“Same core values District 39B has long supported.”

“I support strong public schools by investing in students, educators, and safe learning environments so every child has the opportunity to succeed.”

“Community safety starts with prevention, accountability, and trust—investing in mental health, youth/family supports, and strategies that reduce harm before it happens. I have spent my entire adult life on advocating and championing upstream investments, restorative practices, and building relationships that keep community safe.”

“I support policies that strengthen working families, protect workers, and create economic opportunity through fair wages, local investment, and responsible growth.”

“Stable housing is the foundation of strong communities, and I support fair policies that protect homeowners and renters while promoting responsible, sustainable development. I believe with intentional efforts and smart partnerships we can make home ownership and stable housing in MN a reality for all residents.”

“Government works best when it is transparent, responsive, and accessible—ensuring residents are heard and public resources are used responsibly.” These values guide my approach to policy and building partnerships on a foundation of trust”

“I support protecting Minnesota’s air and water, investing in clean energy, and advancing climate solutions that create good jobs and keep communities healthy.”

Health care should be a right, not a luxury. In Minnesota, we can lower costs by asking the wealthiest residents to pay more, investing earlier in prevention, and creating more competition in the insurance market by expanding MinnesotaCare. Minnesota already has a top individual income tax rate of 9.85%, and lawmakers have continued exploring a MinnesotaCare public option/buy-in model that would expand eligibility above current limits through a federal waiver.

1. Tax the richest Minnesotans to invest in health care affordability.
I support a targeted health care affordability surcharge on the highest-income households and large concentrations of unearned wealth, with the revenue dedicated to lowering premiums, reducing out-of-pocket costs, and strengthening public coverage options. This would ensure working families are not carrying the heaviest burden while the wealthiest Minnesotans benefit most from our economy. Minnesota’s tax system already uses graduated income tax brackets, which provides a foundation for a more progressive approach.

Invest in prevention so people do not develop costly preventable diseases in the first place.
We should expand statewide prevention strategies focused on diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma, maternal health, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco cessation. Minnesota’s own public health materials note that chronic disease prevention can save millions in health care costs and that many common diseases are preventable with evidence-based strategies. The state health department also notes that chronic conditions drive the vast majority of health spending.

3. Expand MinnesotaCare eligibility and move toward a public option.
I support expanding MinnesotaCare eligibility so more middle-income Minnesotans can buy into a trusted public plan, even if they currently earn too much to qualify. Right now, eligibility is limited and tied to income and other coverage rules. Current legislative proposals would expand eligibility above the existing income cap and create a MinnesotaCare public option to compete alongside private insurers. More competition can help pressure private plans to lower premiums and improve benefits.

4. Use competition to lower prices in the private insurance market.
When families only have a few expensive private options, insurers have too much power. A MinnesotaCare buy-in/public option would give people another choice and create a real benchmark for affordability. That kind of competition can push private carriers to offer better rates, broader networks, and more value instead of passing rising costs on to patients. The MinnesotaCare public option proposals specifically contemplate offering coverage through MNsure and pursuing a federal Section 1332 waiver to make that possible.

5. Pair coverage expansion with direct cost relief.
Any affordability plan should also reduce deductibles, copays, and prescription drug costs, especially for working families who earn too much for current assistance but still cannot afford care. Coverage alone is not enough if people avoid the doctor because they cannot afford to use their insurance. Minnesota should use new revenue and savings from prevention to make actual care more affordable at the point of service. This fits with the state’s existing structure of Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare as the backbone of coverage for low- and moderate-income residents.

1. Promote Responsible Gun Ownership and Safe Storage
We should expand safe storage education and make gun locks more widely available to prevent accidental shootings, youth access to firearms, and gun theft. Responsible gun owners already take these steps, and the state should support those practices through expanding funding for free/reduced price gun locks and safes.

2. Strengthen Background Checks Where Risks Are Highest
We should continue closing gaps in background checks so firearms don’t end up in the hands of people with violent felony convictions or domestic abuse records, while respecting responsible ownership and due process. We need to continue closing gun show loop holds, straw purchases, and holding people accountable for purchasing firearms on behalf of people who are disqualfied from legally purchasing firearms.

3. Crack Down on Illegal Gun Trafficking
Law enforcement should focus on the small number of individuals who drive gun violence—illegal traffickers, straw purchasers, and repeat violent offenders. Stronger enforcement and better coordination can disrupt illegal gun markets.

4. Invest in Community Violence Prevention
Community-based violence prevention programs have proven to reduce shootings. Minnesota should continue investing in youth mentorship, violence interruption programs, and trauma-informed services that stop violence before it starts.