR water reviews, it did not go far enough to protect ratepayers and the environment. I support unyielding state-level regulations to act as a shield for our communities: Mandatory Closed-Loop Systems: Any facility using over 100 million gallons of water annually must be mandated—not just encouraged—to use closed-loop, recycling cooling systems to preserve critical groundwater. Grid Infrastructure Protections: We must strictly enforce that 100% of the massive energy infrastructure upgrades required by tech conglomerates are paid for upfront by the corporations themselves, guaranteeing utility bills never skyrocket for working-class families. Local Sovereignty and Transparency: I support empowering local municipalities to implement temporary development pauses or moratoria without the threat of corporate litigation, ensuring residents have a transparent, democratic say over noise, water, and grid impacts. We cannot allow massive tech companies to exhaust Minnesota’s resources for corporate profit while everyday citizens foot the bill.”

KEYWORDS: Closed-Loop Mandates

“Federal funding through the NIH is a vital economic and scientific engine for Minnesota, but we cannot rely on Washington alone to secure our state’s innovation economy. I plan to support robust state-level policies that amplify these federal investments and protect our local research workforce.

First, I will advocate for expanding state-backed matching funds—similar to the state’s bioinnovation and environmental trust funds—to help Minnesota universities and independent researchers bridge federal grant cycles. This ensures critical health and safety research never grinds to a halt due to federal gridlock. Second, I support aggressively investing in state higher education infrastructure to maintain world-class clinical, training, and laboratory spaces, keeping Minnesota competitive for top-tier scientific talent.

Finally, I will fight to protect these research jobs from corporate exploitation, ensuring state funding prioritizes public-health and community-driven advancements rather than special-interest profits. By building a solid state-level foundation, we can shield our public universities, secure thousands of working-class tech and research jobs, and ensure Minnesota remains a global leader in scientific discovery that benefits everyday people.”

KEYWORDS: Public Health Prioritization

“While Minnesota’s overall decline in fatal overdoses is a major step forward, the stark racial disparities show that our current safety nets are failing our Indigenous and Black neighbors. To ensure the downward trend reaches every community, I support targeted, culturally localized public health policies. First, we must directly empower Tribal Nations and Black-led community organizations by establishing decentralized, stable state funding. This will allow local leaders to expand mobile harm reduction units and establish culturally specific peer-recovery networks right where they are needed most.Second, I support standardizing comprehensive addiction care and evidence-based medicine across all regional correctional systems. Because individuals released from correctional facilities face a tragically elevated risk of overdose, we must build seamless continuity of care as they transition back into our communities. Finally, I will advocate for widespread community access to critical, life-saving resources—like naloxone saturation programs and drug-checking test strips—to counter emerging, hyper-potent synthetic adulterants. By removing corporate and bureaucratic barriers to healthcare, we can shield family budgets and save lives.”

KEYWORDS: Universal Healthcare Resources

“My background in biology, public health, and social services shapes how I approach policy. I would consult scientists when evaluating legislation affecting drinking water, environmental protection, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and emerging technologies. I would seek testimony from independent researchers, university scientists, public health professionals, and Tribal experts. I would ask about the quality of the evidence, funding sources, uncertainties, and potential consequences for rural communities. Scientific expertise should inform a bill’s development, guide my vote, and help evaluate whether the policy delivers its intended results. I would support transparent research and public access to findings, while considering community experiences alongside scientific evidence. As an independent senator, I would work across party lines and revise my position when credible evidence warrants it.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Transparency, Accountability

“ oppose sulfide-ore copper mining within the Boundary Waters watershed and support restoring durable protections for this region. Protecting clean water, treaty rights, wildlife, and livelihoods that depend on healthy lakes must guide our decisions.

As a state senator, I would support legislation restricting this mining within the watershed, rigorous independent environmental review, and enforceable water-quality protections. Reviews should evaluate cumulative impacts and long-term contamination risks, rather than examining each project in isolation.

I would also support meaningful government-to-government Tribal consultation, public access to monitoring results, and financial assurance requirements that prevent cleanup costs from falling on taxpayers.

Minnesota can support workers and economic development through reclamation, infrastructure, research, and other industries while protecting waters that future generations will depend on.”

KEYWORDS: Watersheds, Protection, Stewardship

“Safe drinking water is a basic public health responsibility. I support implementing and enforcing Amara’s Law to reduce avoidable PFAS use and prevent additional contamination.

I would support funding for regular testing of community water systems, assistance for private-well owners, and clear public reporting. Residents should receive timely explanations of results and practical guidance when contamination is detected.

I would advocate for grants to help communities install and maintain effective treatment, with priority based on contamination levels, health risks, and financial need. Assistance must include ongoing operating costs so small communities can sustain protection.

I also support holding responsible polluters accountable for investigation and cleanup costs. Minnesota should fund research on exposure, safer alternatives, and treatment methods while maintaining protective standards grounded in current science.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Testing, Accountability

“I support a five-year statewide moratorium on approvals for new large-scale and hyperscale data centers while Minnesota establishes enforceable safeguards.

During that pause, I would support independent studies of water demand, grid capacity, utility rates, public subsidies, environmental impacts, and permanent employment. A state advisory board should include scientists, Tribal representatives, utility experts, workers, local governments, and residents, with public findings and recommendations to the Legislature.

I support requiring developers to disclose projected resource use, fund infrastructure costs attributable to their projects, and provide financial guarantees for closure and cleanup. Residents should not bear those costs through higher utility bills or taxes.

Existing and already-approved facilities should face enforceable monitoring and reporting requirements. Any proposal to shorten the pause should require legislative review and evidence that adequate protections are in place.”

KEYWORDS: Moratorium, Oversight, Transparency

“I support sustained investment in independent scientific research because it strengthens public health, creates skilled jobs, and helps Minnesota solve practical problems.

As a state senator, I would support competitive research grants, public university research infrastructure, and partnerships with rural healthcare providers and Tribal institutions. Priorities should include environmental health, clean water, chronic disease, long COVID, and emerging public health threats.

I would support targeted bridge funding, subject to available resources and transparent criteria, to help protect valuable research interrupted by federal funding disruptions.

Federal appropriations are outside a state senator’s authority, but I would advocate with Minnesota’s congressional delegation for stable NIH and other federal research funding.

Public investment should include rigorous peer review, conflict-of-interest disclosure, responsible financial oversight, and accessible findings while protecting participant privacy and Tribal data sovereignty.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Investment, Independence

“My public health and social services experience reinforces the need for accessible treatment, prevention, and long-term recovery support.

I support expanding naloxone access, overdose-response education, and timely access to medications for opioid use disorder. Rural residents need transportation, mobile services, and connections to treatment after an emergency visit or release from incarceration.

I would support sustained funding for Tribal-led and culturally responsive programs, including organizations serving Black Minnesotans. Communities experiencing the greatest harm should help design services and determine priorities.

I also support peer recovery specialists, stable housing, mental healthcare, and family support. Opioid settlement funds should advance evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery, with transparent reporting of expenditures and outcomes.

We should measure progress by lives saved, treatment access, and reductions in disparities. Every Minnesotan deserves the opportunity to recover with dignity.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Equity

“On issues such as climate justice, resisting corporate polluters, and ways the State can better honor and uphold Treaties, I will always follow the leadership of our environmental advocates, research scientists, Indigenous elders and Tribal leadership. On the pressing issues of our time such as pipelines, data centers, copper nickel sulfide mining, a just transition, and energy, I will listen to researchers, scientists, and community leaders in confronting the climate crisis that threatens all of, and follow the leadership of Indigenous community leaders that are fighting climate disaster and environmental racism.”

KEYWORDS: climate crisis / climate justice / environmental advocates

“At a time when the federal government is actively rolling back key environmental protections, it is incumbent upon elected leaders in our State Legislature to take urgent measures and act to protect our watersheds, especially the Boundary Waters, from the threats of toxic mining. Our government should also be forward thinking and take action to ensure that we pass legislation to bring about environmental safeguards and clean water protections: implementing stringent regulations to curb heavy pollution from industry into our groundwater and watersheds, and protecting clean water for future generations to come.

I am proudly endorsed by countless environmental advocacy organizations that work tirelessly to advance clean water protections and champion the preservation of our environment. If re-elected, I will continue to support the brilliant policies brought forward by my colleagues including Prove It First, the Bad Actor Bill, Permanent Protection Bill, Amortization Bill, and the LCCMR / ENRTF package – all legislation that protects our boundary waters and watersheds from pollution and destruction.”

KEYWORDS: take action / permanent protection / protection

“PFAS is arguably the most dangerous threat to our water and health across the globe. My office will work to protect Amara’s Law: the nation’s most comprehensive ban on PFAS, and protect the current definition of PFAS in Minnesota state statute: “‘Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ or ‘PFAS’ means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.”

I will support legislation which would expand upon Amara’s Law to protect our soil, groundwater, and drinking water from further PFAS contamination?

The chemical industry wants many consumer items exempt from Amara’s Law, but I will support protecting current PFAS bans and regulations amidst the onslaught of corporate attempts to receive carve-outs in future sessions.”

KEYWORDS: Amara’s Law / ban / regulations

“Across the political spectrum, regardless of background or geography, Minnesotans across our state are standing up and saying no to hyper-scale data centers in our backyards. These large hyper-scale projects could prove devastating to the health and wellbeing of our people, ecosystems, energy grid, and watersheds. I am in full support Sen. Jen McEwen’s hyper-scale data center moratorium legislation (a two-year pause) she authored this legislative session, and hope to pass similar legislation next session.

We must follow in the footsteps of states like New York and pass a temporary pause / data center moratorium to allow time for our state government to conduct adequate environmental impact studies and set forth strong regulations regarding data centers. In Minneapolis, we have had many local debates over data center developments. There have been countless concerns raised about the environmental and community impact of massive facilities, and our Minneapolis City Council approved a six-month moratorium on new data center development, with exceptions for smaller downtown projects.”

KEYWORDS: environmental impact / strong regulations / moratorium

“As Chair of the Minnesota Senate Higher Education Committee, I oversee state funding appropriations for universities and public research systems in Minnesota. I have been a vocal proponent of public research funding, particularly in the wake of federal grant disruptions and cuts affecting the University of Minnesota.

My office spearheaded Senate omnibus legislation to allocate billions to Minnesota’s higher education and research sectors, specifically defending state special funds designated for the University of Minnesota’s academic research and biological collections, public health research, environmental science, conservation efforts, and initiatives like the Minnesota Geological Survey, which rely on state legislative appropriations to study water, minerals, and land use.

I oppose federal grant cuts (such as NIH grant rollbacks) and federal rule changes that threaten merit-based science. We must reversing these cuts to protect and fully fund local medical studies, jobs, and scientific discovery.”

KEYWORDS: legislative appropriations / public health / fully fund

“I have been a prominent advocate for overdose prevention, including authoring 2021 state legislation that successfully decriminalized fentanyl test strips in Minnesota. I have consistently used my platform to advocate for harm-reduction strategies such as legislative action & advocacy

My bill to exempt fentanyl test strips from drug paraphernalia laws was credited with allowing community organizations to distribute over 100,000 strips to help users identify potentially lethal drugs and take overdose-prevention measures. I have frequently spoken out about the devastating impacts of the opioid crisis, particularly the dangers of fentanyl flooding the state, and next session we must continue to push for wider access to life-saving overdose medications like naloxone.”

KEYWORDS: prevention / advocacy / harm-reduction

“I think it’s important to speak with experts on all aspects of policy. Generally policy isn’t limited to one discipline so I would need to speak to experts on economics, community health, as well as any number of other disciplines. I would need to pull the data and analyze it while getting context and recommendations from those who have dedicated themselves to understanding a subject.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence based consensus

“Like with every policy I try to view it through an ecological economic lens. I need to know the true costs of any policy before my affirmation or dissent. In regards to this specific issue, the mining that some are seeking to do will result in ecological damage costing billions over the next 500 years as I understand it. The boundary waters are a gift that we should steward for the next generations. The economic benefits of mining in the Boundary waters aren’t anywhere near outweighing the costs so I can’t support mining there. Mining experts have came out against it, hydrologists have come out against it, and the data just doesn’t support it being beneficial to the state or local communities.”

KEYWORDS: Data says no.

“PFAS aren’t something I’m an expert on so I would consult with experts on where the root problems are and how we can address them. I would support policy that is supported by evidence driven research on how to address the problem.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence based consensus

“They need full environmental evaluations before construction, tax breaks need to be evaluated and rescinded when the costs outweigh the benefits, and from where I’m sitting as someone who works with AI and LLMs on a daily basis its hard to justify how we’re implementing hyperscale data centers. There are positives, but there are also major negatives when done without regulation. We need to account for power and water usage, environmental pollution, but also the economic benefit. If any of these are a net negative on our communities we need to find a way to address it if we’re going to implement hyperscale datacenters. Policy exists to protect the public so we shouldn’t pass legislation to benefit share holder value over our communities.”

KEYWORDS: Regulate for sustainability

“We need scientific research. Our economy is reliant on innovation and IP which requires research. The cuts to research coming from the federal government has implications here at home. A facility in Morris was recently completed and now it doesn’t have funds to operate as I understand it. That hurts us economically, and it hurts our ability to compete. I support funding research that benefits the people of Minnesota, and that means finding room in the budget to ensure that the investments we’ve made with the federal government aren’t wasted. Without funding research we risk falling losing the investments in our communities that are brought in by those seeking to do research. Education institutions bring in investment from a variety of sources, and has downstream economic benefits. Fund it, but ensure the investment is sound.”

KEYWORDS: Science invests in the future

“We need to ensure that addiction resources are following best practices. Reducing overdoses requires an availability of things like Narcan, availability of patient centered treatment, and funding the social work that helps address root causes for addiction. In my experience as an EMT, addiction and overdoses are linked with poverty or a need that isn’t met like lacking healthcare. We need to ensure we are able to provide good paying jobs and healthcare that allows our community members to build a life without the crutch of addiction.”

KEYWORDS: Public Health is Community Health

“I will rely on scientists to help inform my views on a lot of policies, including on climate change, education and any areas where the views of scientists would be most beneficial.”

KEYWORDS: Truth, peer-review, testing hypothesis

“I support prove it first policies and believe that mining should only happen where it can be done safely and consistent with the highest environmental standards. I’m proud to be endorsed by Save the Boundary Waters and Friends of the Boundary Waters organizations.”

KEYWORDS: Clean water, clear air, natural habitat

“I support overturning the EPAs recent rollback of regulations on PFAS and support the proposed polices of Clean Water Action to stop PFAS at the point of origin and to strengthen state regulations on PFAS/forever chemicals.”

KEYWORDS: EPA, Clean Water Action Policies

“I support the right of municipalities to enact moratoriums on data centers, oppose the use of confidentiality agreements by local officials in all cases but especially when it comes to data centers and want to see any data centers built pay their fair share of taxes. While they can be built without a lot of water use (in same cases) by using HVAC systems for cooling, I still want to see strong environmental reviews for any proposed data centers built in Minnesota and want to see the companies building them use renewable energy.”

KEYWORDS: Renewable energy, pay taxes

“As a Regent on the Board of the University of Minnesota I am deeply passionate about funding our universities and science. I support making college more affordable as well, but want to see the cuts to science at the federal level restored!”

KEYWORDS: Fund science, support higher education

“I support funding for treatment over simple incarceration and want to continue investing in helping our homeless population get more support and outreach, due to the overwhelming impacts of alcohol and addiction on this population. I also support many harm reduction policies promoted by addiction recovery advocates.”

KEYWORDS: Harm reduction, treatment over incarceration

“I trust science and trust scientists. I would refer to scientists when it comes to any legislation concerning health, safety and the environment.”

KEYWORDS: Trust, Health, Environment

“I support Prove It First Legislation where mining companies would have to prove mining has been safe for 20 years prior to being able to perform that type of mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I support mandatory money to be set aside in an escrow to ensure clean up during closure of the mine and to financially take care of an environmental issue. I support not allowing foreign countries to mine and not allowing “bad actors”- mining companies with a history of environmental or human rights violations.”

KEYWORDS: Protect, Proof, Prevent

“I support efforts to continue measuring the levels of PFAS (especially in water) and the risk to human health. I support preventing PFAS pollution. I support managing and cleaning up the exposure in air, water, food and fish and game.”

KEYWORDS: Study, Prevent, Clean Up

“We need to ensure that our water and energy are safe and that air is not polluted. We need to make sure that communities and residents are not exploited.

We need transparency at every turn. I support banning NDAs. I support requiring data centers to create their own clean energy. No tax breaks or incentives should be given to data centers. I support banning hyperscale data centers because I do not believe that they can ensure that our water and energy is safe and that our air is not polluted.

With those protections in place, I trust local communities to make their own decisions.”

KEYWORDS: Protect Water, Energy and Air

“The state of Minnesota awards research grants and contracts. I believe it is important to continue doing this. I believe the federal government should as well. If the federal government stops this funding, I would like to see if there are ways the state can help. However, the budget will be tight, so this may be difficult.”

KEYWORDS: Support, Grants, Contracts

“I support the following. -Study the safe prescribing of opioids to see what changes have been made and what changes still need to be made especially regarding the disparity. -Increase education and awareness of risks of drug misuse and the signs of overdose and increase access to Naloxone distribution. -Invest in mental health and community-based prevention programs.”

KEYWORDS: Study, Education, Mental Health

“Scientists combine their knowledge and experience in methodical, testable ways that seek to understand the world we live in. As a geneticist, all of my decisions are data-driven and consider all perspectives to craft comprehensive policy decisions. I have a strong record of seeking information and opinions of subject matter experts, researchers, and scientists, and taking their feedback seriously. Finally, I have publicly stood up for science and confronted scientific falsehoods in committee, with colleagues, and on the Minnesota House and Senate floors.”

KEYWORDS: Geneticist, Feedback, Champion

“The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) is a beloved and pristine, natural part of Minnesota. Governor Walz recently issued an Executive Order to terminate the leases of the interested mining companies. However, we know that Executive Orders do not last forever, and we must take legislative action to protect this state treasure. I have a strong history of supporting bold action to protect the BWCA, including holding companies responsible for clean-up and permanent protections of the Boundary Waters. “Prove-It First” legislation requires peer-reviewed research, industrial and commercial precedent, input from the community, and safe practices be demonstrated before deploying mining for experimentation in our precious ecosystems. It is imperative that activities that would drastically affect the health of the environment be robustly shown to not harm the environment. I look forward to continuing to work towards permanent protection status of the BWCA, as well as other policies that protect the health of our people and our environment.”

KEYWORDS: Permanent protection, Proof

“I was proud to support banning non-essential uses on PFAS in my first term in the Minnesota House. As a geneticist, I understand the real cancer-causing dangers of fluorinated compounds in our drinking water. I continue to advocate for my community by authoring bills for bonding money and sales tax exemptions on construction materials. Bringing real dollars to my community helps alleviate the taxpayer burden as my community builds a new water treatment facility, a new water tower to hold treated water, and miles of new pipe to address the widespread PFAS contamination. As we continue to learn of the extent of PFAS pollution and the environmental and public health impacts of this chemical, I look forward to keeping Minnesota on the leading edge in protecting our citizens.”

KEYWORDS: Amara’s Law, Advocate

“The discovery potential of utilizing AI can be very promising if proper guardrails are implemented with the values we hold as a society. First, I was proud to support a nation-leading laws that ban AI nudification technology and AI deepfakes with the intent to influence an election. I understand the desire and hopes for this innovative technology, as well as the interest in creating good paying jobs for Minnesotans. I believe there needs to be a balance for keeping jobs in Minnesota, protecting our environment, and ensuring that the profits made by large corporations primarily go back to the communities hosting them (and not to line billionaire pockets). I will continue to support policies that keep community safety and well-being at the forefront as we being to regulate this technology.”

KEYWORDS: Guardrails, Community safety

“I will continue to be a vocal champion of science funding at the state and federal level. Whether for research or education, it is imperative we support our scientists, researchers, and teachers in all levels of schooling. Policies can include programs to increase the number of science teachers and teachers of color for our classrooms, direct financial support to schools for field trips for young and curious students, grants to conduct empirical research on cancers and other diseases, and funded studies to better understand mental health and addiction.”

KEYWORDS: Vocal supporter, Education

“I will continue to support policies that address the visible and root causes of addiction and mental health, utilizing a lens for equity. I have supported policies that provide naloxone in schools and other public places so lives can be saved from an overdose. We need to fund and provide resources for people to feel supported across all aspects of their lives, including parenting, education, jobs, and healthcare. We must also ensure that qualified practitioners are compensated and ready to care for people needing mental health services before and during a crisis. Finally, policies should be led by community to meet their unique needs.”

KEYWORDS: Community, Mental health

“As a longtime journalist, I know how valuable expertise is when tackling complex problems. My instinct is to listen to multiple perspectives before forming a position, and I would prioritize connecting directly with scientists.

We need scientists now more than ever as we face rapid advances in AI, a changing climate, and threats to our natural resources. Before voting on related policy, I would seek briefings from independent researchers, consult agency staff and advisory boards, and read the underlying evidence. I would also ask where uncertainty remains; honest answers about what we don’t know matter as much as what we do.

Case in point: I frequently mention a promising partnership with the University of Minnesota’s new AI Hub, which aligns education, research, and external partnerships under one strategy. Not everyone there may represent the traditional definition of scientist, but its leaders offer exactly the expertise needed to weigh AI’s harms and benefits.

To be clear: science can tell us what is likely to happen, but not always what we should do. Weighing cost, fairness, and community values is an elected official’s job, and I’ll do it with the best evidence in hand.”

KEYWORDS: Listening. Evidence. Accountability.

“I oppose overturning the ban. This decision shows why we must listen to scientists on complex environmental questions.

My friend, meteorologist Paul Douglas, wrote in his January Star Tribune editorial, “I am not anti-mining… I am a proponent of responsible mining.” But on the BWCA’s future, he concluded, “The data isn’t encouraging.” I agree.

The Boundary Waters watershed is a fragile ecosystem and the foundation of a vital tourism economy. I would support:

• Permanent legal protection for the watershed, so it can’t be reversed with a single vote • Independent, science-based water-quality monitoring • Strict financial assurance requirements so taxpayers never foot the bill for cleanup • Responsible mining in places that don’t put wilderness water at risk

I will base every decision on verified information from scientists. I will also engage directly with the people who live and work around the Boundary Waters, including Ely-area residents, outfitters and resort owners, and Tribal Nations. I think it’s critical that all voices be heard on this controversial issue, particularly with such a valuable resource, and the tourism sector that depends on it, at stake.”

KEYWORDS: Legacy. Responsibility. Respect.

“I approach this issue as a journalist, 3M daughter, and concerned Minnesotan. I also believe this issue requires ongoing conversation based on fairness, equity, and – most importantly – science, beginning with one fundamental truth: every Minnesotan deserves safe drinking water. The science is clear: PFAS are harmful at very low levels. I support the DFL approach of stopping PFAS at the source and protecting people now.

First, I oppose the federal rollback. The EPA has proposed rescinding limits on four PFAS and delaying compliance for PFOA and PFOS until 2031. Attorney General Ellison has challenged it, and I’d support Minnesota keeping the 2024 standards, with state standards as a backstop.

Second, I support Minnesota’s 2023 law phasing out PFAS in consumer products by 2032, and would defend it. I’d ensure the MPCA has the resources to enforce manufacturer reporting, first due this July.

Third, I’d fund affected communities. Treatment is expensive, and small systems shouldn’t pass the cost to ratepayers. I’d prioritize Clean Water Fund dollars and federal infrastructure money for the 21 systems exceeding limits, along with expanded testing.

Finally, polluters should pay for cleanup, not taxpayers. And yes, I’ll always listen to Health Department and MPCA scientists.”

KEYWORDS: Responsibility. Accountability. Engagement.

“As a journalist, I believe data centers shouldn’t be developed in secret. I would require meaningful community input, including public hearings, before incentives are approved. Transparency shouldn’t end when a deal is signed: I support mandatory, ongoing public disclosure of energy use, water use, tax incentives, and community impacts.

I will protect and strengthen Minnesota’s guardrails against cost-shifting, so families, seniors, and small businesses never pay higher utility bills because of data centers. Reliable, affordable service must come first for people and businesses already here.

Minnesota’s clean water and natural resources make this a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Data centers should support, not undermine, our goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, so I would require them to use renewable energy.

Economic development should benefit Minnesotans, not just Big Tech. Companies that build here should create good-paying local jobs, pay their fair share of infrastructure costs, and deliver clear public benefits that outweigh the costs.

Importantly, this reflects my position on data center development and its impact. My concerns about AI generally are significant, so I support a state task force of scientists, utilities, local governments, and concerned residents for oversight.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency. Engagement. Evidence.

“I profoundly believe in the value of scientific investment to our economy and to our quality and sustainability of life. I know the cost of cutting research funding, in economic loss and in time lost to finding answers for overwhelming challenges, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias, which my family knows well, and other chronic illnesses. Again, those $700 million in NIH awards supported over 7,000 Minnesota jobs, so this is an economic issue as much as a scientific one.

Federally, I support:

• Stable, predictable NIH funding, and opposition to arbitrary caps on indirect costs, which keep labs running. Minnesota joined other states in challenging the 15% cap.
• Protecting peer review, so grants are awarded on scientific merit. At the state level, I support:
• Sustained investment in the University of Minnesota, Mayo, and programs like MnDRIVE.
• Bridge funding to keep researchers and jobs here when federal dollars are disrupted.
• Partnerships between industry and universities to turn research into Minnesota jobs.

Research funding isn’t a cost; it’s an investment that returns jobs, discoveries, and healthier lives. I will keep listening to scientists on what they need.”

KEYWORDS: Investment. Hope. Just good economics.

“I wish this devastating disparity were limited to overdose deaths. Alas, we see the same gap in other health outcomes, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias, where I’ve been a strong public advocate. Black Americans are twice as likely to live with dementia, Hispanic Americans 1.5 times, and Indigenous Minnesotans even more so. These gaps are tied to systemic racism: unequal access to high-quality, safe, and trustworthy healthcare, education, housing, and even food, given food deserts.

So I support thoughtful, consistent policies that address access and quality of life, paired with outreach that meets people where they are:

• Keep naloxone widely available, free of stigma, and expand access to treatment and recovery services.
• Direct opioid settlement dollars to the communities hit hardest, including Black- and Indigenous-led organizations and tribal nations, with transparency about where the money goes.
• Fund culturally specific, community-led prevention and care.
• Invest in healthcare access, nutrition, and education, which shape health outcomes long before a crisis.

The 28% decline shows what’s possible, but progress has leveled off recently, and that is no reason to ease up. We should meet this crisis in the communities most affected.”

KEYWORDS: Equity. Access. Outreach.

“I would consult scientists throughout the legislative process, especially when evaluating policies involving public health, environmental protection, emerging technology, infrastructure, agriculture, and economic development. I would look to peer-reviewed research, testimony from subject-matter experts, Minnesota’s public universities, state agency scientists, and professionals working directly in affected fields. I would also ask experts to explain the strength of the evidence, areas of uncertainty, potential unintended consequences, and how proposed policies could be measured over time. My Ph.D. in design and sustainability, experience in global manufacturing, and service in higher education taught me to value rigorous research while also asking practical questions about implementation. Science should not be treated as partisan. It should help lawmakers understand risks, compare options, and make decisions that improve people’s lives. I would combine scientific evidence with community input, fiscal analysis, and ethical considerations, while remaining willing to update my position when stronger evidence becomes available.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Accountability

“I have committed to supporting a ban on mining within the Boundary Waters watershed. This is a uniquely sensitive and valuable natural area, and protecting its water quality must come before mining proposals that could create long-term environmental risks. I would support reinstating the 20-year ban on new mining in the watershed and working toward permanent protections. I would also support rigorous environmental review, consultation with Tribal nations, strong water-quality protections, ongoing monitoring, and financial-assurance requirements so taxpayers are never left responsible for cleanup. In this region, the potential consequences of pollution are too serious and too lasting. We have a responsibility to protect this resource for future generations.”

KEYWORDS: Science, Stewardship, Future

“Every Minnesotan deserves safe drinking water. I would support a comprehensive PFAS strategy focused on prevention, testing, treatment, and accountability. Minnesota should continue phasing out nonessential PFAS uses under Amara’s Law and avoid loopholes that allow preventable contamination to continue. Stopping PFAS at the source is more effective and affordable than relying on communities to remove it later. I would expand monitoring of public water systems and private wells, require clear public notification, and provide state grants, bonding, and technical assistance for filtration systems, replacement wells, and other remediation. Communities should not have to choose between safe water and unaffordable utility bills. Because drinking water is only one source of PFAS exposure, treatment must be paired with broader pollution-prevention policies. I also support strong discharge standards and polluter-pays policies so responsible companies, rather than residents and taxpayers, bear cleanup costs. As a city council member, I understand the infrastructure burdens PFAS creates for local governments, and my Ph.D. in design and sustainability taught me to evaluate environmental decisions across their full life cycle.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Safety, Accountability

“Hyperscale data centers can bring investment and jobs, but their impacts on electricity demand, water use, infrastructure, land use, and utility costs must be fully understood before local or state approvals are granted. I support requiring independent environmental and infrastructure reviews, public disclosure of projected energy and water use, and clear plans for managing emissions, backup generators, wastewater, and emergency response. I also support banning nondisclosure agreements between data center companies and local elected officials or public employees when those agreements prevent residents from understanding proposals that may affect their community. Public decisions involving major tax incentives, land use changes, or infrastructure commitments should be made transparently, with meaningful opportunities for public input. Developers should pay their fair share of required infrastructure upgrades so residents and other ratepayers are not left covering the costs. Minnesota should also establish enforceable efficiency standards, encourage renewable energy use, protect local water supplies, and require regular reporting after facilities begin operating. I believe innovation must be paired with transparency, accountability, and responsible long-term planning.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency, Sustainability, Oversight

“Scientific research strengthens Minnesota’s economy, improves public health, and creates high-quality jobs. As a state senator, I would support sustained state investment in the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State institutions, public-private research partnerships, and competitive grant programs that help researchers secure and leverage federal funding. I would also work with Minnesota’s congressional delegation to advocate for stable NIH and other federal research appropriations. Minnesota should prioritize research that addresses major public needs, including disease prevention and treatment, mental health, environmental contamination, clean water, agricultural resilience, medical technology, and emerging technologies. I would support investments in laboratories, research infrastructure, and education programs that prepare students for careers in science, engineering, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Funding decisions should be transparent, competitive, and guided by scientific merit and measurable public benefit. As a University of Minnesota Ph.D. graduate and former higher education department chair, I understand that research funding is both an investment in discovery and an important economic-development strategy for Minnesota.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, Investment

“I support a comprehensive public health approach that combines prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and accountability. Minnesota should expand access to naloxone, including through schools, libraries, first responders, community organizations, and treatment providers, while ensuring people know how to use it. We should also strengthen access to medication-assisted treatment, mental health care, recovery housing, and peer support, especially in rural and underserved communities. The severe disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans require targeted action. I would support culturally responsive programs developed in partnership with Tribal nations, Black-led organizations, local public health departments, and people with lived experience. Funding should follow the data and support all people who struggle with substance use. I also support stronger efforts to disrupt fentanyl trafficking, improve prescription monitoring, and expand early intervention and substance-use education. As someone who has worked with justice-involved veterans experiencing mental health and substance-use challenges, I understand that punishment alone does not solve addiction. Minnesota should focus on saving lives, removing barriers to treatment, and helping people achieve long-term recovery.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Equity

“YES”

KEYWORDS: Wetlands Nitrates soil loss

“No on minning”

KEYWORDS: Watershed protection

“Vote yes to eliminate pfas”

KEYWORDS: Warershed water quality

“Water higher electric bills”

KEYWORDS: No to data centers

“Support continued funding”

KEYWORDS: Science facts funding

“More funding for mental health”

KEYWORDS: Mental health treatment

“Science helps us understand what is happening, why, and what different choices may mean for people. I will consult scientists with relevant expertise when considering legislation involving healthcare, agriculture, water, energy, infrastructure, and emerging technology. I will seek input from researchers, state agency scientists, and other qualified experts through hearings and briefings. I will ask about evidence, methods, uncertainties, funding sources, and areas of agreement or disagreement. Different opinions deserve consideration in proportion to the evidence supporting them. My work in construction and compliance has taught me that the big picture and the details affect one another. I support protections where reliable scientific evidence establishes the need. I will also examine whether requirements are effective, practical, and affordable, especially for farmers, small businesses, and individuals. Protecting people includes considering unintended consequences and helping them meet necessary standards. I am responsible for my votes. I will consider affected communities’ experiences, explain my reasoning, and remain willing to change my position when reliable new evidence warrants it.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Balance, Accountability

“Minnesota needs good jobs, essential minerals, and clean water. Mining decisions must consider all three, including consequences that can last long after a mine closes. I oppose weakening protections for the Boundary Waters watershed. I would not support a mining project there unless rigorous scientific review demonstrates that it can meet protective standards without unacceptable long-term harm. A company’s assurances alone are not enough. As a state senator, I support strong water quality standards, thorough environmental review, independent monitoring, public findings, and meaningful government-to-government consultation with affected Tribal Nations. Review must address cumulative impacts, waste storage, accidents, and conditions after closure. I support requiring project owners to fund independent inspection and monitoring throughout the project and maintain financial assurance for reasonably foreseeable damage, cleanup, closure, and long-term care. Those requirements need regular review as risks and costs change, protecting taxpayers if an operator cannot meet its obligations. Requirements must be clear, proportionate to risk, and consistently enforced. Protecting this watershed also protects recreation and tourism livelihoods. If a project cannot meet protective standards, I would oppose its approval.”

KEYWORDS: Water, Evidence, Responsibility

“Safe drinking water is a basic need. Families deserve clear information about their water and practical help when contamination is found. I support continued PFAS testing, understandable public reporting, and enforceable drinking water protections informed by current science. I support funding and technical assistance for effective treatment, especially for small rural systems with limited resources. Private well owners also need testing, guidance, and assistance based on risk and need. Preventing contamination is essential. I support implementing Minnesota’s PFAS prevention law, known as Amara’s Law, with clear guidance, practical timelines, and assistance for businesses transitioning to safer alternatives. I will consider the availability, effectiveness, and cost of replacements. Exceptions for currently unavoidable uses need scientific justification and regular review. I support holding responsible polluters accountable for cleanup costs and pursuing available federal funding. Protecting health and keeping water affordable belong in the same conversation. Farmers, small businesses, and individuals need workable ways to meet necessary protections. Residents cannot be left to carry this burden alone.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Affordability, Accountability

“Data centers can bring investment, but communities need to understand their benefits, demands, and long-term costs before decisions are made. I support thorough environmental review of large data centers, including water use, electricity demand, backup generator emissions, noise, and cumulative effects. Review must consider drought conditions, grid reliability, and competing needs for water and energy. I support enforceable safeguards proportionate to demonstrated risks, including efficient water and energy use, ongoing monitoring, and public reporting. Residents and affected Tribal Nations need meaningful participation before commitments are finalized. Communities and businesses also need predictable rules and a permitting process that is thorough and timely. Data center owners must pay the costs attributable to serving their facilities, including necessary utility upgrades, with safeguards against shifting those costs to households and other businesses. I would evaluate tax incentives against measurable public benefits, including lasting jobs, local revenue, and infrastructure costs. Agreements need clear obligations and consequences when commitments are not met. Growth works best when communities share in its benefits and their essential resources remain protected.”

KEYWORDS: Resources, Transparency, Fairness

“Scientific research is an investment in people’s health, our workforce, and our ability to solve problems. Its value includes discoveries whose practical benefits may take years to emerge. As a state senator, I support stable funding for research and education at Minnesota’s public universities, including research infrastructure, training, and competitive grants with independent scientific review. I would consider both basic research and work addressing Minnesota’s needs, including rural healthcare, agriculture, clean water, and energy. I would advocate with our congressional delegation for reliable NIH and other federal research funding. State government cannot replace the federal research budget, but it can be a strong partner and voice for Minnesota. Public funding requires accountability through clear reporting, sound research practices, and evaluation appropriate to the work. Funding decisions need scientific merit and public benefit at their center, with protection from political interference. I also want research findings to reach communities, patients, farmers, and businesses, including practical solutions that help them protect health and natural resources while managing costs.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Investment, Independence

“Every overdose death is someone’s family member, friend, or neighbor. Progress matters, but it must reach communities experiencing the greatest losses. I support accessible naloxone and overdose response training, medications for opioid use disorder, timely treatment, and sustained recovery support. Rural residents need care they can reach and afford, including transportation and appropriate telehealth services. I support prevention education and services that connect people to care after an overdose, during hospital discharge, and when leaving incarceration. Housing and mental healthcare also affect a person’s ability to recover. I would work with Tribal Nations, Native-led organizations, Black community organizations, healthcare providers, and people with lived experience to fund and evaluate services designed around their communities’ needs. Tribal sovereignty and culturally responsive care belong at the center of those partnerships. I support transparent use of opioid settlement funds and public reporting on results, including whether disparities are narrowing. Funding and implementation need to account for rural providers’ limited staffing and resources. People need a path to safety and recovery, with dignity throughout that process.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Dignity

“I believe good policy should be grounded in evidence, not ideology. When legislation involves public health, agriculture, water quality, climate, energy, technology, or other scientific matters, I would seek input from qualified experts and consider peer-reviewed research, established scientific consensus, and transparent data. I would also listen to the people and communities directly affected. Elected officials cannot be experts in every field, but we have a responsibility to consult those who are, ask thoughtful questions, and make informed decisions based on the best available evidence.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence. Expertise. Accountability.

“I support protecting the Boundary Waters and its surrounding watershed from mining projects that pose an unacceptable risk of long-term or irreversible contamination. Mining provides jobs and resources that matter to Minnesota, particularly in northern communities, so I don’t believe the conversation should dismiss workers or communities that depend on the industry. But some places are simply too valuable and too difficult to restore once damaged, to gamble with.

I support strong, science-based environmental review, rigorous water-quality protections, meaningful financial assurance so taxpayers are never left paying for cleanup, and long-term monitoring and accountability for mining companies. I also support lasting protections for the watershed surrounding the Boundary Waters, because pollution does not stop at the edge of a mine site or a political boundary. Economic development and environmental protection do not have to be enemies, but when the potential damage could outlast the economic benefit by generations, we have a responsibility to proceed with extraordinary caution.”

KEYWORDS: Protection. Accountability. Sustainability.

“Minnesotans should be able to trust that their drinking water is safe. I support strong PFAS testing and monitoring, transparent reporting, and continued efforts to prevent these chemicals from entering our water.

Minnesota has already taken important steps to restrict unnecessary uses of PFAS. We should continue those protections while helping communities afford the infrastructure and treatment needed to remove existing contamination, particularly in rural areas where resources are limited.

I also believe polluters (not taxpayers) should pay when contamination can be traced to responsible manufacturers or industries. Families and local governments should not bear the financial burden of cleaning up pollution they did not create.

Clean water is fundamental to public health. Our approach should prioritize prevention, early detection, cleanup, and accountability.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention. Accountability. Clean Water.

“AI and data centers will be part of our economic future, and Minnesota has an opportunity to benefit from that growth. But development should benefit the communities hosting these facilities…not simply shift costs and resource demands onto residents.

I support requiring meaningful environmental and infrastructure assessments for hyperscale data centers, including their electricity and water consumption, impacts on the electrical grid, backup power emissions, and effects on local water supplies. Communities should know the long-term resource demands before projects are approved.

We should also examine whether existing tax incentives for extremely profitable corporations provide sufficient public benefit. Any public incentives should be tied to measurable outcomes, including permanent jobs, local economic investment, environmental protections, and infrastructure contributions.

Data centers should pay their fair share of infrastructure and energy costs rather than shifting those expenses onto residential customers or small businesses.

Minnesota can welcome technological innovation while setting reasonable guardrails. Economic development should be a partnership.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability (again and again). Public Benefit. Sustainability.

“I strongly support continued public investment in scientific research. Research funding is not simply an expense..it is an investment that creates jobs, drives innovation, improves health outcomes, strengthens our economy, and helps Minnesota remain competitive.

At the state level, I would support funding and partnerships with Minnesota universities, colleges, healthcare systems, agricultural researchers, and other research institutions. I would also advocate for rural Minnesota to share in those investments and benefits. Research into agriculture, water quality, renewable energy, emerging technologies, healthcare access, and rural health can directly improve the lives and economies of communities like those in Senate District 9.

Minnesota legislators do not determine federal NIH funding, but we can advocate strongly for continued federal investment and work to ensure Minnesota remains positioned to compete for those dollars.

Science also requires independence and integrity. Public research funding should support rigorous, transparent, evidence-based work without political interference in scientific conclusions.

When research funding brings billions of dollars into our economy while advancing medicine, agriculture, technology, and environmental protection, supporting science is both good public policy and smart economic policy.”

KEYWORDS: Investment. Innovation. Independence.

“Minnesota’s decline in overdose deaths shows that evidence-based prevention and treatment can save lives, but significant disparities and gaps in access remain.

I support expanding access to naloxone, evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder, mental health services, recovery programs, and harm-reduction strategies. Treatment must also be accessible when someone is ready to seek it…not weeks or months later because there are no available providers or beds.

In rural Minnesota, access is particularly important. Distance, transportation, provider shortages, cost, and stigma can all become barriers to recovery. We should strengthen rural treatment options, telehealth, peer recovery programs, and community-based services.

We also need targeted partnerships with Indigenous and Black communities experiencing disproportionately high overdose deaths, with solutions developed alongside those communities rather than imposed upon them.

Accountability for illegal drug trafficking remains important, but we cannot arrest our way out of addiction. People struggling with substance use disorder need healthcare, treatment, and a realistic path toward recovery.

The first goal is keeping people alive. Then we must make sure treatment and long-term recovery support are there when they need them.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention. Treatment. Recovery.

“If it regards natural resources and peoples health, i will seek the opinions of experts in the stated fields to better understand the good, the bad and the ugly of new proposals. If it regards monetary policy, i would not be open to listening to the experts.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Determine, Act

“Keeping the boundary waters free of mining in any capacity and preserve the state’s natural resources and not to exploit them. Keep foreign interests out of the state’s interests.”

KEYWORDS: Protect, Preserve, Restore

“Ban PFAS for creation and use in the state of Minnesota. PFAS have repeatedly been linked to cancer and contaminating water sources.

Citizens are subjected to PFAS for corporate profit and not safety.”

KEYWORDS: Safety over profit

“Repeal the Data Center “sales tax exemption.”

Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act

1. Require a disclaimer for companies using AI on the building and website stating the purpose for the AI.
2. Information deletion policy, after 30 days AI must delete all personal data on the individual.
3. Ban on social score/public rating.
4. AI must be used to improve working conditions and not as a replacement for workers.
5. Companies utilizing AI must develop training and safety policies for AI and its use.
6. Prohibition of AI accessing healthcare data (medical bills, treatment, medical history)
7. A human must approve of all decisions of an AI (Accountability)
8. Require company disclaimer to employees of use of AI in its purpose, functionality and applications in the job.”

KEYWORDS: Inform, Regulate, Safety

“State will continue to fund scientific research regardless of federal cuts. More funding on the state level will be required to continue the amount of research currently.

Establishing a “surplus investment program” could help fund scientific research. The Surplus Investment Program or SIP would use funds from a state surplus to be invested in stocks, bonds, or CDs to promote future growth in the budget by generating money instead of purely spending it. Between the years of 2022-2026 if this program was created in 2022 and invested 5 billion of the 11.5 billion in surplus funds, this program would have profited approximately 2.5 billion in 5 years. This could have kept us out of a budget deficit in 2027 and had money for new programs into the future.”

KEYWORDS: Surplus Investment Program

“Low income communities tend to be farther from Hospitals and Police Departments, this could potentially lead to the stat discrepancy stated above.

Minorities have always faced disparities in treatment for health and the law. Racism plays a big role.

Drugs should be treated as a health problem and not a legal problem.

Drug possession offenses should require addiction treatment on the first 2 offenses as the “punishment.””

KEYWORDS: Treatment, Disparities, Racism

“One of my core values is that I “Value Learning.” In carrying this forward I seek people who actively search out the truth through the scientific method and through active, facts based research. I’ll look for the experts - scientists, economists, medical providers, economists, etc. in order to have the most factual information to make decisions.”

KEYWORDS: Hypothesize, Experiment, Learn

“Prove that mining can be done without degrading water quality and quantity and other environmental factors prior to moving forward with projects.”

KEYWORDS: Water, Climate, Soil health

“Continue work to eliminate PFAS from water sources and increase funding for testing, especially for those who live on well water.”

KEYWORDS: Regenerate, Mitigate, Manage

“Maintain clean and plentiful water for all, Reliable and stable cost for homeowner energy with no “volume discount” for big data centers, Zone Data Centers appropriately (far from neighborhoods - only in industrial areas or very poor farmland), Start with the end in mind: Municipalities shouldn’t be left with an abandoned data center when the technology changes. No NDA’s!”

KEYWORDS: Water, Energy, Zoning

“R&D is a key part of Minnesota’s economy. Continued funding, even in the face of federal cuts, can lead to growth in our state and well-paying jobs. I’ll support continued funding at the state level for the sciences, as well as encourage defense related scientific research facilities in our state (such as the hypersonic testing facility) - it is good for the long term growth of our state.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Develop, Grow

“I support continued public education funding for eliminating drug use and overdose, as well as grants to provide more access to drugs to counteract the effect of drugs on our streets.”

KEYWORDS: Educate, Encourage, Access

“If elected, I would rely on scientists as a key part of making informed, responsible decisions for the people of Minnesota. Whether it’s public health, environmental protection, infrastructure, or energy policy, I believe decisions should be guided by evidence, not politics. I would consult experts to understand the data, risks, and long-term impacts of policies before casting a vote. That also means listening to a diverse range of scientists, including those studying climate change, water quality, agriculture, and mental health. My role isn’t to replace their expertise, it’s to respect it and use it to shape policies that actually work for our communities. Minnesotans deserve leadership that values facts, transparency, and solutions grounded in real-world evidence.”

KEYWORDS: Trust experts, Accountability through data, Follow the science, Facts over politics

“I strongly oppose efforts to weaken protections around the Boundary Waters. This is one of Minnesota’s greatest natural treasures, and once that kind of ecosystem is damaged, we can’t undo it. I believe we need to follow the science and listen to environmental experts who have made it clear that sulfide mining in this region poses a serious risk to clean water, wildlife, and the outdoor economy so many Minnesotans rely on. I would support reinstating and strengthening the mining ban, protecting the watershed through permanent federal safeguards, and investing in sustainable economic opportunities for the region. We can create good-paying jobs without putting our lakes and forests at risk”

KEYWORDS: Environmental stewardship, Protect the Boundary Waters, Sustainable development, Preserve Minnesota’s lakes and forests

“PFAS contamination is a serious public health issue, and Minnesotans deserve clean, safe drinking water, no exceptions. I support strong, enforceable limits on PFAS based on the best available science, along with holding polluters accountable for cleanup costs so taxpayers aren’t left footing the bill. We need to invest in water treatment infrastructure, expand statewide testing, and ensure transparency so residents know what’s in their water. I also support phasing out non-essential uses of PFAS and strengthening regulations to prevent future contamination. This is about protecting our families, our health, and our environment. Clean water is a basic right, and I will fight to make sure every community in Minnesota can trust what comes out of their tap.”

KEYWORDS: Water quality protection, Invest in green infrastructure

“Minnesota can benefit from data center investment, but it has to be done responsibly. I support requiring thorough environmental and community impact assessments before projects move forward, especially around energy use, water consumption, and strain on local infrastructure. These facilities should be powered by 100% clean energy and meet strong efficiency standards so they don’t set back our climate goals. I also believe in local input, communities deserve a real voice in decisions that affect their land and resources. We should ensure these projects create good-paying local jobs and contribute fairly to the communities they operate in. Growth is important, but it needs to be balanced with protecting our environment, our resources, and the long-term interests of Minnesotans.”

KEYWORDS: Responsible, ethical, transparency, data privacy, security

“Scientific research is one of the reasons Minnesota remains a leader in innovation, healthcare, and economic growth. I support strong investments in science and research at both the state and federal levels because breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, technology, and environmental protection improve lives and create good-paying jobs. As a legislator, I would advocate for stable funding for universities, research institutions, and programs that bring new discoveries from the lab into our communities. I also believe we must protect the independence of scientists and ensure research decisions are based on evidence, not politics.”

KEYWORDS: invest, research, innovation, advancement, solutions

“Seeing overdose deaths decline tells me that the work we are doing is making a difference, but we cannot ignore the communities that are still being hit the hardest. The fact that Indigenous and Black Minnesotans continue to experience overdose deaths at much higher rates means we need to do more. I believe in expanding access to treatment, mental health services, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and recovery support that is available when people are ready to ask for help. We also need to listen to communities and invest in programs that understand the unique challenges people face, including trauma, housing struggles, and financial stress. Addiction impacts families across Minnesota, and we need to respond with compassion, not judgment. Our goal should be simple: save lives and make sure every Minnesotan has a real chance at recovery.”

KEYWORDS: access, community, equity, treatment, invest in healthy communities

“I would refer to scientists on any vote that came up around issues of health, safety, environmental protections or whatever other subject enjoys a broad consensus from the scientific community.”

KEYWORDS: Health, Safety, Environment, Consensus

“I believe that the Boundary Waters should be protected from extractive mining. Our children deserve to grow up with the same great outdoors that we did, and the proposed mine poses a significant risk to the BWCA. We know that mining activity poses a huge environmental risk based on decades of experience. I would support restoring and expanding the 20-year ban.”

KEYWORDS: Boundary Waters, Preservation. Protection, Extractive Mining

“I want strong protections around Minnesota’s drinking water and I want the companies responsible for putting forever chemicals into our water and environment to pay to clean them up. I would explore ways of making that happen. I would also support measures to expand testing in areas that need it.”

KEYWORDS: Environment, PFAS, Forever Chemicals, Clean Up

“I strongly support policies that would measure the impact of data centers as well as strong environmental and community-impact review processes to be carried out prior to approval for new centers. No center should be built if it will negatively impact people’s health, quality of life in their homes and communities, or the legacy of our natural spaces.”

KEYWORDS: Data Center, Review, Health, Quality of Life, Environment

“I will support whatever measures come up to continue funding scientific research in our state. The economic activity that it contributes is important and so is the impact that research has on our lives and those of our children.”

KEYWORDS: Preserve, Support, Research, Funding, Benefits, Economic

“I support education and community intervention pathways to reduce overdose deaths, including programs that allow advocates to work with police departments to enhance public health and safety.”

KEYWORDS: Education, Intervention, Overdose, Health, Safety, Partnerships

“I follow a fairly scientific process when determining whether to vote for a bill, and there are two areas where scientists can help sway my vote:

1. Is it Constitutional?
2. Does it unnecessarily grow government?
3. Does the bill define a realistic path to achieving the results it seeks? (This is where my calls to scientists and constituents working in these industries comes in)
4. Is it enforceable?
5. Is there a private, non-governmental solution or market force which could deliver the same or similar results? (this is also where scientists and constituents working in these industries can help weigh in)
6. Does it end? (Does it sunset, or could this be a bad law that is difficult to remove? Can I force the legislature to evaluate its effectiveness before re-funding or re-authorizing?)”

KEYWORDS: Solutions Proven Results

“I support the schools using their land for generating income to fund teachers and students, build state of the art schools, and to educate our kids. At the heart of much of the debate is the millions of acres of valuable mining and timber land the schools own. For mining in any location, the mine must purchase an appropriate insurance bond to offset any environmental damage. If this is $5 billion dollars - then make them buy that size bond. The insurance company will have inspectors camped out 24/7 ensuring there is no damage to the environment. If the mining process is too risky to the environment, no insurance company will insure them. If approved, the mine owners will constantly work to improve the process to lower risk, and with it, the premiums paid for the bond. Additionally, the use of a private bond will ensure government bureaucrats are not paid off to look the other way. If we cannot mine here, under the strictest environmental standards in the world, we shouldn’t be mandating electric vehicles where 65% of the battery is nickel and where it is destroying the environment for millions of people in developing nations.”

KEYWORDS: Responsibility Financial Accountability

“Product and corporate liability should be the hallmark of a free market. We should NEVER allow our government to provide civil and/or criminal immunity to manufacturers. In the MN Legislature, I have been a champion of calling out crony capitalism and have authored resolutions calling for eliminating such immunity our government has granted to corporations and their executives. Outside the legislature, the executive branch is responsible for prosecuting those who harm others and the environment and the role of the judiciary branch to weigh in.”

KEYWORDS: Do No Harm

“I support a local government’s right to authorize, ban, and/or regulate data centers. This should not be a statewide or federal policy as the impacts are primarily local. The statewide and regional impacts are primarily based on a potential electrical consumption causing shortages or price spikes. This could be solved by allowing or requiring data centers to produce their own energy along with an electrical impact assessment.”

KEYWORDS: Local Control Regulation

“I support research grants which benefit the public and which are not or will not be financed privately. I have witnessed 30-40% administrative fees on some grants, and believe we need to restrict what can be used for admin purposes so most of the research dollars go to the researchers and not to a bloated bureaucracy.”

KEYWORDS: Research over bureaucracy

“I don’t support paying people to stay home and not work, which is what caused the highest spike in overdose deaths when the government closed down our state and sent thousands of dollars to people and told them not to work. I do not support racist policies and oppose legislation that distributes money based on race. The Constitution’s 14th Amendment prohibits programs and funding based on race. While science may look at race, government policies must incorporate other factors, such as income, two-parent vs single-parent households, or other factors that do not violate our laws.”

KEYWORDS: Never Again

“I think it is critical that all of our state agencies, as applicable, employ experts in their fields, and that we look to those experts to inform our policy decisions. It is also important to me that the University of Minnesota have the support it needs to continue innovating and attracting and retaining brilliant scientists, and I look to them to inform my work.”

KEYWORDS: Trust the experts

“To me the most important question around this and any other project that has the ability to have a large environmental impact is, “Do we have the right standards in place?” If we do, then I’d hope we’d follow those standards, and if we don’t, I’d like us to update them and get them right. Those standards, not the whims of a politician OR a mining company, should define the answer. I’d like to avoid, unless it’s on the advice of scientists and an urgent question, just picking winners and losers. Instead my goal would be for legislators to provide frameworks that apply broadly, and scientists to make the decision about what does and doesn’t fit.”

KEYWORDS: Ensure high standards

“We advanced a lot of work around this issue in 2023-2024, and have further defined it since. I’d like us to continue to sharpen our laws (and their exceptions), as well as continue to fund the water projects that ensure every Minnesotan has safe water in their home”

KEYWORDS: Keep making progress

“In 2025 we took steps to define a framework for protecting our water when it comes to data centers. I would like us to keep working to ensure a strong permitting system, and ensure that we are also protecting our air, noise and light pollution, transparency in public decision making, and local input and local control.”

KEYWORDS: Expand our efforts

“This is a huge and difficult loss for our state and for our country. It also comes at a time when federal impacts on our state have placed an incredible burden on state, local, and family budgets. I support investing in higher ed and in research generally, but my core answer is that we need congress to get its act together when it comes to both oversight and the budget, and to reverse their horrible cuts”

KEYWORDS: Congress must act

“Outreach and education, access to treatment and safety measures, community driven and defined support and local resources with emphasis on communities disproportionately impacted.”

KEYWORDS: Equity requires more

“”Trust in science” is a contradiction of terms. Science, by definition is a just a tool that is based in skepticism, not trust. The purpose of this tool is to try to disprove a given theory through empirical testing. When a person or group of people continue to chant the “Trust in Science” mantra, then the public should become very concerned that the science being pushed is flawed because true science welcomes scrutiny. Take the covid epidemic, for example. We were continually being instructed to trust or follow the science when it came to the vaccines, the masks, the distancing, the treatments, but what have learned? The masks were useless, the treatments were ineffective, the vaccines were dangerous, and the distancing was unnecessary. Yet, many respected doctors and scientists were silenced when their findings contradicted the mainstream message. Science must be objective if it is to provide benefit when making legislation, so when elected, I will support all legitimate scientific viewpoints.”

KEYWORDS: objective covid tool

“For over 50 years, I have enjoyed those times that I have spent canoeing, camping, and even working in the BWCA. I would be totally opposed to any activity that could potentially harm this gem of God’s creation. So opening up areas outside of the BWCA to mining efforts would be a serious concern, were it not for the fact that we have safeguards in place that are intended to prevent the pollution and the altering of land that have people so concerned. There are numerous benefits to opening up these areas in the form of jobs, revenue to the state, and supplying needed minerals for products that would otherwise require those resources to come from places like China and Africa that have demonstrated no regard for the environment, or human dignity. This is a prime example of how we can utilize science and technology to provide us with the ability to guard and protect our treasured BWCA, as well as other treasured Minnesota resources.”

KEYWORDS: safeguards guard benefits

“I am making the assumption that PFAS is indeed a hazardous material that has been proven to be detrimental to all forms of life. And I know that there is currently an ongoing effort by various industries that use PFAS in their products to remove it and replace with other materials that deliver similar, harmless benefits. These efforts should continue on the part of the private sector, and these industries should also assist in the efforts to clean up the existing PFAS in our water systems.
The question then becomes one of determining what is the best method for removing PFAs from our water systems. Where are those communities affected by it, what is extent of the contamination, and what is the most feasible approach to addressing the contamination? One option is for the affected municipalities to install central filtration systems, but this comes at a huge expense, but it would cover the entire community with no expectations of the public.
Another option is for each home to install under-the-sink filtration systems. This could very well be the most economical solution in smaller communities at about $100/household, with a cost of replacing the filters periodically as needed.”

KEYWORDS: industries filtration diet

“AI is here to stay, and we must decide if we are going to be players in that industry. Fortunately, we don’t need to install 20 data centers immediately. We can learn from the ones that exist what is working, what doesn’t, and what are the positive and negative impacts of these data centers on the surrounding communities. We also have the ability to make improvements as they become available. Building and operating additional nuclear plants is certainly a viable solution for the energy needs these data centers require. Close system cooling systems can reuse water.

As a legislator, I would support a county or city’s right to have a say in what industries they want to come into it. So then it is incumbent on the local voters to put people in office who either agree or disagree with what the community wants, and they would tax and regulate how that business would operate.”

KEYWORDS: nuclear impact voter

“Research grants given to universities can produce tremendous benefits to all parties concerned, provided the grants don’t come with pre-determined outcomes or biased agendas. Too often, the grants are awarded with pressure to meet the expected results, which violates the scientific process. If tax money is going to be used, which is the only source of NIH funds, then it must follow objective scientific methods and be used for research that will benefit people. For example, gender studies of some animal life form would not be considered a benefit to the people of Minnesota and I would not support it.”

KEYWORDS: benefit grant gender

“The decline in deaths by drug overdoses is indeed something to be celebrated, but the fact that this question makes it a racial issue is telling. It is also ironic, that we hear such an outcry over drug overdoses yet it can be argued that the Standard American diet (SAD) is significantly more dangerous than drug related deaths, and yet where is the outcry? The sugar and processed foods that Americans consume has contributed to an epidemic of health related issues that become increasingly evident as people age. Almost every major health issue can find it’s origins in the foods people eat. As a legislator, I will make it my personal crusade to help Minnesotans understand what a healthy diet consists of, and the importance of making good decisions when it comes to the food we eat. We are a free people and responsible for making life choices that impact us, and as free people we can purchase products that are not healthy. That does not mean that our tax dollars need to pay for those things. I would push for limiting those grocery items covered under SNAP programs to single ingredient items such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.”

KEYWORDS: celebrate diet food

“while deciding a stance on an issue, as a learner rather than as an expert”

KEYWORDS: openminded, advocate, learner

“favor the ban based on prior environmental panel recommendation which is more expert than I am on this subject with more time to study it than I have”

KEYWORDS: other’s, expertise, humility

“clean up where economically feasible, warn residents of dangers, prohibit future contamination”

KEYWORDS: clean, warn, prohibit

“current strong laws but need to ban Nondisclosure agreements”

KEYWORDS: enforce, local, NDA’s

“continue to support, fight federal restrictions and withholding”

KEYWORDS: support, resist, federal

“Not my area of expertise, open to evaluate proposals to reduce the disparity”

KEYWORDS: non-expert, open, reduction

“Those questions that rely on peer reviewed research and verified facts are the area of the expert scientists. They are trained in it. Peer review mitigates against bias, which we all have. So for those policies that rely on research and facts, I will defer to the scientists for desirable outcomes”

KEYWORDS: research, peer-reviewed, outcomes

“Water and air are too important to be left to the whims of billionaires. We must keep Minnesota beautiful and clean. The mining in Minnesota will not enrich Minnesotans at all. The product mined goes out of country, and the money goes out of the country. The whole thing is wrong.”

KEYWORDS: Environment, beautiful, clean

“I would support funding for continued research on ways to clean the water. Research is still continuing and new discoveries are ongoing. We also need to continue the research into the health affects.”

KEYWORDS: Research, funding, health

“I support a 2 year moratorium to give time for the scientists to do their job and do a thorough report on environmental costs. Since companies have always purchased scientists to make the reports favorable, every report must be peer-reviewed. I am, in principle, opposed to data centers, as I believe they are detrimental to the health of society.”

KEYWORDS: Detrimental, science, peer-reviewed

“I have spoken of grants for research and their importance. We must continue to fund the universities as well as provide guidelines to guard against fraud and misuse. At the same time, we need to let scientists be scientists and not micromanage their work.”

KEYWORDS: Grants, fraud, freedom

“We must support and fund task forces with indigenous Minnesotans as well as experts in trauma and abuse and have holistic solutions. Drug use is a trauma response and is dealt with by education and providing justice, hope and support. At the same time, we must enact stiff penalties against those who exploit the vulnerable by dealing in narcotics.”

KEYWORDS: Holistic, trauma, education

“As a three-term state representative, I consistently work with scientists and other experts in their fields on issues including public health, medical care, climate, and environment. I also seek counsel when developing legislation.”

KEYWORDS: Consultation, expertise, respect

“I’ve worked consistently to protect fragile watersheds and will continue to do so. My stated position has been (and remains) that I will look at any proposal with an open mind. However, I have a very high bar for support, especially for non-ferrous mining. I’ve been a co-author on many protection bills and have earned the support of leading BWCA activist organizations.”

KEYWORDS: Protect, Support, water

“I’ve advocated for and co-authored PFAs bills to reduce ongoing harm and to remediate past harm. I strongly favor holding polluters responsible and I’m committed to clean water for all in our state.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability, remediation, prevention

“In Minnesota, I’m committed to regulating AI and data center establishment as fully as we are able within our authority. This includes bills like banning deep fakes, which we’ve already passed. I’m also very interested in establishing guard rails for construction of data centers, making sure that environmental concerns, water usage, power usage, noise, and other neighborhood impacts are considered when allowing them to be built.

Beyond Minnesota, I participate in coalitions of state legislators on a national level. Thus far, I’ve been most active in healthcare-related groups. However, I think participating in or creating a group focused AI is a powerful way to take collective action to influence federal policy.”

KEYWORDS: Regulate, control, advocate

“I’m an active advocate for research, especially focused on rare diseases as a member of the Rare Disease Advisory Council. I’m appalled by the federal harm that’s being done and advocate with our members of Congress. ”

KEYWORDS: Fund, advocate

“I’m deeply concerned about health disparities in this realm and all other areas of health such as maternal and child health. I’ve worked to fund programs targeted to specific communities in order to better meet their needs and will continue to do so.”

KEYWORDS: Fund, targeted, disparities

“I will use scientists the way a grown-up uses a mechanic: for facts I can check, not for a sermon I must obey. Before a vote I want the data, the method, and who paid for the study. I will listen to engineers on a bridge, physicians on a viable child, and crime statisticians on charging policy. I will not outsource the vote to a “consensus” that changes when the party does — defund then deny you defunded, “mostly peaceful” then the insurance bill, nutrition programs that billed meals no scientist could find on a plate. Science is measurement. Policy is judgment. Scientists do not get a veto because a coalition stamped “follow the science” on a tax, a flag, or a gun bill. If the claim cannot survive an audit, it is not science. It is marketing.

Stop voting in the same people that placed us in this mess in the first place. If you have had enough too, stop voting blue no matter who, vote red instead, vote Rocco, and together we can make a better tomorrow.”

KEYWORDS: evidence, audit, judgment

“H.J. Res. 140 did not drop a mine in the canoe country. It overturned a 20-year federal leasing ban on about 225,000 acres of Superior National Forest so copper and nickel projects can go through review instead of a political lockout. I support that. America needs critical minerals. Minnesota miners should not be told to sit down while the same politicians import the metal from countries that do not share our rules. A mine still has to survive state and federal environmental review. That is the watershed policy: engineer the tailings, monitor the water, shut a bad design down — do not ban the district because a bumper sticker said so. Governor Walz’s later state halt is the same reflex as the flag and the streets: veto first, science second. Protect the Rainy River headwaters with permits, bonding, and real monitoring. Do not confuse a wilderness selfie with an energy policy.

Stop voting in the same people that placed us in this mess in the first place. If you have had enough too, stop voting blue no matter who, vote red instead, vote Rocco, and together we can make a better tomorrow.”

KEYWORDS: minerals, review, watershed

“If a community water system is over the federal limit, treat the water. That is not a vibe. That is a pipe, a filter, and a bill. I will back testing and treatment where the chemistry is actually over the line — 21 systems is a list, not a speech. Charge the manufacturers and sites that put the stuff in the ground when the proof is there. Do not turn every household sponge and fire truck into a new tax while the contaminated well waits. What I will not do is let “forever chemicals” become the next omnibus excuse: ban a thousand products, grow a consultant class, and skip the plant that would clean the tap in a real town. Science here means measurement against a standard, then engineering. It does not mean a politician declaring your cookware a crisis to pass a fee. Protect residents: test, treat, pursue the responsible party, publish the numbers. SD 65 should be able to drink the water without paying for a slogan.”

KEYWORDS: treat, polluter, standard

“A hyperscale building is a factory for computers. Treat it like one: power, water, taxes, and who pays when the bill shows up on a family’s electric statement. I will support projects that buy their own juice and water at a price that does not raise rates for West Saint Paul. If a company wants a special rate, a secret PILOT, or a quiet claim on a river, the Legislature should see the contract. Assess grid load and water before the slab is poured — not after the ribbon. Local governments should keep a real yes-or-no on land use. I will not let St. Paul “streamline” a deal that dumps the cost on every other ratepayer. I will not ban data centers as a religion. Jobs and tax base matter. I also will not pretend an empty slogan about “AI safety” is a substitute for an amp and a gallon. Measure the impact. Publish it. Make the tenant pay it.”

KEYWORDS: rates, water, contract

“University research that produces a treatment, a material, or a trained engineer is worth defending. A grant that produces a paper no one can replicate is a jobs program for the campus, not a public trust. I will support federal NIH and similar awards that Minnesota earns on merit. I will not vote to photocopy $700 million onto the state income tax if Washington changes a line item. We already run high taxes and a fraud problem. St. Paul is not a second NIH. State policy: fund applied work the state actually uses — water treatment, mining safety, crop science, trauma care — with contracts that have a deliverable. Demand universities show the job and the output, not just the press release. No political litmus test that bans a lab because the topic is unfashionable, and no blank check because the letterhead says “science.” Jobs from real research are welcome. Overhead and ideology are not a reason to raise your tabs.”

KEYWORDS: merit, deliverable, federal

“A 28% drop from 1,392 deaths is good. It is not finished. People are dying because fentanyl is cheap and dealers are not afraid. Some communities are hit harder. The answer is not a separate justice system. It is the same rules enforced where the bodies are. What I will support

Treat dealers like dealers. Trafficking and pill presses get prosecuted, not diverted into a workshop. Let cops be cops. Treatment that has a bed. Detox and follow-up that can take someone this week. Audit vendors. If a program is kicked off for alleged fraud, no other state program until that conviction is overturned. Naloxone in the hands of officers and families — a reversal is not a policy if the next bag is on the same corner. Tell the truth about the street. Sanctuary habits and soft charging make it easier to move product. That is not compassion for Indigenous or Black Minnesotans. It is how the disparity stays.

Keep the trend down by shrinking supply and getting a real cot under the addict — not by writing a racial appendix onto a crime.”

KEYWORDS: fentanyl, prosecute, treatment

“Issues such as climate change rely upon solid research and years of collected data that when analyzed can help formulate responses to challenges.”

KEYWORDS: Essential, consensus, nonbiased

“Mining in the BWCA watershed should not be allowed. This BWCA is such a unique place that it is imperative that we protect for countless generations that will follow us. This means we need policies that will enshrine this.”

KEYWORDS: Biodiversity, essential, interconnected

“Moving forward Minnesota must work with communities across the state to ensure that exposure to PFAS chemicals are reduced to the extent possible given our current understanding and technology.”

KEYWORDS: Minimize, reduction, health

“Moratorium on data centers until the state government develops guidelines. These companies should not be given reduced tax rates or other public subsidies. Communications should be transparent and open to public scrutiny. NDAs should not be allowed. Energy and water edemands need to be clearly articulated. Costs to communities and number of jobs created need to be clearly laid out.”

KEYWORDS: Moratorium, energy, water

“As a state senator I would advocate to the best of my ability for NIH funding to be fully restored. Research is critical on so many problems we are facing.”

KEYWORDS: Restore, science, critical

“Drug use and poverty are intertwined. Helping people get education, jobs and better futures would be a long term strategy for reducing addictions. It is important to help youth from getting into addictive cycles.”

KEYWORDS: Poverty, education, youth

“I want good policy to be grounded in good information. I would rely on scientists and other subject-matter experts to understand the evidence, potential impacts, and tradeoffs of legislation. That includes listening to researchers at institutions like the University of Minnesota, state agency scientists, and experts working directly in our communities.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Collaboration

“I oppose sulfide-ore mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters. Once polluted, these waters would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to restore. I support restoring long-term federal protections for the watershed and Minnesota’s Prove It First legislation, requiring companies to demonstrate that this type of mining has been done elsewhere without polluting surrounding water before doing it here. Mining is important to Minnesota, but some places are simply too valuable and too vulnerable to risk.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Prove It First, Sacred

“PFAS is personal to me. I grew up in Oakdale near the 3M Superfund site and have seen what these chemicals can mean for communities. Minnesota should continue testing our water, help communities remove PFAS from drinking water, hold polluters accountable for cleanup costs, and prevent unnecessary PFAS from entering our environment in the first place. I also support continued research into the health effects of PFAS exposure.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Accountability, Prevention

“Data centers are needed, but they must be developed responsibly and with care for the communities where they are built. I support full transparency with no NDAs that prevent communities from understanding proposed projects. We must protect our water, prevent noise pollution, and require these facilities to be powered by renewable energy. Data centers should also pay the full cost of the energy and infrastructure they require rather than passing those costs on to existing ratepayers. Any public incentives should come with clear economic, environmental, and community benefits.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency, Sustainability, Accountability

“For four years, I served as Director of Advocacy for the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, where I advocated for state and federal investment in the University and its research mission. Minnesota’s universities and research institutions drive medical breakthroughs, innovation, jobs, and economic growth. I support strong state investment in research and would advocate for continued federal funding through agencies like NIH and NSF. Cutting scientific research ultimately costs us opportunities, jobs, and discoveries.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, University of Minnesota

“The decline in overdose deaths is encouraging, but there is much more work to do, particularly given the disparities facing American Indian and Black Minnesotans. I support expanding access to naloxone, evidence-based treatment and recovery services, mental health care, and harm-reduction programs. We also need to address the underlying factors that contribute to addiction, including housing instability and barriers to healthcare. Our response should be driven by evidence and focused on keeping people alive and helping them recover.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Recovery

“I would refer to scientist to better understand the reasoning for and the impact of legislations, especially on public health, the environment, agriculture, and our communities. Policies should be guided by the best available evidence along with the experiences of the people affected by it.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based, experts, impact

“Mining projects near the Boundary Waters should meet strong environmental standards and demonstrate that they will not cause unacceptable harm to the watershed. I would support rigorous environmental review, strong water protections, and using the best available science before approving projects.”

KEYWORDS: Environment, Clean water, Review

“I support continued testing of drinking water, stronger protections against PFAS contamination, and making sure communities have the resources to treat contaminated water. I would also increase funding to research on how to protect our water and limit harm.”

KEYWORDS: Testing, prevention, funding

“I support transparent environmental review and making sure data centers pay their fair share of the infrastructure and resources they use. I also believe that before any are built there should deep environmental impact reviews done.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability, Resources, Transparency

“I support continued investment in scientific research because it improves our understanding of the challenges facing Minnesota and can create jobs and economic opportunity. I would support funding research based on strong evidence, clear public benefit, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”

KEYWORDS: Research, funding, innovation

“I support expanding access to treatment, mental health services, recovery programs, and overdose prevention tools like naloxone. We also need to make sure these resources reach communities experiencing the greatest disparities, including Indigenous and Black Minnesotans and ensure infrastructure for rural areas are up to the task provide those services.”

KEYWORDS: Treatment, prevention, access.

“Growing up on a farm taught me to respect the land, water, and the importance of facts. I believe scientists and experts should help guide policy decisions, especially when it comes to protecting our environment, public health, and communities. I will listen to experts, but I will also do my own research because I believe it is important to ask questions, verify information, and make sure decisions are based on the truth and the best interests of the people I serve.”

KEYWORDS: Science should be guided

“As a farm girl, I understand the value of clean water and healthy land. I will do everything I can to protect the Boundary Waters because clean water is one of our greatest resources. As someone running for office, I believe it is my responsibility to protect what God has given us and keep it clean and safe for future generations.”

KEYWORDS: ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE PROTECTED

“I learned the importance of protecting our soil, water, and land. PFAS contamination threatens the health of our families and future generations. I support stronger protections, holding polluters accountable, and ensuring clean drinking water for every Minnesotan. We must protect the resources God gave us and keep them safe for our children and grandchildren.”

KEYWORDS: protect the environment

“At this time, I do not support expanding hyperscale data centers without stronger protections in place. Growing up on a farm taught me the importance of protecting our water and natural resources. I am concerned about the impact these facilities can have on water usage, energy demands, and the cost of electricity for families. Any future projects must fully protect our water, our environment, and the people of Minnesota.”

KEYWORDS: protect our recouces

“NIH funding is an important investment in Minnesota’s healthcare, research, and economy. These grants support scientists, healthcare workers, students, and research jobs, but we also need transparency about how these dollars impact our communities. I support continued investment in research while ensuring accountability, tracking the jobs supported, and making sure taxpayer-funded research benefits Minnesota families.”

KEYWORDS: protect Jobs

“I have to respectfully disagree with the numbers presented because I see the impact of this crisis firsthand in my community near George Floyd Square. I have also experienced being unhoused, and I understand how important it is to create programs that truly help people. I believe we need a compassionate but practical approach. We must provide people with a real choice to get help, including treatment, support services, and a safe place to recover away from the environment that contributed to their struggles. Sometimes people need a new beginning in a different environment to have a real opportunity to change. I also believe we must meet people where they are. Not everyone is ready for help at the same time, but when they are ready, we must have a bed, resources, and a support system available to help them rebuild their lives.”

KEYWORDS: PEOPLE FIRST

“When elected, I would rely on subject matter experts whenever legislation involves areas where scientific evidence can help us understand the consequences of our decisions. Good government requires more than political talking points. At the same time, scientists inform policy; they do not replace the voices of the people I represent. My responsibility as a Senator would be bring the best available evidence to the table alongside economic realities, local knowledge and lived experiences of SD6.”

KEYWORDS: Listen to the experts, follow the evidence, make decisions on facts not political party pressure

“MInnesota can support responsible mining and good paying Union jobs, while recognizing some areas require an exceptionally high level of protection. Each proposal must undergo rigorous, independent, science based environmental review and demonstrate it will protect our water, not just meet minimum requirements. I would support strong groundwater and surface water monitoring with meaningful consultation with our Tribal Nations, transparent public participation and strict financial assurance requirements so the taxpayers are not ever left with the clean up if there were environmental issues. Mining has an important history in Minnesota, but our lakes, rivers, forests, tourism economy and clean water are also part of that heritage.”

KEYWORDS: Jobs matter, clean water matters, and we should never sacrifice one because politicians tell us to choose!

“Clean, safe drinking water should never depend on your zip code or size of your community. I would support aggressive testing and transparent reporting so Minnesotans know what is in the drinking water. When contamination is discovered, communities need to install effective treatment systems without placing the burden on local taxpayers. We cannot simply clean up PFAS after contamination occurs. We must continue reducing unnecessary PFAS at the source. Amara’s Law is already moving towards eliminating avoidable uses of intentionally added PFAS by 2032.”

KEYWORDS: Test early, prevent contamination, and protect taxpayers.

“I would support requiring comprehensive independent assessments before projects move forward. I would want to know the infrastructure needs which include transmission/generation/use of electricity as well as water usage. I would want to know the cumulative impacts lights and noise. Minnesota families should not subsidize the enormous energy demands of multinational corporations. Communities, Tribal Nations should have meaningful opportunities to participate before decisions are made.”

KEYWORDS: Responsible development with accountability. No NDAs. No subsidies.

“I would support stable state and federal funding. We have some of the finest universities, medical institutions, researchers, and innovators in the world. I would support competitive peer reviewed grants based on merit, partnerships with universities, healthcare systems, businesses and state agencies, and investments that help turn the research into new treatments, technologies, businesses and good paying jobs. I would also prioritize research addressing issues important to Greater Minnesota. Those would include mining, forestry, healthcare, agriculture and other environmental protections.”

KEYWORDS: Science gives us knowledge. Innovation turns knowledge into solutions. Smart investment ensures those solutions improve Minnesotans lives.

“As Senator and a First Responder, I would support continued access to naloxone for families, schools, first responders and community organizations, particularly in rural Minnesota where emergency response and treatment is farther away. I would support expanding evidence based treatment for substance abuse disorder, while improving access to mental health and recovery programs. Prevention also matters. We need to strengthen education about dangerous substances such as fentanyl, giving the tools to communities to identify emerging overdose trends and prevention methods. I would insist the use of opioid settlement dollars are used for their intended purpose. Rural Minnesota cannot be an afterthought. Treatment and recovery services must be accessible regardless of Zip code.”

KEYWORDS: We should measure success by lives saved, people entering recovery and families kept whole.

“I’m NEVER going to claim that I know everything. Scientists should be an important part of my decision-making whenever legislation involves scientific questions or measurable risks. I would seek peer-reviewed research, testimony from qualified experts, information from Minnesota agencies and universities, and input from scientists working directly in affected communities. The people who will live with the consequences of a policy should also have a voice. Science should help us understand what the evidence tells us, what we don’t yet know, and what risks we should consider. I will follow the evidence wherever it leads, remain open to new information, and make decisions TRANSPARENTLY.”

KEYWORDS: Expertise. Evidence. Transparency.

“Minnesota’s natural resources—especially the Boundary Waters watershed—must be protected for future generations. I would not support approving a mining project in this region without rigorous, independent scientific review of its potential impacts on water, wildlife, and the surrounding watershed. I would listen to the scientists and communities directly affected (including Tribal Nations!) and I support meaningful local control and a strong local voice in decisions affecting their communities. Economic opportunities should not come at the expense of irreplaceable environmental harm. More financial burden and risk should be held at the company level as well.”

KEYWORDS: Local Control. Conservation. Science.

“I operate an organic potato storage and supply business. I support STRONG action to prevent PFAS contamination and protect Minnesotans from exposure. That includes continuing statewide testing and public reporting, enforcing science-based drinking-water standards, holding responsible parties accountable for contamination, and helping communities afford treatment when contamination is discovered. I also support phasing out/banning the use of PFAS and investing in research to create better alternatives. Our communities shouldn’t worry about a lack of access to safe water.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability. Clean Water. Ban.

“I support a TWO-year moratorium on new large-scale data-center development while Minnesota fully evaluates their impacts on the environment and local communities. I would also support ending tax exemptions for existing data centers and establishing new fees or taxes sufficient to ensure they FULLY cover the public infrastructure and resources they consume. I would also place restrictions on nondisclosure agreements.”

KEYWORDS: Moratorium. Accountability. Transparency.

“That sounds like INVESTMENT to me! I would work with federal partners to ensure that funding continues and grows. At the state level, I would support strategic investments in the University of Minnesota and OTHER research institutions in GREATER MINNESOTA that leverage federal funding, strengthen partnerships with schools and businesses, support STEM education, and help move successful research from the laboratory into Minnesota jobs and businesses. We should measure outcomes and prioritize research that improves health, agriculture, technology, energy, and other areas important to Minnesota’s self-sufficient future.”

KEYWORDS: Investment. Innovation. Localization.

“I support increasing access to NARCAN, expanding substance-use treatment and recovery services, improving access to mental-health care, and supporting harm-reduction and overdose-prevention programs. I also support stronger State partnerships with Tribal Nations and other communities disproportionately affected by overdose. At the same time, we need to overall improve access to healthcare, employment, education, and affordable living to ultimately prevent further overdoses/drug abuse.”

KEYWORDS: Treatment. Prevention. Mental Health.

“I am not sure what the question is getting at, but I would seek scientific input in any topic that lends itself the scientific method. So at committee hearings, we should obviously invite such testimony. That being said, I value individual autonomy and would seek to preserve freedom for citizens as well as for scientists within the scientific community.”

KEYWORDS: Expertise, freedom, dispassionate

“Although Gov. Walz has halted this with an executive order, if this were to come up again, I favor what conservationists have proposed that any company seeking a permit to mine would have to provide a trust fund up front that would guarantee the cost of any cleanup. It is a challenge because if people want things like EVs, doing the mining here is more likely to include safeguards than if done elsewhere in the world. As a non-expert, I cannot say at this time whether it would be safe to allow this type of mining in this area. I would need to hear from experts on both sides of the issue.”

KEYWORDS: Water safety treasure

“If these chemicals are as problematic as reported, I would seek to make sure companies are pursuing alternatives and dedicating a certain amount of research dollars to finding alternatives. It should not simply be profit driven. I presume the legislatures and regulatory agencies have not banned them yet for a reason. I would need to hear from both sides, taking into account vested interests and looking for as unbiased opinions as possible.”

KEYWORDS: water prevent mitigate

“There must be complete transparency. No NDAs that prevent a town from even knowing what company is seeking to build. No government tax breaks or subsidies. Guarantees of how to deal with water use and/or water pollution. Data centers should add new power generation to run the facility.

These are minimum starting points for me. One has to consider that even if a data center provides its own electricity through some form of generation plant, nuclear, gas, wind, etc., all of those energy sources require inputs. If it is a fossil fuel source, another power plant just increases the demand for the fossil fuel (or wind turbines) thereby increasing the price of inputs into electricity generation. Therefore, even if they aren’t consuming existing electricity supply, they will still be impacting energy markets and those costs will still be passed on to consumers.
We have data centers currently, and I would not say we can never build another one. But we do not need the number being proposed. The rush job to build them needs oversight. The tech companies will have plenty of representation, I will be a voice for the community to represent their interests and respect their wishes.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency oversight slowdown

“I will first need to learn what is currently provided and hear from stakeholders where the funding system is not optimal. One factor that comes to mind is that publicly funded grants should give more weight to projects that have the widest positive impact on the largest share of the population. Research that can help millions of people is more desirable than a niche project that can throw off billions in profit.

Scientists need to have the freedom to go against consensus. Some research may be a dead end, but you don’t know until the research is done. Research that has longer payoff times also may need public funding if there is potential value but the market is not interested in funding because the payoff timeline is too long.”

KEYWORDS: enabling widespread benefits

“We need to continue treatment programs that are working. However, I do not support policies that in the name of compassion enable people to continue their drug habits. That is very uncompassionate. I understand the drive that led us to legalization of cannabis, however, the state has gone overboard in cheerleading and helping build an industry. We discourage but allow cigarettes to be legal. This should be the same approach we take with cannabis. Instead, we are currently celebrating and encouraging cannabis use as a society and even with government funds. There needs to be more effort to label these products as potentially harmful. Many drinks and candy that are sold can later be mistakenly consumed by unknowing people.”

KEYWORDS: sobriety truth health

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“Science and peer-reviewed research must serve as the foundation of sound public policy. I would consult independent scientists, researchers, and academic experts early in the legislative process.

Rather than relying on industry-funded lobbying or political rhetoric, I would partner with institutional bodies like the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Pollution Control Agency, and federal agencies to interpret complex data, conduct impact assessments, and model long-term outcomes. I will actively support establishing legislative scientific advisory panels to ensure every major bill - particularly those addressing climate resilience, healthcare, and emerging technologies - is evaluated against the most rigorous, consensus-driven evidence available. When policy decisions involve public health and natural ecosystems, empirical evidence and preventative action must always guide our votes.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based, Independent, Rigorous

“I firmly oppose sulfide-ore copper mining within the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Boundary Waters is an irreplaceable ecological treasure, and peer-reviewed hydrology consistently demonstrates that sulfide mining carries an unacceptable risk of acid mine drainage, which would irreparably contaminate this pristine water system.

I support reinstating robust, permanent mineral withdrawal protections for the Rainy River Drainage Basin and passing state-level “Prove It First” legislation. This standard requires mining companies to demonstrate independent scientific proof of operating and closing a sulfide mine without polluting water resources before receiving permits in Minnesota. Additionally, I advocate for strengthening financial assurance rules so corporate polluters, not taxpayers, are entirely responsible for remediation costs, alongside expanding investments in sustainable, clean-energy economies and outdoor recreation for northern communities.”

KEYWORDS: Conservation, Protection, Accountability

“Access to clean, safe drinking water is a fundamental human right. Minnesota made important strides with Amara’s Law to end non-essential PFAS uses, but we must urgently accelerate remediation where contamination already threatens public health.

I support establishing a dedicated state clean water infrastructure fund to assist municipalities and rural water systems in deploying advanced filtration technologies (such as granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis) without shifting costs onto local rate payers. Furthermore, we must hold chemical manufacturers legally and financially accountable through polluter-pays liability frameworks to recover cleanup costs. At the regulatory level, I will champion stringent monitoring across municipal supplies, private wells, and agricultural soils, while investing in university-led research to deploy emerging destructive technologies that eliminate PFAS rather than merely transferring them between waste streams.”

KEYWORDS: Remediation, Accountability, Infrastructure

“While technological innovation drives economic growth, hyperscale data centers pose immense challenges to Minnesota’s clean energy goals, grid reliability, and freshwater resources. We cannot allow high-tech expansion to derail our statutory commitment to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040.

I support policies requiring comprehensive environmental impact reviews for all proposed data centers before approval, focusing on cumulative electric grid demand and water consumption used for cooling systems. Developers must be required to match their operations with new, dedicated off-site renewable energy generation rather than draining regional power reserves or increasing reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, we must mandate closed-loop, zero-potable-water cooling technologies and ensure that utility rate structures prevent everyday residential consumers from subsidizing the massive infrastructure and transmission upgrades demanded by commercial tech facilities. Finally, we need to involve the impacted communities in the approval process and give their views the weight they deserve.”

KEYWORDS: Sustainability, Regulation, Transparency

“Robust funding for scientific research is both a driver of economic vitality and a catalyst for lifesaving discoveries. I will advocate for state-level matching grant programs to help Minnesota public universities and non-profit research institutions compete for and maximize federal awards from the NIH, NSF, and Department of Energy.

I support direct state appropriations to modernize research laboratories, upgrade digital research infrastructure, and expand fellowship opportunities for early-career scientists, with an emphasis on recruiting underrepresented researchers. At the federal level, I will actively lobby our congressional delegation to safeguard and expand basic science and translational research budgets. By fostering strong partnerships between public research universities and Minnesota’s healthcare and green technology sectors, we ensure that public research investments translate into accessible medical treatments, sustainable technologies, and good-paying union jobs statewide.”

KEYWORDS: Innovation, Investment, Research

“Addressing the overdose crisis requires treating substance use as a public health imperative rather than a criminal justice failure, while directly dismantling systemic disparities in care. The stark racial inequities in overdose mortality demand culturally responsive, community-directed resources.

I support directly funding tribal-led and Black-led harm reduction and recovery networks, ensuring sovereign nations and community health providers receive the resources needed to deliver culturally specific care. We must expand state-wide access to life-saving tools by eliminating barriers to naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, and medically assisted treatment like buprenorphine and methadone. Furthermore, we must invest heavily in non-carceral mental health crisis response teams, supportive housing, and comprehensive wrap-around services to address the root socioeconomic determinants driving addiction and ensure recovery is accessible to every community.”

KEYWORDS: Equity, Harm-reduction, Treatment

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“I believe good policy starts with good information. As a legislator, I would seek out scientists and other subject-matter experts when legislation involves issues where their expertise can help us understand the evidence, risks, and likely outcomes.

I would look to scientists to help distinguish established evidence from assumptions or political talking points, and I would consider the quality and breadth of the available research when making decisions. I would also value input from multiple experts and perspectives rather than relying on a single source.

My background as an educator, researcher, and program evaluator has taught me to ask questions, examine evidence, understand limitations, and be willing to change course when new information becomes available.

Scientists provide expertise; elected officials have a responsibility to weigh that evidence alongside the experiences and needs of the people they represent. I would bring those pieces together to make thoughtful, evidence-informed decisions—not decisions based on ideology or who is making the loudest argument.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence research risks/outcomes

“The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the watershed that surrounds it are irreplaceable Minnesota treasures. I oppose mining projects that put this unique ecosystem and its clean water at risk.

Minnesotans should not have to choose between economic opportunity and protecting the resources that sustain our communities. But some places are simply too important to gamble with—and the Boundary Waters is one of them.

If elected, I would support policies that protect the watershed from mining-related contamination and require rigorous, independent environmental review before any project moves forward. That review must consider not only immediate impacts, but also the long-term risks to water quality, wildlife, and surrounding communities.

We should follow the science, listen to the people who know and care for this region, and put the protection of clean water ahead of short-term political interests. The Boundary Waters belongs to all of us, and we have a responsibility to leave it protected for future generations.”

KEYWORDS: ecosystem protection mining ban

“Minnesotans deserve clean, safe drinking water. PFAS contamination is a serious concern because these chemicals persist in the environment and can accumulate over time.

I would support stronger standards for PFAS in drinking water, continued testing and monitoring of community water systems, and timely public notification when contamination is found. We should also prioritize preventing PFAS from entering our water in the first place by limiting unnecessary use and holding manufacturers and other responsible parties accountable for contamination and cleanup costs.

At the same time, communities should have the resources they need to address existing contamination. I would support state assistance for testing, filtration, and cleanup, particularly when the cost would otherwise fall on local taxpayers and ratepayers.

My approach is straightforward: follow the science, prevent pollution whenever possible, protect public health, and make sure those responsible for contamination—not ordinary Minnesota families—bear their fair share of the cost.”

KEYWORDS: prevention clean-up accountability

“Data centers can bring economic opportunities, but hyperscale facilities can also have significant impacts on energy use, water resources, infrastructure, and surrounding communities. Minnesota should not give these projects a free pass.

I support the highest standards of accountability and review for hyperscale data centers, including comprehensive environmental and infrastructure impact assessments before approval. Communities deserve meaningful opportunities for public input, and all relevant information about a proposed project—including its energy and water use, environmental impacts, tax arrangements, and public costs—should be transparent and accessible.

Data centers should be responsible for the infrastructure and resources they require rather than shifting those costs to Minnesota taxpayers and ratepayers. I would also support clear, enforceable standards for energy and water use and appropriate environmental protections.

We can welcome innovation and economic development while still protecting our communities and natural resources. The standard should be simple: **if a project affects the public, the public deserves a full review, a voice in the process, and complete transparency about the costs and benefits.**”

KEYWORDS: accountability review infrastructure

“Minnesota benefits enormously from investments in scientific research. I support continued public investment in research at both the state and federal levels because many important discoveries and innovations would not happen without it.

At the same time, government should not be expected to bear 100% of the cost. I would like to see greater investment from private companies and industries that benefit from research and innovation. Public-private partnerships can expand research capacity and create jobs while leveraging taxpayer dollars.

However, private investment must never come at the expense of scientific independence. Research funding should include strong transparency and conflict-of-interest protections so that sponsors cannot influence research findings, suppress unfavorable results, or undermine public trust. We need to protect researchers’ ability to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

My goal is a balanced approach: maintain strong public investment in basic and applied research, encourage responsible private-sector investment, and ensure that the science—not the source of the funding—determines the conclusions.”

KEYWORDS: public-private partnership

“Minnesota’s progress in reducing overdose deaths is encouraging, but we cannot be satisfied while some communities continue to experience dramatically higher rates of fatal overdose. The disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans reflect longstanding inequities in access to healthcare, treatment, mental health services, and other resources, compounded by a history of discrimination in our healthcare and public systems.

I support expanding accessible, culturally responsive substance-use treatment, mental healthcare, recovery services, and harm-reduction resources in underserved communities. This includes making lifesaving medications such as naloxone readily available and ensuring people can get help before they reach a crisis.

We also need to address the underlying barriers that keep people from care—including cost, transportation, provider shortages, and lack of culturally responsive services. I would work with Tribal Nations, Black communities, healthcare providers, and people with lived experience to develop solutions rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.

We should continue using data and evidence to evaluate what works and hold ourselves accountable for reducing—not simply documenting—these disparities. Every Minnesotan deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life and access care when they need it.”

KEYWORDS: culturally-responsive accessibility inequity

“As an engineer, my career has been built on evaluating evidence and making data-driven decisions. I bring that same analytical problem-solving mindset to public service. When deciding how to vote on any policy or legislative question, I will actively seek out and consult relevant technical experts, scientists, and peer-reviewed research. Complex state challenges—from climate adaptation and public health infrastructure to clean energy and education—demand expert guidance rather than political rhetoric. If elected, I will ensure Minnesota policies are effective, sustainable, and grounded in solid, objective evidence.”

KEYWORDS: Data-driven, Evidence-based, Expertise

“I strongly oppose sulfide-ore copper mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The science is unambiguous: sulfide-ore mining risks acid mine drainage that can permanently contaminate fragile aquatic ecosystems.

As an engineer who relies on data and technical risk assessment, I believe some places are simply too ecologically sensitive for high-risk extraction. With federal safeguards rolled back, Minnesota must step up. I support thoroughly reviewing existing state mineral leases in the watershed, strengthening MPCA water quality standards, demanding full financial assurance from mining companies, and enacting state-level protections to safeguard the Rainy River watershed for future generations.”

KEYWORDS: Protection, Conservation, Risk Management

“I approach contamination through risk reduction and root-cause solutions. To safeguard Minnesota families, I support a three-part policy framework:

Water Infrastructure Funding: Provide state grants and low-interest loans to help affected municipalities install advanced filtration systems without shifting the burden onto local taxpayers.

Upstream Prevention: Strictly enforce and accelerate implementation of Amara’s Law to phase out non-essential PFAS in consumer products and prevent pollution at the source.

Polluter Accountability: Hold chemical manufacturers financially responsible for remediation costs so that impacted communities and ratepayers aren’t left holding the bill.

Clean water is non-negotiable.”

KEYWORDS: Remediation, Prevention, Accountability

“I view AI governance through two key lenses: managing infrastructure impacts and ensuring transparent, safe deployment.

Data Center Infrastructure & Transparency: Hyperscale data centers place significant demands on local water aquifers and our energy grid. I support requiring mandatory environmental reviews before construction, ensuring facilities are powered by 100% new clean energy, and enforcing strict DNR water-use permits. Crucially, I support banning or strictly limiting non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) between local government officials and tech developers. Public trust requires transparency—local officials should not be bound by secret corporate agreements when deciding on major economic and environmental impacts in their communities.

AI Safety Guardrails: Regarding AI technology, I support enforcing Minnesota’s bans on non-consensual deepfake pornography and election manipulation, while extending protections against AI “nudification” tools. Furthermore, we must establish rigorous state and federal safety testing requirements for advanced AI models before deployment—ensuring containment, preventing cybersecurity breaches, and stopping systems from escaping test environments or compromising critical infrastructure.”

KEYWORDS: Infrastructure, Transparency, Safety

“Having worked on Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants that pushed state-of-the-art technologies forward, I know firsthand that funding innovation powers local job growth and economic leadership.

To build on Minnesota’s innovation economy, I support:

Expanding State Matching Grants: Strengthening state matching programs (like Launch MN) for federal SBIR and STTR grants to help local tech startups de-risk early-stage technologies and commercialize new breakthroughs.

Academic-Industry Partnerships: Supporting state seed-grant programs that bridge university research with local engineering and manufacturing jobs.

Federal Advocacy: Working with our federal delegation to protect R&D investments, ensuring Minnesota remains a hub for cutting-edge technology.”

KEYWORDS: Commercialization, Innovation, Growth

“A 28% drop in fatal overdoses is encouraging progress, but it is only the beginning—one preventable death is still too many. To sustain this momentum, our work remains incomplete until treatment, prevention, and harm reduction resources reach every community, particularly Indigenous and Black populations bearing a disproportionate burden of this crisis.

I support:

Targeted Community-Led Funding: Expanding state grants directly to culturally specific, community-based organizations serving higher-risk communities for prevention, recovery, and harm reduction (including widespread naloxone access).

Accessible Treatment Infrastructure: Eliminating administrative and financial barriers to evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) across urban and rural areas.

Addressing Root Causes: Investing in supportive housing, mental health resources, and economic security to address the social determinants of addiction.”

KEYWORDS: Equity, Access, Prevention

“I would refer to scientists whenever a policy decision involves scientific or technical information that I do not have the expertise to fully understand or evaluate myself. I would seek out qualified experts, research, and evidence to better understand the potential impacts of a policy, while also listening to the people and communities who will be directly affected. Good policymaking should bring together the best available evidence, lived experience, and the realities of the communities we serve.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Lived Experience

“I do not support mining projects in the region surrounding the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Boundary Waters and the surrounding watershed are irreplaceable natural resources, and decisions about development should prioritize long-term protection of clean water and the ecosystems that depend on it.

I would support policies that strengthen environmental review, protect the watershed from pollution and contamination, require strong and enforceable safeguards for any permitted activity, and ensure that decisions are informed by independent scientific evidence. Once damage is done to a sensitive watershed, it may not be possible to fully restore it. Prevention should be the priority.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Conservation, Science

“We need to use science to create better solutions for reducing PFAS and protecting Minnesotans from exposure. I would support policies based on the best available scientific evidence, including stronger monitoring and testing of drinking water, identifying and reducing sources of contamination, and investing in effective treatment and cleanup technologies. We need to focus on prevention while continuing to support scientific research into safer alternatives and long-term solutions.”

KEYWORDS: Science, Prevention, Clean Water

“I believe Minnesota needs a moratorium on new hyperscale data centers until we better understand their impacts. Before approving additional projects, we need independent, science-based assessments of their water and energy use, environmental impacts, infrastructure demands, and effects on surrounding communities. We should not be rushing to build these facilities and figuring out the consequences afterward. A moratorium would give Minnesota the time to establish clear standards and regulations based on evidence before moving forward.”

KEYWORDS: Moratorium, Evidence, Accountability

“I support continued and increased investment in scientific research at both the state and federal level. I would also support directing more research funding toward Native American scientists and institutions so Indigenous communities have greater opportunities to lead research that affects their communities, lands, health, and future. The people closest to these issues should have a meaningful role in shaping the questions we research and the solutions we develop.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Representation, Indigenous Leadership

“I support continuing to invest in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery, but we also have to be honest about who is being left behind. I have lived this crisis personally, and I know recovery is possible when people have access to the right support.

Minnesota should expand low-barrier access to naloxone, treatment, peer recovery support, and culturally specific programs, particularly in Indigenous and Black communities experiencing disproportionately high overdose death rates.

We also need to address the conditions that make recovery harder: housing instability, poverty, transportation barriers, mental health care, and lack of access to services in rural communities. I support funding solutions shaped by people with lived experience and by the communities most affected.

We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis. We need to keep people alive long enough to have the opportunity to recover.”

KEYWORDS: Cultural Connection, Prevention, Investment

“I would consult scientists and subject-matter experts when legislation involves technical or scientific issues, particularly energy, water, environmental protection, public health, and emerging technologies. I would use their expertise to understand the evidence, risks, uncertainties, and potential unintended consequences before voting. Good policy should be informed by evidence, while elected officials remain accountable for the final decision.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Accountability

“I support responsible mining in Minnesota, but I believe the Boundary Waters watershed deserves a higher level of protection because contamination could have long-lasting and potentially irreversible consequences. The federal environmental review underlying the previous withdrawal specifically identified risks to the watershed, wildlife, Tribal interests, and recreation economy.

I would support strong science-based environmental review, water-quality protections, financial assurance for cleanup and reclamation, and holding mining companies—not taxpayers—responsible for environmental damage. Some places require us to weigh the economic benefits of development against risks that may be impossible to undo.”

KEYWORDS: Watershed Protection, Responsible Mining, Accountability

“I support strong PFAS monitoring, testing, and cleanup of contaminated drinking water, while holding polluters accountable for the costs whenever responsibility can be established. Minnesota should also help communities upgrade treatment systems and continue reducing unnecessary PFAS exposure at the source. Clean drinking water is a basic responsibility, and taxpayers should not be left paying for contamination caused by others.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Polluter Accountability, Prevention

“I support a temporary pause on new hyperscale data center approvals until Minnesota has stronger safeguards in place. Data centers can bring investment and jobs, but projects of this scale can also place significant demands on our electric grid, water resources, and local infrastructure. I support transparent public review, strong water and energy standards, long-term financial assurance, and requiring corporations to cover the project-specific infrastructure costs they create rather than shifting those costs to taxpayers or ratepayers.”

KEYWORDS: Ratepayer Protection, Resource Responsibility, Transparency

“I support continued investment in scientific research that improves public health, strengthens Minnesota’s economy, and drives innovation. While NIH funding is primarily a federal responsibility, at the state level I would support partnerships with Minnesota universities and research institutions, competitive research programs, and investments that help turn research into new technologies, businesses, and jobs. Research funding should be evidence-based, transparent, and accountable for results.”

KEYWORDS: Innovation, Investment, Accountability

“I support continuing proven overdose-prevention efforts, including access to naloxone, treatment and recovery services, and stronger mental health and addiction resources. We also need to address the significant disparities affecting Indigenous and Black Minnesotans by working directly with communities to identify barriers to treatment and effective prevention. At the same time, we should hold drug traffickers accountable and continually evaluate programs to ensure they are actually reducing deaths.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Treatment, Accountability

“I have a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, and recognize the importance of consulting with those who have more knowledge and expertise, because I believe most people who go into the field of science are not doing it for themselves; they are doing it to gain knowledge and share it with others in hopes of improvement for the well-being of human kind. I will prioritize decision making processes being guided by sound evidence from experts in their respected fields.”

KEYWORDS: Research, evidence, consensus.

“The BWCA is one of the most rare geological entities on Earth, and must be protected for future generations. If we cannot prove that mining can and will be safe, and that specific people, not corporations, will be held accountable if it’s not, then we need to keep our hands off. I also recognize the current and future demand for nickel and copper, which cannot be minimized in a society that is moving in a direction where technological advancements are needed for other sustainability purposes.”

KEYWORDS: Mindful, respectful, accountable.

“By supporting Minnesota’s “Amra’s Law” that bans intentionally added PFAS.”

KEYWORDS: Adhere, Support, Accountability.

“I would like to see any data center development adhere to strict standards such as operating off the grid by utilizing closed-loop systems and sustainable/renewable energy sources without shifting any costs to Minnesota residents.”

KEYWORDS: Resident centered accountability.

“Minnesota’s economic vitality has been based upon our long-standing history of research and development through our college and university systems, and absolutely must continue to be a top priority. I want Minnesota to continue being a place where people can live and come to in order to learn and push the envelope with developing sciences, because we can and would benefit from being a place focused on the improvement of people’s lives through science.”

KEYWORDS: It’s a priority.

“Putting resources where they’re needed the most. Through my work as a mental health provider, both in a clinic and correctional setting, I have spent many years working directly with those who are living with addiction, and have sadly seen many pass because of it. We do a decent job of “treatment” in Minnesota, but we have a lot more to do when it comes to “recovery,” including; stable/supportive housing programs, adhering to evidence based practices and prioritizing funding as such, supporting genuine culture appropriate mental health services that focus on more than just addiction, supporting integrated behavioral and chemical health services and provider programs, and creating an actual system in Minnesota that communicates effortlessly between providers and supports.”

KEYWORDS: Build the system.

“I earned my biology degree from St. Olaf, so I was trained to start with the evidence: ask questions, understand what the data can and cannot tell us, and change course when the facts demand it. That is how I try to approach my work in the Legislature, too.

Scientists and subject-matter experts are especially important when we are making decisions about public health, clean water, emerging technology and our natural resources. On the Environment Committee, I regularly hear from scientists, agency experts and people directly affected by the policies we are considering. Their expertise helps us understand the likely consequences of a decision and where uncertainty remains.

Science does not make every policy choice for us. Legislators still have to weigh cost, implementation and the lived experiences of the people we represent. But good policy should begin with an honest understanding of the evidence.”

“I spent nearly a decade professionally working to protect the Boundary Waters before I was elected, and my position has not changed: sulfide-ore copper mining does not belong in the Boundary Waters watershed.

This is not about opposing mining everywhere. It is about recognizing that some places are too valuable and too vulnerable to put at risk. The Boundary Waters is a connected system of lakes, rivers and wetlands with water so clean we can drink straight from the source. Pollution upstream does not stay neatly contained at a mine site.

That is why the first bill I introduced in the House was legislation to permanently protect the Boundary Waters watershed from sulfide-ore copper mining on state lands. I have also supported permanent federal protection, because protections that can be reversed from one administration to the next are not truly permanent.

Minnesota has an obligation to honor our treaties with tribes, protect clean water, wild rice and the places we want our kids and grandkids to inherit. I will keep working for permanent protection at every level of government.”

“Minnesota has been a national leader in addressing PFAS, and I want us to continue reducing these chemicals at the source while identifying and cleaning up contamination that already exists.

I serve on the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, where we have heard directly from scientists and state agencies about PFAS pollution, prevention and management. I have opposed efforts to weaken Minnesota’s PFAS restrictions, including voting against legislation that would have created additional exemptions for commercial and industrial products.

Going forward, I support strong, science-based drinking-water standards, continued monitoring and testing, reducing unnecessary uses of PFAS before they enter our water, and making sure the companies responsible for contamination contribute to the cost of cleaning it up. Protecting Minnesotans from PFAS means addressing both the contamination we have inherited and preventing more of it from entering our water in the first place.”

“Minnesota should not mistake a promise of economic development for proof that a massive data center is good for the communities being asked to host it. These projects can require extraordinary amounts of electricity, water and public infrastructure, and those costs and consequences deserve the same scrutiny as the benefits companies promise.

I support rigorous environmental review of proposed data centers, including their water use, energy demands, infrastructure needs and impact on surrounding communities.

If a project moves forward, the corporation should bear its full costs. Minnesota families and small businesses should never find themselves subsidizing Amazon’s utility bill or paying for infrastructure built primarily to serve a billion-dollar corporation.

Minnesota should welcome economic development that strengthens our communities, but you and I as average residents should never pay a single dime out of our own pockets so the richest corporations in the world can make another billion dollars while we struggle to pay our bills.”

“I fully support continued public investment in scientific research at both the state and federal levels. Minnesota’s universities and research institutions are economic engines, but their value goes well beyond the jobs they create. Their research improves healthcare, protects our environment, drives innovation and helps us solve problems that affect Minnesotans every day.

As someone with a biology degree, I also understand that important research often takes years to produce results. Researchers and universities need stable, predictable funding that allows them to pursue that work rather than lurching from one funding crisis to another.

I would oppose efforts to politicize or arbitrarily cut federal research funding, and at the state level I support continued investment in Minnesota’s universities and research capacity. We should treat scientific research as part of the infrastructure that keeps Minnesota healthy, innovative and economically competitive.”

“Minnesota should build on the progress we’ve made by making it easier for people struggling with substance use disorder to get treatment before a crisis becomes fatal. That means expanding access to mental-health and substance-use treatment, reducing financial barriers to care and supporting prevention and recovery services in communities across the state.

The disparities in overdose deaths among Indigenous and Black Minnesotans also make clear that statewide progress is not reaching every community equally. We need to understand where those gaps are coming from and make sure prevention, treatment and recovery resources are reaching the communities experiencing the greatest harm.

My broader goal in healthcare is universal access that includes mental healthcare. Substance-use treatment has to be part of that. No Minnesotan seeking help should be unable to get treatment because of cost, insurance coverage or where they live.”

“Scientists are absolutely vital in gathering information and facts surrounding nearly every issue imaginable. Whether it is environmental, health care, technology, economics, or any field, scientists are the frontline for research, and are our most valuable resource when it comes to accurate information.”

KEYWORDS: Information, Facts, Accuracy

“I think that mining in the BWCA should be strictly forbidden. Nature is so fragile, and our State and National Parks are protected so that future generations can enjoy the beauty and splendor that nature has to offer. I would work to reestablish the protections that were removed, and fight to keep all our parks as undisturbed as possible.”

KEYWORDS: Protection, Nature, Beauty

“We need to work with scientists to create plans to clean the contaminated water systems, while also developing aggressive and strict laws governing the protection of the population from PFAS and other chemical contaminates. Our water is our most precious and vital resource, and we need to make sure that we are keeping it clean.”

KEYWORDS: Clean-up, Oversight, Safety

“Environment, safety, oversight, THEN profit is my priority list when it comes to data centers. The environmental impact could be severe, and no amount of profit is worth the lives of our citizens, nor potentially irreversible damage to the surrounding area and environment. Constant monitoring, and vigilant oversight is a requirement for all technology centers.”

KEYWORDS: Monitoring, Environment, Oversight

“I think that research is key to progressing mankind forward. Whether it is in medicine, engineering, clean energy, sociology, education, or any field. Supporting and continuing to expand publicly funded scientific research puts the information into the hands of the people, and not in the hands of corporations that want to keep it private for profit. Supporting our universities creates generational wealth in knowledge for everyone to benefit from.”

KEYWORDS: Knowledge, Expansion, Support

“Drug use has direct correlation to poverty and lack of hope for the future. By helping to create more housing, lowering costs, making education available for everyone, and working to eliminate poverty, while creating hope is the most effective way to lower the use of drugs as a whole. At the same time, making sure that health care, physical and mental, is available at all times for all people will greatly reduce the effects that drugs have on individuals. Mental health care and treatment centers are the frontline in the fight to eliminate drug use, and I believe that compassion, empathy, and support are absolutely key.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Support, Hope

“As scientists are more knowledgeable in their chosen field than i am, i expect that i would lean on their expertise heavily when trying to decide how to vote on policy.”

KEYWORDS: knowledgeable, expertise, policy

“I am against any mining in the Boundary water. That particular area is a treasure trove of ecological information. I would support any policy that prohibits mining of any kind in the boundary water, as well as any attempt for logging.”

KEYWORDS: ecological, treasure, prohibit

“We need to fix any community water systems that are currently out of regulation, even if that means having to re-install the entire system. The companies that are supplying the water should face heavy fines until the issue is resolved.”

KEYWORDS: Fix, re-install, fines

“I understand that we probably aren’t going to be able to get away from A.I. at this point, so i feel that A.I. should be heavily regulated. We have already seen some of the adverse effects these programs have on our populace. We should limit the use of A.I. to stop A.I. generated illicit images, the spreading of false or misleading information, and protect the rights of artist and authors within all fields so their work is their work.”

KEYWORDS: regulate, limit, protect

“I would simply like to continue to support the NIH. If we can increase the amount of funding available i would absolutely support that as well.”

KEYWORDS: support, increase, funding

“Any person or individual regardless of color, race, ethnic background, or sexual orientation should not face criminal charges for drugs. Rather we should focus on healing and providing opportunities for them to rejoin society in their own time. Allowing time to heal and recover will ultimately reduce the amount of repeat drug offenses also reducing the amount of overdoses.”

KEYWORDS: heal, recover, rejoin

“I think having an understanding of the studies done and a proper understanding of the information derived from them are important to making educated and informed decisions.”

KEYWORDS: understanding, competency, comprehension

“I think that we need to protect the watershed, we need to ensure all applicable environmental protections and policies are being followed and record keeping is enforced. Mining has been a leading employer in our area for decades, but this area relies on tourism for a lot of small businesses in the area. This watershed is very critical to the people who live there.”

KEYWORDS: protections, policy, tourism

“We need to ensure that all drinking water is safe for all who rely on it. We can’t go backwards on the regulations in place and we need to work closely with the people who can advise us on the best way to move forward and assist the areas to ensure they have safe water to drink and bathe in.”

KEYWORDS: Ensure, advisors, communities

“We need to have make sure that they have transparent information available for all residents in the areas they plan on proposing the centers. We also need to see how this has affected areas that already have the centers in operation. I understand they do create several jobs while under construction, but we need to assess the long term employment viability and possible health and environmental impacts they can cause.”

KEYWORDS: Jobs, health, environmental

“Funding research has provided many scientific advances and jobs that have improved our lives. We need to find economic ways to help the research continue from a state level and hopefully the federal administration will follow suit. ”

KEYWORDS: Economic, state, and federal

“We need to continue the advances for all in our state. We need to work on education and outreach programs for the underserved populations in our state. We need to work with leaders in the indigenous and all communities to expand these programs. The programs will need funding to help and we need to be greative in finding ways to serve these groups.”

KEYWORDS: education, outreach, funding

“I would rely on scientists whenever a policy touches public health, natural resources, environmental protection, or any issue where solid data and research are essential for responsible decision making. When evaluating a bill, I would consult subject matter experts to review the evidence, understand potential impacts, and ensure that my vote is grounded in sound science rather than politics or special interests. My priority is to support policies that protect Minnesotans and reflect the best available research.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence‑based decision making, public health and environmental expertise, Subject matter consultation

“The Boundary Waters is a national treasure, and any activity in its watershed must meet strict standards that protect clean water and local communities. I support responsible resource development, but only when independent review shows it will not harm the region’s lakes, rivers, or long‑term economic stability. Mining plays an important role in energy and manufacturing, yet this specific area is uniquely sensitive and requires extra caution.

I support policies that require rigorous environmental review, strong financial assurance from companies, and clear, science‑based safeguards to protect the watershed. Minnesota should not accept projects that leave taxpayers responsible for cleanup or put a world‑class ecosystem at risk. Responsible development is possible, but protecting the Boundary Waters must remain the priority.”

KEYWORDS: Clean water protection, responsible development, Science‑based safeguards

“PFAS contamination is a serious issue, and Minnesotans deserve clean, safe drinking water. I support a balanced approach that protects public health while ensuring that regulations are clear and practical. My priority is holding polluters accountable rather than placing unnecessary burdens on families, farmers, or small businesses.

I would support policies that strengthen monitoring of PFAS in community water systems, require companies to fully disclose the chemicals they use, and ensure that manufacturers not taxpayers pay for cleanup when contamination occurs. I also back investments in modern water treatment technology and partnerships with local governments to upgrade aging infrastructure.

Protecting residents from PFAS is essential, but it must be done in a way that supports both public health and long-term economic stability.”

KEYWORDS: Clean water protection, Accountability for polluters, Science based monitoring

“Data centers bring major economic opportunities, but they also create demands on local infrastructure. I support a balanced approach that encourages investment while making sure communities are protected. Any project should undergo a thorough review of its impacts on energy use, water systems, emergency services, and long-term infrastructure needs.

Data centers should be responsible for covering the costs of any upgrades they require so taxpayers are not left paying for private development.

Minnesota can welcome innovation and job growth while still protecting local communities. The goal is responsible development that strengthens our economy without creating long term burdens for residents.”

KEYWORDS: Responsible development, Infrastructure review, Community protection

“I support funding that is transparent, efficient, and tied to clear outcomes. When research drives medical advances, supports jobs, and grows our economy, it is a smart investment.

I would back policies that encourage federal agencies like the National Institute on Health to continue partnering with Minnesota universities, while ensuring that grants are awarded through a fair, merit‑based process. At the state level, I support efforts that promote public‑private research partnerships, reduce unnecessary red tape, and help Minnesota compete for national research funding.

Strong science research supports health care, agriculture, technology, and emergency response. Continued investment should be guided by accountability, measurable results, and a focus on projects that deliver benefits for Minnesotans.”

KEYWORDS: Transparent funding, Merit based research, Public private partnerships

“We need to continue policies that save lives while strengthening public safety. I support an approach that focuses on treatment access, community partnerships, and accountability for those who traffic dangerous drugs.

I would back efforts to expand evidence-based treatment, improve coordination between state agencies, tribal communities and support local programs that have proven effective in reducing overdoses. Strengthening access to mental health services, recovery housing, and rapid response teams can help keep this downward trend moving.

Law enforcement also plays a critical role. I support giving officers and first responders the tools they need to disrupt fentanyl trafficking, respond quickly to overdoses, and keep dangerous substances out of our communities.

We should continue investing in strategies that work, especially in communities facing the highest risks. The goal is simple: fewer deaths, stronger families, and safer neighborhoods across the state.”

KEYWORDS: Treatment access, Community safety, Evidence based programs

“If I believe it to be pertinent, I will consult scientists every time. I just don’t believe there is anything politicians should be doing, that concerns science. The food we eat…get politics OUT. The environment…I’ve never met a politician who didn’t think they had ALL the answers for “Climate Change” but I have yet to see anything work.

The one spot in government that could use some real scientist help is the local municipalities that are providing clean drinking water.

When there is an incentive for data to come out in a certain way, and persuade our population to believe “we need” to do __, that’s not science to me.”

KEYWORDS: Get Government OUT

“My position is that I live in North St Paul. My community doesn’t do mining. The communities in northern MN are there because of mining and logging. The people THERE know what is best for the environment they live in. Personally, I believe if someone owns the property and wants to extract the resources, they have that right. When they are in the process, if they violate their neighbors’ rights to their property, they are not operating in good faith. The people in the community can take care of that, not bureaucrats in St. Paul. Banning anything just creates a clear line to cross and legal loopholes for lawyers to navigate. When we banned mining in America (or at least limited it tremendously), we completely stopped the learning process or trial and error. Which lead to Chilean mining companies having techniques that ‘could’ be safer for the environment.”

KEYWORDS: Get Government OUT

“It is very unfortunate that our ground water has been polluted. The parties responsible have been sued and are building water treatment facilities around the state. If we really want to get these ‘forever’ chemicals out of our water, we need to stop buying things that leach them out. Cause and effect…

Again, there is no answer the state legislature can provide, that will ‘solve’ an enviromental problem. It MUST come from the people that truly want to change.”

KEYWORDS: Cause and Effect

“Just like the mining question, the communities these data centers are being proposed, should be the arbiter of whether or not they ‘should be’. NOT bureaucrats & politicians in St Paul.”

KEYWORDS: Local Government Only

“$700 million had to be taken from one group of people and given to another. Along with that money, also comes strings and coercive ‘benefits’ to produce __. The government isn’t a jobs program and whatever “economic activity” happens in result of those jobs, is still a net negative on the ratcheting effect of government incentives. I would support policies to incentivize alternative sources of funding.”

KEYWORDS: Not a Jobs Program

“Oof…this has NOTHING to do with “Science”. I won’t waste time on identity politics. We are ALL Minnesotans. The more we divide each other by these demographics, the worse things get.”

KEYWORDS: Stop Identity Politics.

“Science should be central to understanding the facts behind a policy decision. As a legislator, I would rely on scientists and subject-matter experts when evaluating policies involving public health, the environment, emerging technology, agriculture, energy, education, and other areas where decisions should be informed by evidence. That means hearing directly from researchers, state agency scientists, medical professionals, engineers, universities, and experts with relevant experience; reviewing peer-reviewed research and reliable data; and asking whether there is a genuine scientific consensus or meaningful disagreement that policymakers need to understand.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Expertise, Integrity

“Minnesota can support good-paying mining jobs while also being thoughtful about where and how mining projects move forward. The Boundary Waters is one of Minnesota’s greatest natural treasures, and any proposal that could affect its watershed deserves especially careful scrutiny. I would listen closely to scientists, environmental experts, workers, local communities, Tribal Nations, businesses, and other stakeholders in the region before making decisions about proposed mining projects. We need to take potential risks to clean water seriously while also recognizing the importance of mining jobs and economic opportunity in northern Minnesota.

My priority would be making sure decisions are based on the best available science, strong environmental safeguards, and a transparent process that gives the people who live and work in the region a meaningful voice. Protecting the Boundary Waters, supporting local economies, and creating good-paying jobs should not be treated as mutually exclusive goals.”

KEYWORDS: Protect, Clean Water, Conservation

“Minnesotans should be able to turn on their faucet without worrying whether their water is making their family sick. I support an aggressive approach to PFAS that focuses first on preventing contamination, while helping communities address pollution that has already occurred. Minnesota has begun phasing out nonessential uses of PFAS through Amara’s Law, and I support fully implementing and enforcing those protections. I would also support continued statewide testing, assistance for communities and private well owners, investments in treatment infrastructure, and holding responsible polluters, not local taxpayers, accountable for cleanup costs. We should also continue developing Minnesota health and water-quality standards based on the best available science, even if federal protections are weakened. The Minnesota Department of Health has identified community water systems exceeding federal PFAS standards, making this an immediate infrastructure and public-health issue, not a theoretical future concern.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, Clean Water, Accountability

“Data centers can bring investment and jobs to Minnesota, but communities should not be asked to write them a blank check when it comes to electricity, water, infrastructure, or taxpayer subsidies. I support requiring developers to disclose projected water and energy use before approval, conducting meaningful environmental review, protecting local control, and ensuring the public has an opportunity to weigh in. Projects with enormous water demands should demonstrate that they will not threaten local aquifers or drinking-water supplies and should use conservation, water recycling, reclaimed water, and closed-loop systems wherever feasible. Minnesota has already begun establishing stronger water-use requirements for large data centers, and I support building on that framework. I also believe data centers should pay the infrastructure and energy costs they create rather than shifting those costs onto Minnesota families and small businesses. Any public incentives should be tied to clear, enforceable benefits such as permanent jobs and community investment.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency, Sustainability, Ratepayers

“As a state representative, I would not have a vote on federal NIH appropriations, but I would be a strong advocate against federal cuts that threaten Minnesota researchers, universities, hospitals, and patients. At the state level, I would support strong funding for the University of Minnesota and other public research institutions, investments in research facilities and laboratories, partnerships that help bring federal research dollars to Minnesota, and STEM education that develops the next generation of scientists and researchers. Minnesota should also continue supporting scientific expertise within state agencies. Whether we are responding to emerging diseases, PFAS contamination, invasive species, agricultural challenges, or new technologies, weakening our scientific capacity hurts us all.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, Investment

“The decline in overdose deaths is encouraging, but we should not declare victory while hundreds of Minnesota families continue losing loved ones, especially when Indigenous and Black Minnesotans remain disproportionately affected. Minnesota’s own data show particularly severe racial disparities in overdose mortality. I support continuing broad access to naloxone, expanding medication-assisted treatment and same-day connections to care, supporting recovery services and housing, and investing opioid-settlement dollars in evidence-based prevention and treatment. Minnesota currently provides mechanisms for organizations to distribute naloxone, and those lifesaving programs should continue.”

KEYWORDS: Naloxone, Treatment, Equity

“I would refer to scientists as subject matter experts”

KEYWORDS: Subject matter experts

“I believe that we can find a balance that protects the environment yet allows commerce, including mining, within the watershed”

KEYWORDS: Mining, Environment, compatible

“Zero tolerance isn’t sustainable policy.

Science can help us find a balance; we certainly all want clean water ”

KEYWORDS: Science, environment, balance

“Data centers can provide economic growth.

We must respect local community input when building them.”

KEYWORDS: Growth, innovation, community

“Research has the opportunity to provide a great return on investment. Research should not be funded just to support jobs in research departments.

I understand that research infrastructure is also important to maintain, but the priority needs to remain relevant to what is in the public interest”

KEYWORDS: Research, public relevance

“Support education to encourage clean living.

Provide purpose to people’s lives; people that have something to live for don’t abuse drugs ”

KEYWORDS: Abstinence, productivity, purpose

“Decisions made in the state legislature should be grounded in evidence, fiscal responsibility, and real-world results. Science provides a critical, objective baseline for evaluating complex technical issues—from agricultural soil health and water quality to public safety technologies and natural resource management. If elected, I will look to scientists, university researchers, and nonpartisan technical experts to ensure our laws are built on sound, peer-reviewed data rather than political assumptions.

At the same time, scientific data must be paired with practical local knowledge. The best policies emerge when empirical research is evaluated alongside the lived experiences of farmers, small business owners, and local residents. Science tells us what is technically happening, but working directly with our communities ensures that proposed solutions remain pragmatic, economically viable, and adaptable for everyday Minnesotans.

Finally, expert findings play an essential role in legislative oversight. I will rely on reports from independent scientific bodies and state agencies—such as the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources—to measure policy outcomes, track the return on taxpayer investments, and hold programs accountable. Grounding policy in credible science ensures we protect our resources, steward public funds wisely, and build strong communities from the ground up.”

KEYWORDS: Expertise, Knowledge, Data

“I’m proudly endorsed by The Friends of The Boundary Waters and I oppose mining in the region. I whole heartedly believe in the “Prove it First” legislation and will vote “yes” on that bill when it comes up for a vote on the MN House floor. Protecting the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its surrounding watershed is essential for Minnesota’s environment, natural heritage, and local economy. I oppose sulfide-ore copper mining in this delicate ecosystem due to the high risk of toxic runoff. I support enacting “Prove It First” legislation to ensure no mining project moves forward without hard proof that it can be done without polluting our waters. Additionally, I support strong state oversight and protective land-use policies to safeguard the watershed for future generations.”

KEYWORDS: Prove It First

“Clean water is essential to the health, safety, and vitality of every Minnesota community. With PFAS and “forever chemicals” threatening local water systems, state policy must focus on prevention, infrastructure support, and accountability to protect residents without burdening ratepayers.

First, we must support local communities by directing state clean water grants and bonding funds toward upgrading municipal filtration systems. Small towns and local water utilities should not have to bear the cost of expensive reverse osmosis or carbon filtration technologies alone. Additionally, we must ensure rural families on private wells have access to testing and filtration support.

Second, we must stop contamination at the source. Supporting the phase-out of nonessential PFAS in consumer products under Amara’s Law will keep these chemicals out of our soil and water tables.

Finally, polluters—not taxpayers—must be held responsible for remediation. Settlement funds and legal accountability must cover long-term cleanup and monitoring. By combining targeted infrastructure funding with strong state oversight, we can safeguard our drinking water, protect public health, and ensure our water infrastructure remains safe and sustainable for generations to come.”

KEYWORDS: Clean water, Prevention, Sustainable

“Hyperscale data centers bring significant technological investment to Minnesota, but before large-scale facilities are approved, developers must prove how they will protect our environment, water supplies, and energy grid.

First, comprehensive environmental reviews must be required prior to construction. Developers should be required to demonstrate that high-volume water cooling systems will not deplete local aquifers or harm drinking water for farms and surrounding residents. Encouraging closed-loop or air-cooling technologies will ensure critical water resources are preserved.

Second, we must protect families, small businesses, and agricultural producers from rising energy costs. Before groundbreaking, data centers must prove their massive power demands will not overload the local grid or shift transmission upgrade costs onto everyday ratepayers. Developers should be required to secure supplemental clean power and fund their own infrastructure upgrades.”

KEYWORDS: Citizenry, Oversight, Accountability

“A good place to start would be to vote for a Federal Administration that believes in science.

Scientific research at Minnesota universities and medical centers is a cornerstone of our state economy, driving innovation while supporting thousands of local jobs and billions in economic activity. Grounding our state’s growth in evidence and practical results requires strong policy support for research funding at both state and federal levels.

First, we must safeguard federal research investments. I will advocate to protect full federal cost reimbursements for facilities, ensuring our universities retain the operational resources necessary to maintain cutting-edge laboratories without draining state budgets.

Second, state matching grants and targeted capital bonding are essential to keep Minnesota competitive. Strategic state investments help public higher education institutions attract major federal grants, upgrade technology, and retain top scientific talent.

Third, we must bridge discovery and local economic growth. Supporting state programs that help researchers transition lab breakthroughs into commercial startups keeps technology, advanced manufacturing, and high-paying jobs in local Minnesota communities.

Finally, investing in STEM education across state colleges ensures a strong workforce pipeline. Supporting scientific research protects public health, stewards public funds, and builds a thriving economic foundation from the bottom up.”

KEYWORDS: Vote, STEM, Education

“While Minnesota’s recent 28% decline in fatal drug overdoses represents encouraging progress, severe health disparities persist across our state. Indigenous and Black Minnesotans continue to experience fatal overdose rates significantly higher than White residents. Sustaining this downward trend requires evidence-based strategies, expanded access to long-term recovery, and targeted investments in disproportionately impacted communities.

First, state funding and opioid settlement dollars must be directly allocated to Tribal nations, urban Indigenous organizations, and Black health providers. Empowering culturally specific treatment programs and peer recovery specialists ensures support directly reaches those facing the greatest disparities.

Second, we must broaden access to life-saving harm reduction tools, ensuring naloxone (Narcan) and test strips are readily available in community hubs, schools, and clinics statewide.

Third, we must eliminate artificial barriers to treatment by prohibiting sober housing facilities from turning away individuals who use prescribed FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder.

Finally, integrating substance use treatment into local primary care centers ensures every resident has access to compassionate, long-term care. Grounding policy in evidence and equity protects public health and strengthens families from the bottom up.

We must vote for people who believe that ALL people matter, no matter the color of their skin or economic status”

KEYWORDS: Vote, Equity, Prevention

“Yes, I always leverage the most qualified and impacted groups of people when developing policy. As a trained engineer, I understand the importance of coming at issues with a pragmatic, evidence-based approach.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence

“I oppose these projects and support strong regulation to protect the BWCA. I believe that strong regulation is the key to a most just, resilient, and thriving Minnesota. In addition to regulation, we can use incentives to ensure that businesses, industries, and people become curious and motivated to participate in initiatives that protect the environment.”

KEYWORDS: Sustainability, Wilderness, Regulation

“To protect our community’s air, soil, and groundwater, I’ll defend and strengthen Amara’s Law to keep PFAS out of our drinking water, push for agricultural buffers and reduced fertilizer/pesticide runoff into waterways, and hold the MPCA accountable through public hearings for safe water standards.”

KEYWORDS: Protect, Accountability, Standards

“Data centers are being targeted for Minnesota because of our favorable climate and abundant water but they require large amounts of energy, drive up costs, could stress our existing systems, put our 100% clean electricity by 2040 law in jeopardy, and threaten clean air and water. Fortunately, in 2025 we were able to put in guardrails to ensure that existing consumers are not covering costs of these new developments and to ensure that our movement to 100% clean electricity by 2040 is not at risk. Going forward, we need additional work to require large data centers to bring their own clean energy, to minimize water consumption through air-cooled systems, to undergo environmental impact studies, and to encourage them to recover and reuse data center waste heat.”

KEYWORDS: Guardrails, Clean Energy, Water

“I believe that evidence-backed research and scientific studies – alongside close discussions with the impacted community – should be the backbone of policy-making, and I support more funding for science research.”

KEYWORDS: Support, Policy, Research

“I believe that addressing the social determinants driving substance use risk — stable housing, employment access, and trauma-informed mental health care — is essential, especially in communities that have faced concentrated disinvestment, redlining, or historical trauma, and I’m committed to tackling this issue at its roots.”

KEYWORDS: Housing, Employment, Mental Health

“We live in an era of mass dissemination of junk science masked as legitimate scientific process, designed to advance the policy interests of industry and big corporations. I agree with the core objectives of the SNAP coalition: to provide voters with clear, accessible information so they can see how candidates value science in decision-making and encourage thoughtful engagement between communities and policymakers on science policy-related topics in our state.

If elected, I will ensure scientific expertise lies at the center of policies I advance. As a representative I will pursue legislation and vote to support science and research.

The importance of Minnesota’s research institutions can not be overstated. Investments in STEM programs are necessary to produce the scientists and talented STEM professionals that will drive future economic success in Minnesota.

We must also push for transparency in the scientific process - this is why the community relies so heavily on the process of peer-reviewed research. When we advance science backed by peer-review, the scientific process is clear and transparent, which will build trust and support for the community.”

KEYWORDS: trust, transparency, scientific process

“We must protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and all waters in the state. I put my life on the line as a Law Enforcement Ranger to protect public lands, waters and Wilderness. I also served for 6 years as the Kawishiwi District Ranger in Ely. I am deeply familiar with all aspects of federal policy. I know what it is like to be fully committed to stand up for these special places.

I will work with all interested parties to craft protections that have broad support in order to be resilient in the long term. We need a bi-partisan coalition which includes union representation, ensures honoring tribal interests, and the inclusion of lake associations. The residents of District 3A and all Minnesotans need leaders who can speak with all interested parties, listen to what they have to say, and bring them together to move the right projects forward in a sustainable way.

We also need industry to create sustainable employment. Focusing on known existing concerns such as sulphate contamination and mercury emissions will grow good union jobs while showing that mining interests are willing to comply with the strong environmental protections we have in place. This builds trust.”

KEYWORDS: bi-partisan, protections, inclusion

“We must protect our water - full stop. Fortunately, Minnesota has already taken steps to protect our communities from PFAS pollution by passing Amara’s Law in 2023. As we move towards the elimination of PFAS, the initiative lies in ensuring our agencies are properly funded and staffed to administer and enforce the law effectively and continue stringent testing of consumer products to verify compliance.

Initial reporting from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is showing over a 90% compliance rate as manufacturers shift their material supply and adapt to the new rules. Stopping PFAS at the source, before they enter consumer items, is the most effective way to reduce human exposure. Once we fully eliminate PFAS at the source, we can ensure it is not making it into our landfills and groundwater.”

KEYWORDS: PFAS, pollution, clean water

“Unfortunately, our rules have not kept up with the scale of data centers statewide. AI hyper-scale data centers will have a huge impact on local power grids, noise pollution, and water usage. The full impact of data centers must be disclosed prior to any project moving forward.

There are three very simple ground rules we need to establish before moving forward with any data center project:

First off, no tax breaks for billionaires. If data centers are going to be built in our communities these mega corporations must pay their fair share. There also needs to be transparency in the process. Many have lost trust in these corporations when negotiations are done behind closed doors. We also lose trust in our elected officials when they sign non-disclosure agreements during these negotiations. Next, we should also require Project Labor Agreements to ensure qualified and safe union labor is required in any construction efforts. Lastly there must be rate payer protection measures in place to shield local communities from increases in energy costs.”

KEYWORDS: project labor agreements, transparency, water consumption

“As the District Ranger, I relied heavily on science in the decision making process. This was related to proper forest management and the Northern Research Center was critical to this understanding. During recent federal proposed cuts to the Minnesota facilities in Grand Rapids and Ely, I went on the offensive to protect them from cuts. I worked closely with the unions, media, forest products industry, and federal elected officials such as Angie Craig, Amy Klobuchar, and Tina Smith. We were successful in these efforts and the labs were spared from the cuts.

At the state level, integration of the science into the communities is critical so that the research work is directly tied to local concerns. UMD-NRRI is a constant source of real world research taking place to focus on issues such as sulphate pollution, biomass utilization, and even the effects of invasive species on critical resources like wild rice.

We need to fund these efforts and also efforts like the virtual campus in Grand Marais so that our communities are connected with the science and education we need to thrive.”

KEYWORDS: research center, forest management, integration

“Running to represent a rural House District (3A), I would represent the Bois Forte and Grand Portage communities. As a former law enforcement officer for 23 years, I have seen first hand what it looks like when those who do not have access to medical and mental care services are much more likely to be negatively impacted by fatal drug overdoses.

We must expand access to mental health care across rural communities through a combination of telehealth infrastructure, workforce incentives, integrated primary care, and community-based crisis networks.

To provide much needed mobile care, we need to reclassify ambulances as medical services rather than transportation to align funding, staffing, and operational priorities with the clinical and public health roles emergency medical services (EMS) actually perform. I also support consolidating rural EMS with local fire departments to unlock grant funding, create economies of scale, and fund full-time dedicated staff and advanced life support programs in the Northland.”

KEYWORDS: law enforcement officer, crisis networks, rural EMS

“I would refer to scientists when policy decisions require evaluating evidence and risk to assess potential impacts on human health and the environment.”

KEYWORDS: evidence-based, independent, peer-reviewed, transparent

“I oppose mining in the Boundary Waters watershed. I support restoring permanent protections for the federal lands surrounding the Boundary Waters. At the state level, I support the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill and the Prove-It-First Bill.”

KEYWORDS: clean water, permanent protections, polluteer accountability

“I support passing enforceable standards for PFAS in drinking water and wastewater; statewide testing and public reporting; testing and remediation assistance for private well owners; phasing out nonessential uses of PFAS; and a PFAS cleanup fund that requires PFAS manufacturers and sellers to help pay for testing and cleanup.”

KEYWORDS: PFAS prevention, statewide testing, public reporting, polluter accountability, cleanup funding

“I support full environmental review, including cumulative impacts on groundwater, wastewater, air quality, and the electric grid. Data centers should meet enforceable water and energy standards, disclose their projected and actual resource use, and pay for the infrastructure upgrades and other impacts they create. Their costs should not be shifted onto ratepayers or taxpayers. Local communities should receive early notice, meaningful public hearings, full information about project backers and public subsidies, and the authority to reject projects that do not fit their long-term plans. Public incentives should require clear benefits, including prevailing wages, local hiring, and infrastructure contributions. Developers should also provide financial assurances so communities are not left carrying the risk.”

KEYWORDS: environmental review, water protection, public transparency, local control

“The state cannot replace the full scale of federal research funding, but it should consider temporary bridge funding when unexpected federal disruptions threaten promising research, skilled jobs, or Minnesota’s ability to compete for future grants. Minnesota should also challenge unlawful or politically motivated efforts to cancel grants that have already been awarded. At the state level, I support stable funding for the Minnesota’s research universities and targeted investments in research that addresses Minnesota’s needs, including medical research, agriculture, water quality, and public health.”

KEYWORDS: bridge funding, stable funding

“I support continued funding for naloxone access, harm reduction, medication-assisted treatment, recovery services, and overdose prevention education. We should also expand treatment and mental health services in rural areas, where distance and provider shortages remain major barriers. Because Indigenous and Black Minnesotans face much higher overdose death rates, opioid-settlement and state funding should prioritize Tribal nations and culturally specific, community-led programs.”

KEYWORDS: harm reduction, treatment access, rural healthcare, culturally specific programs

“I place a high priority on utilizing peer reviewed scientific research in all public policy decisions. In particular, on matters of public health and environmental protection, too often we ignore science in favor of ideology. I believe in following the evidence.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence, Research, Health

“Sulfide mining has an unbroken track record of polluting downstream waters and groundwater, and I oppose copper-nickel sulfide mining proposals for that reason. The BWCA watershed mineral withdrawal was based on reams of scientific research and tremendous public participation, but was overturned by a bare majority based on politics. I support the Permanent Protection for the BWCA bill and Prove it First as two policies, informed by science, that would protect Minnesota’s waters.”

KEYWORDS: pollution, protection, public

“I was part of the lobbying team that helped pass “Amara’s Law,” which made Minnesota a global leader in phasing out PFAS “forever chemicals.” My home city of Fridley is currently constructing a $6 million water treatment facility to treat PFAS pollution. We must protect Amara’s Law, and not delay implementation of the 2032 ban on all non-essential uses. We must also ensure that polluters pay the cost of cleaning up and treating polluted water. The $850 million 3M PFAS settlement is nearing the end, but the costs continue to escalate.”

KEYWORDS: essential, water, 3M

“I support ending all tax subsidies and creating a robust permitting system for hyperscale data centers that protect electric ratepayers, protects our groundwater, and protects local residents from pollution. I also support requiring data centers to bring their own new clean energy, paying for renewable energy such as solar + battery storage equal to their power draw.”

KEYWORDS: subsidy, permit, water

“Minnesota can’t prevent federal cuts to scientific research, but we can defend academic freedom in our universities and ensure that critical research continues with state support. We must continue training the next generation of researchers by funding our public universities, including graduate education. I’m also open to targeted state investments to continue critical research needs. Minnesota’s Legacy Fund and the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund also support scientific research, and I will be a strong voice in support of both.”

KEYWORDS: academic freedom, legacy

“I believe in harm reduction approaches such as needle exchanges, narcan availability, and methadone treatment. Some argue these approaches enable addiction, but I follow the research that shows that they keep people alive. A person once told me “you can’t go clean if you’re dead.” I think the logic of that statement is undeniable, and I support policies that keep people alive and give them access to services. I also support supportive housing models like Avivo Village that see access to addiction care and mental health care as important parts of responding to homelessness.”

KEYWORDS: harm reduction, homelessness

“I respect science and look to scientists for facts and to understand the real impacts of policy decisions.”

KEYWORDS: respect, facts, understanding

“The Boundary Waters and its watershed is too precious a resource to risk with any metal sulfide mining. I was a co-author of the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Bill (HF309 in 2025/26), and intend to support this bill in the 2027/28 session. I also applaud Governor Walz’s recent executive order to block non ferrous sulfide mining in the area.”

KEYWORDS: Ban sulfide mining

“In 2023 we passed some of the nation’s strictest regulations on PFAS with Amara’s Law. We must defend this law.”

KEYWORDS: Defend Amara’s Law

“Either data centers need to be done in a way that they doesn’t cause environmental harm, that doesn’t detract from our carbon free electricity goals, that doesn’t impose costs on other ratepayers, and that actually reduces costs for ratepayers, or we shouldn’t allow them. Their evaluation also should be conducted in a transparent way, meaning we should not allow NDAs to be put in place between data center companies and city officials.”

KEYWORDS: No harm allowed

“I’d advocate for the federal government to continue funding research, push for adequate state funding for our MN university system, and look for ways to leverage targeted programs for research (such as the Renewable Development Account in the Energy Committee, which can fund activities that help to develop new renewable energy technologies).”

KEYWORDS: Keep funding research

“Make naloxone and fentanyl test strips more and more widely available. Invest in culturally specific outreach. Invest in stable recovery housing, comprehensive mental health care, and stronger community-based health networks”

KEYWORDS: Multi tiered approach

“Anything around health or the environment is a must. Scientists give us the facts that can be used to make legislation. Social science would also be one that I would lean heavily on for knowledge. In the end, I can look up the papers and reports, but oftentimes an expert will understand the meaning behind the numbers better than I can.”

KEYWORDS: Experts, Knowledge, Facts

“While we have come a long way in the technology and techniques when it comes to this kind of mining, I think it still needs more advancement before we consider mining that close to the Boundary Waters. I do not agree with having someone else be the guinea pig in these cases so I am against legislation that says someone else needs to try it first. I would need clear proof that the mining would have an extremely low or no impact on the boundary waters.”

KEYWORDS: Advancement, NIMBY, Proof

“We need to invest in the study, creation, and implementation of technology or systems that can begin to clean PFAS from our water. We also need to do the same to prevent more PFAS from entering the water in the first place.”

KEYWORDS: Advancement, Prevention, Implementation

“One of these proposed ones is a mile from my house and I work in IT, so I know them well. First, would be updating noise nuisance laws to accommodate low frequency and continuous sounds. Second, mandatory reporting of electricity and water usage above certain thresholds. Third, classifying hyperscale data centers as heavy industry. Forth, no NDAs.”

KEYWORDS: Modernization, Transparency, Personal

“I would ensure current state funding is kept intact and add to it where we need additional research for any subject. We can’t make decisions if we don’t have the information. I do not have anything more specific at this time, but I am always in favor of more information where feasible.”

KEYWORDS: Knowledge, Decisions, Important

“We should take what has been working, I’m assuming here that the decline is due to some sort of change in either how drug issues are treated or cared for, and make sure that Indigenous and Black Minnesotans also have access to them. Treatments and help needs to be available and affordable to everyone.”

KEYWORDS: Availability, affordability, Everyone

“With my experience in structural design, I understand the importance of referring to those with the proper education and experience in their fields of profession. With my experience, I will create the conversations to seek the knowledge of individuals in their fields that relate to the legislation.”

KEYWORDS: Experience, Predication, Reason

“Protect what we need most, water being one of them. There have been new advancements and thoughts in how we can use alternate sources of energy and the use of our finite resources. We should invest in new ways to provide purpose and healthy competition as we find and use healthier means of our resources. As an endorsed candidate of the Friends of the Boundary Waters I will proudly protect our waters and rely on science over”

KEYWORDS: Essential, Impactful, Consequential

“I propose we hold entities who contribute and cause the levels above regulation to be fiscally responsible to invest in ways to lower the levels while holding those who made the decisions, accountable for the choices they made. I’d also be open to working with the AG to create ways to compensate those also affected by the contamination.”

KEYWORDS: Law, Order, and Accountability

“Remove NDAs and create a transparent list of all elected officials on all levels of government who have signed one to approve the building of these facilities without public approval. Create legislation that require neighboring communities and states to approve/disapprove the centers as resources do not stop at imaginary lines on the map.”

KEYWORDS: Transparency, Investigate, and Accountability

“I plan support all policies that focus on the advancement of our society on a fundamental level above all. We need to ensure proper access to food, water, and shelter, and we should be open to our advancements to get us there. This includes sound legislation that ensures quality over profit and pace. Like all structures built, we need to ensure all legislation and the choices made by a vote, come from a sound foundation that was researched and inspected prior to ensure it can handle the weight it can bear on the community. Being open to innovation and technology that can get us there but first we have to invest in it.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Invest, and Apply

“I feel we should provide the resources needed to counter the reasons that lead to the use rather than control and punish those for the use. I also support efforts to educate and prevent using as we should properly label the risks of legal substances too. Alcohol is often ignored when it comes to drug usage as cannabis is becoming easily accessible and marketable to younger generations. We should continue to support the organizations who currently educate and do the good work to help those in need.”

KEYWORDS: Resources, Education, and Support

“As an environmental and air pollution scientist who has served at the EPA, FAA, USAID, and WHO, scientific integrity guides every decision I make. Good policy must be rooted in peer-reviewed evidence and public health consensus, not political expediency or corporate lobbying. In the Minnesota Legislature, I will ensure independent researchers have a direct seat at the policymaking table.

When reviewing bills on climate, clean water, and the energy transition, I will partner with climate modelers, environmental engineers, and hydrologists to ensure statutory targets reflect real ecological data. On public health, I will consult epidemiologists and medical researchers to strengthen community health infrastructure and protect clinical autonomy from political interference. For emerging challenges like artificial intelligence and data center energy demands, I will look to computer scientists and systems engineers to evaluate grid impacts, data privacy, and ethical guardrails.

Having worked inside federal regulatory agencies, I know how corporate interests distort science. I will work with independent academic and state scientists to rigorously vet data, uncover conflicts of interest, and prevent biased legislation. Finally, I will collaborate with data scientists to embed evidence-based metrics into our laws, ensuring we continuously measure real-world outcomes for everyday Minnesotans.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based, integrity, accountability

“I strongly oppose sulfide-ore copper mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed.

The passage of H.J. Res. 140—overturning the 20-year mineral withdrawal via the Congressional Review Act—was a devastating rollback driven by corporate lobbying. Sulfide mining carries severe risks of acid mine drainage, threatening this low-buffering aquatic ecosystem, Voyageurs National Park, and downstream Canadian waters with irreversible contamination.

With federal protections abdicated, Minnesota must act as the ultimate backstop. In the Minnesota House, I will fight for robust state safeguards:

Pass the Boundary Waters Permanent Protection Act: Champion legislation (H.F. 309 / S.F. 875) to permanently ban sulfide-ore mining in the Rainy River drainage basin under state law.

Enforce Strict State Permitting: Demand the DNR and MPCA apply rigorous standards and deny permits whenever proposals risk toxic pollution or tailings failures. Federal leases are not a green light to dig.

Mandate “Polluter Pays” Protections: Require 100% upfront, bankruptcy-proof financial assurances for full lifecycle remediation so taxpayers never shoulder cleanup costs.

Respect Tribal Sovereignty: Ensure meaningful consultation and consent with Sovereign Tribal Nations to protect treaty-reserved rights, wild rice waters, and sacred resources.

We can advance a clean-energy economy without sacrificing our most pristine wilderness.”

KEYWORDS: Conservation, stewardship, transparency

“Clean drinking water is a fundamental right. As an environmental scientist, the fact that 21 Minnesota community water systems exceed federal PFAS standards is an urgent public health crisis. These bioaccumulative “forever chemicals” cause cancers, immune dysfunction, and developmental harm. No family should worry about whether their tap water is safe.

Addressing this contamination demands bold, science-based action:

Defend Amara’s Law: Protect the phase-out of non-essential PFAS by 2032. I will fight corporate lobbying to delay deadlines, add exemptions, or narrow chemical definitions. Prevention is our most cost-effective tool.

Enforce “Polluter Pays”: Remediating drinking water and wastewater will cost billions. I will champion legislation holding chemical manufacturers and polluters financially liable so working families and local ratepayers do not shoulder cleanup costs.

Fund Municipal Infrastructure: Secure state bonding and dedicated grants to help local utilities install advanced filtration—like granular activated carbon and reverse osmosis—without hiking utility bills.

Expand Testing & Set Strict Limits: Provide state-funded testing for private wells, increase landfill and biosolid monitoring, and direct the MPCA to establish enforceable industrial discharge caps that regulate PFAS as an entire chemical class.

I will always put public health over corporate polluters.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, remediation, oversight

“Technological innovation must serve the public good, not corporate convenience. Hyperscale data centers demand massive amounts of electricity and water. We cannot let tech corporations rush developments that hike utility rates for working families, deplete local aquifers, or derail Minnesota’s statutory target of 100% clean electricity by 2040. We need proactive, science-based guardrails before shovels hit the ground.

First, we must safeguard everyday ratepayers and grid reliability through strict Public Utilities Commission standards, preventing utilities from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto residential and small-business customers. Operators must also achieve true clean energy additionality by bringing dedicated new wind, solar, and battery storage online to match their demand—rather than cannibalizing existing renewables or extending the lifespan of fossil-fuel plants.

Second, because cooling server banks consumes millions of gallons daily, comprehensive hydrologic reviews must be required before granting high-volume water permits. This ensures facilities adopt closed-loop cooling and wastewater-reuse technologies over evaporative systems. Finally, we must end lavish state tax giveaways for multi-billion-dollar tech giants and ban municipal non-disclosure agreements that conceal resource impacts from local communities. Through rigorous oversight, we can ensure technology serves Minnesota families rather than exploiting them.”

KEYWORDS: Regulation, caution, disclosure

“As an environmental scientist, I know scientific research is both an economic engine and the foundation of our state’s well-being. Minnesota’s $700+ million in NIH awards sustains thousands of good-paying jobs, supports local supply chains, and drives life-saving medical breakthroughs. With federal funding increasingly vulnerable to political disruption, Minnesota must take proactive steps to defend and expand research investment.

First, we should establish dedicated state matching funds—leveraging models like the Minnesota State Competitiveness Fund—to keep our universities hyper-competitive for NIH, NSF, and DOE grants that require institutional cost-sharing. Simultaneously, we must champion robust capital bonding and direct appropriations for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State systems to modernize research facilities, reduce deferred maintenance, and attract top-tier scientific talent.

Crucially, I will fiercely protect public research institutions from ideological interference, ensuring researchers can freely investigate urgent topics like climate impacts, reproductive healthcare, and vaccine science. To translate these discoveries into shared prosperity, we must fund early-stage tech transfer, commercialization grants, and paid fellowships that keep young innovators working here in Minnesota. Finally, state leaders must actively partner with our congressional delegation to safeguard predictable federal research budgets, ensuring Minnesota remains a national leader in scientific innovation.”

KEYWORDS: Investment, innovation, competitiveness

“We must treat the overdose epidemic as an urgent public health crisis requiring evidence-based, compassionate solutions—not criminalization. While overall declines in fatal overdoses are encouraging, glaring racial disparities reveal systemic failures: Indigenous Minnesotans still die at up to fifteen times the rate of white residents. We cannot declare victory while our neighbors are left behind.

To dismantle these disparities, we must expand low-barrier harm reduction by broadly distributing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and xylazine testing, while authorizing evidence-based overdose prevention centers. Crucially, a top-down model will not work. We must direct state grants and opioid settlement funds directly to Sovereign Tribal Nations and Black-led community organizations to support culturally grounded healing, peer networks, and traditional medicine.

Additionally, we must eliminate barriers to gold-standard medications like buprenorphine and methadone by removing prior-authorization hurdles, deploying mobile clinics to rural and underserved areas, and providing treatment inside correctional facilities. Because addiction is intertwined with poverty and trauma, lasting recovery requires investing in supportive Housing First initiatives and broader healthcare access. Ending failed carceral approaches in favor of pre-arrest diversion and trauma-informed care will save lives and ensure every Minnesota community receives the protection it deserves.”

KEYWORDS: Equity, prevention, dignity

“I’m a licensed professional engineer (PE) (electrical) and consultant. I work with other licensed professionals all the time. I very much value the input and expertise and am mindful of my colleges expertise, knowledge, and judgement. But I’m also aware that everyone can fund research, hire consultants, and drive answers and responses to questions based on agendas - so it is important to be mindful of bias. It is important to listen to a variety of views and hear the arguments. Where I would rely on the views of “experts” (scientists, professionals, etc.) very much depends on the subject. But I tend to think there are “experts” on nearly all subjects and it is important listen and hear all sides to an issue (not just the two main ones typically presented).”

KEYWORDS: Listen, Experts, Judgement

“Our environment and natural resources in Minnesota are extremely important and no mining operations have the right to contaminate or otherwise pollute our environment, our water supply, the BWCA, etc. Minnesota has some of the nations largest deposits of Cobalt and Nickel. We also have very significant copper and platinum-group metal deposits. Accessing resources is critical and necessary to development, our economy, and jobs. Mining technology has advanced a great deal from the way it was years ago and technology, best practices, etc. have improved a great deal and we’ve figured out ways to much more safely extract the targeted minerals without otherwise impacting our environment. Mining in any area (not just near the BWCA) needs to be watched carefully so that it isn’t causing damage, but this is something we are much better able to do now. The jobs and investment - especially in northern Minnesota would be of huge value to our state. We can come together as scientists and engineers and figure out ways to accomplish things and maintain our CRITICAL environmental resources such as the BWCA so these aren’t damaged or polluted while getting the critical resources we need.”

KEYWORDS: Clean water, Responsible mining, environment protection

“There are a lot of “forever” compounds in the environment that can and have been shown to be harmful such as mercury, PCBs, asbestos, and so forth. PFAS are unusual in that they are man made and essentially inert and don’t break down. But they have the special property that we made them and we know who made them which makes them a target for legal actions. Obviously, we need to be trying to identify point sources as well as major sources of contamination and mitigating these. Science is pretty good at finding polluters who are dumping but struggles with green ideas like paper recycling regarding things like benzine picked up in the process. Fortunately, we have experts, scientists, and professionals who have experience with these issues and we can cooperate as a team to get issues addressed and keep our environment clean and/or mitigate / remediate issues that exists.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Clean Environment, remediation

“We need jobs, we need technology, we need resources, and we need to keep on the cutting edge here in Minnesota if we expect to compete. Our people also need the services that come along with this new technology. But at the same time we don’t need to have these new “customers” on our services such as electrical service and water sources to be able to come in and take advantage of our local residents. So we need to be very mindful of the impacts on areas where these are going in and making sure the new (potentially huge) customers are paying for these new demands on our services and not otherwise negatively impacting out communities. Noise, high electrical demand, high water demand, heat, etc. can all be issues to look at and address and make sure plans are made and put in place to address.”

KEYWORDS: Electrical Grid, Water Supply, Property taxes

“Research and development at places like our Public Universities can be of huge benefit to the local residents of our state and the region. Advancing the the art, coming up with new and novel solutions, discovering new things, designing solutions, and making life better for everyone. It also helps greatly with the process of teaching our new scientist and giving them worthy projects to work on for the projects including graduate studies and even post-doctoral work. We need to keep our state and our nation at the cutting edge of development and technology.”

KEYWORDS: Research, innovation, technology

“This is a difficult issue. I don’t put people in boxes based on who their parents are. Priority #1 is working on helping people with mental health issues or otherwise down and out to move them off public programs and into better situations where they are able to take care of themselves and contribute positively to society. Addiction and dependency will always be there, but we can try help them out of that. As a safety net, getting emergency response tools in the hands of people who are dependable and often there is critical. So getting resources to our first responders and other professionals if the field can help as a safety net. But I think the real solution is helping the people who are down to lift themselves up and become clean and self sufficient is the only real solution.”

KEYWORDS: Addiction, Treatment, Education, Rehabilitation

“Science should inform policymaking whenever a decision depends on questions of public health, environmental impact, technology, infrastructure, or other areas where specialized expertise matters. I would seek input from scientists, researchers, technical experts, state agencies, and affected communities, while also looking carefully at the quality of the evidence and areas where experts may disagree. Policymakers still have to weigh costs, benefits, values, and real-world impacts, but those decisions should begin with reliable evidence rather than ideology. As an attorney who works extensively with technology, privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, I am accustomed to asking experts what the evidence actually tells us before deciding what we should do with it.”

KEYWORDS: Evidence-based, Expertise, Accountability

“The Boundary Waters is an irreplaceable Minnesota resource, and I strongly support Governor Walz’s recent executive action protecting the Boundary Waters watershed from nonferrous mining. But an executive order is not a substitute for durable protection. I support legislation establishing permanent protections against sulfide-ore mining in the Boundary Waters watershed unless and until credible, peer-reviewed scientific evidence demonstrates that it can be done without jeopardizing the watershed.

The Boundary Waters is an interconnected ecosystem, and contamination upstream could cause damage that is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to reverse. When the potential consequences are that significant and permanent, our policy should reflect the science and the risk. Minnesota can support mining and economic development in appropriate places while recognizing that some natural resources are too valuable to gamble with.”

KEYWORDS: Boundary Waters, Science-Based, Permanent Protection

“Minnesotans should not have to wonder whether the water coming from their tap is safe. I support continued statewide PFAS monitoring, transparent public reporting, assistance for communities that must upgrade drinking-water treatment systems, and strong enforcement against significant sources of PFAS contamination. Minnesota should also continue reducing unnecessary uses of PFAS so that we are not simply paying to remove these chemicals from water after they have already entered the environment. Importantly, the financial burden of contamination should not fall primarily on homeowners and local ratepayers. State policy should continue applying the principle that those responsible for pollution bear an appropriate share of the cleanup costs.”

KEYWORDS: Clean Water, Prevention, Polluter Accountability

“Data centers are important infrastructure for our increasingly digital economy, including artificial intelligence, but Minnesota should understand their full impact before committing significant public resources to them. I support rigorous review of major projects’ electricity demand, water consumption, environmental impacts, effects on the electrical grid, and potential costs to residential and small-business ratepayers. Large data centers should pay their fair share of infrastructure costs rather than shifting those costs onto existing customers, and developers should be transparent about expected energy and water use. I also support incentives and requirements that encourage water reuse, efficient cooling, clean energy, and other technologies that reduce environmental impact. The goal should not be to reject innovation, but to make sure Minnesota gains the economic benefits of new technology without quietly socializing its costs.”

KEYWORDS: Innovation, Sustainability, Accountability

“Scientific research is both a public good and an important part of Minnesota’s economy. Our universities, health systems, researchers, and biotechnology companies generate discoveries, train skilled workers, attract investment, and improve people’s lives. I support strong and predictable federal funding for institutions such as NIH and NSF, and at the state level I would support investments that leverage federal research dollars, strengthen research partnerships, support emerging technologies, and help Minnesota turn discoveries into businesses and jobs. We should also continue investing in public universities and in STEM education so Minnesota has the workforce necessary to remain competitive. Cutting research funding may save money on a spreadsheet today while costing us medical breakthroughs, economic growth, and skilled jobs tomorrow.”

KEYWORDS: Research, Innovation, Investment

“The recent decline in overdose deaths is encouraging, but the significant racial disparities show that Minnesota’s work is far from finished. I support maintaining broad access to naloxone, evidence-based substance-use treatment, medications for opioid use disorder, mental-health services, and harm-reduction programs that help keep people alive long enough to recover. We should also invest in culturally responsive and community-led programs, particularly in Indigenous and Black communities experiencing disproportionately high overdose rates. Treatment should be available when someone is ready for it, regardless of income or geography, and our policies should recognize substance-use disorder as a public-health issue while still holding people who traffic dangerous drugs accountable. Success should mean both fewer overdose deaths overall and closing the unacceptable disparities between Minnesota communities.”

KEYWORDS: Treatment, Harm Reduction, Equity

“Having conducted research and authored journal articles, consultation and collaboration with others is critical to good policy. One should consider other perspectives, anticipate short-term and long-term consequences or repercussions of a legislative action (or inaction).”

KEYWORDS: consultation, collaboration, perspectives

“I have been to the BWCA many times, and was a guide for a summer there. We need minerals, but also need to protect special places like the BWCA. It is possible for extraction methods to improve and be environmentally safe. However, the track record for mining is full of instances where it is not environmentally safe. While I would not close the door entirely on mining in the BWCA watershed, there would need to be ample evidence and history of a safe mining practice before allowing it there.”

KEYWORDS: environmentally safe, evidence, extraction

“First, acknowledge that PFAS pollution exists and hold the manufacturers accountable for cleanup costs. Support research into the catalysis of PFAS, facilitated either by inorganic means or by microbial means.”

KEYWORDS: accountable, inorganic catalysis, microbial catalysis

“People and businesses should not be disadvantaged by the presence and operation of a large data center. Power, cooling, noise from the center, and any new infrastructure necessary for its operation should not raise power rates for neighbors. Nor should other resource demands (i.e. water) be taken from the people and infrastructure originally built for a community prior to the presence of a data center. Any proposed data center should come with a plan for power, cooling, and noise mitigation that addresses all needs and concerns. Clean energy generation, battery backup, geothermal cooling, and strategic location can help with these issues.”

KEYWORDS: Power, noise mitigation, infrastructure

“As a state legislator I would have no authority over federal research grants. However, the state does fund some research that impacts infrastructure and natural resources. The Office of Grants Management is state-funded. I would support these existing programs and lend a voice of strong support for federal funding of scientific research.”

KEYWORDS: Office of Grants Management, infrastructure, natural resources

“Part of the reduction in fatal drug overdoses is due to the expanded distribution and availability of naloxone. The state can be deliberate about making certain that all Minnesotans have equal access to naloxone and other drug interventions. One way to equalize access is for the state to facilitate ambulance (EMS) services to have adequate supply of naloxone, and to have enough services so that no part of our population is too far from help, either an ambulance coming to them or they going to a clinic.”

KEYWORDS: naloxone, ambulance, equal access

“Absolutley”

KEYWORDS: knowledge, evidence, truth

“I strongly support protecting the BWCA watershed. Mining companies need to provide fact-based evidence that they will not damage the ecosystem and they cannot provide that.”

KEYWORDS: Protect Nature Now

“Fully fund and avoid weakening or delaying Minnesota Statutes §116.943. Make violators pay for cleanup testing, proper disposal and fund routine testing of public systems and private wells, treatment systems, and replacement water for affected households.”

KEYWORDS: Accountability, protection, prevention

“Investors and tech executives are cashing in on data centers. They need to provide for the proper research and development to create data centers that will not negatively impact the land or the residents. They must provide verifiable environmental assessments, keep local residents notified and be responsible for any errors.”

KEYWORDS: Responsibility, sustainability, safety

“Creation of a long-term Minnesota health research act with reoccurring appropriations rather than a one time grant, expand on the University of Minnesota research funding and working with the Minnesota Department of Health to develop grants for universities, hospitals, clinics, and nonprofit research institutions, etc.”

KEYWORDS: Investment, research, innovation

“I would support legislation that naloxone is required for free in schools, libraries, shelters, treatment centers, correctional facilities, and other public locations. Additionally, I would support legislation that addresses barriers to recovery including unstable housing, limited transportation, stigma, and lack of culturally responsive mental-health care.”

KEYWORDS: Prevention, treatment, recovery