My name is Dr. Krishnan Subrahmanian. Please call me Krish. I am a father, son, husband, educator, public health leader, veteran, pediatrician, and a lifelong tortured Minnesota sports fan. 

While deployed with the Air Force in the fall, I learned that Senator Cwodzinski announced his retirement. Some neighbors asked me to consider running. Now that I have returned, I am humbled and joyful to announce that I am running for State Senate to represent our community in the Minnesota legislature.

My parents immigrated to this country and community, hoping for a better life than a predestined future of poverty. They chose Minnesota as the place to raise a family. What they found was more than opportunity. They found neighbors who broke bread with us, helped dig us out after winter storms, and showed up in quiet, practical ways. Through teachers and coaches, through that Minnesota spirit of welcome, my path took shape. That’s why my wife and I settled here too, and why we’re raising our three kids here. My life, my career working for the well-being of Minnesota’s children and families, and now my candidacy, are only possible because this community chose to invest in us.

Today, many of the systems that made opportunity possible are under unbelievable pressure. Healthcare and science (and yes, Tylenol, vaccines, and even the food pyramid) are being attacked at the very moment we need them most. Public health and Medicaid, lifelines for working families, seniors, and children, are being torn apart. And perhaps most concerning of all, our ability to come together across differences is being tested.

I have spent my career on the front lines of these very challenges. I began as a special education teacher, learning how much our children carry from home into the classroom. I later served as an early Obama campaign staffer, where I saw what is possible when people come together with purpose, and advocated for early Affordable Care Act legislation.

As a pediatrician, I have sat with families in the most joyful and tragic moments. From the HIV epidemic in Southern Africa to our county safety net hospital, I have seen miracles happen when we respect public health, science, and the trust between providers and patients.

As Chief Medical Officer at our county Medicaid plan, I witness heroic civil servants work hard to make sure our most vulnerable neighbors can access healthcare, while also sounding the alarm on fraud, waste, and abuse that threaten public trust and vital programs. 

And as a flight surgeon in the Air National Guard, I have seen service before self from service members and their families who put mission and country first. They always deserve leadership worthy of their sacrifice. 

The values I hope to bring to the Senate reflect that background and experience. These values will combine with your ideas to form the basis of our legislative work together. As your state senator I will be: 

• A champion for young people and families. My wife and I moved here because we wanted to raise our family in a community that believes in schools, parks, and families. We must fight to make our schools and resources the best in the nation, so everyone has opportunity. 

• A relentless advocate for good governance that can change lives. We all expect the government to work well and be held accountable. Yet we also know that safe highways, clean water, accessible daycares and healthcare are life changing. We should expand access and ensure that there is transparency and accountability. 

• A fierce defender of our democracy and rights. From protecting reproductive freedom to voting rights, from independent redistricting to immigrant rights, our freedoms are under attack. We must stand up for these rights at every turn — at the ballot box, in the courts, and in the streets. 

If these ideas speak to you, or even if they do not, I would be honored to hear your story. At the caucus on Tuesday, February 3, we will be gathering to listen, learn, and shape an agenda worthy of this community. Meanwhile, reach out here, or come join one of our upcoming events. 

With respect and gratitude,