Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026, on Ending Fluoride in Public Water Supplies
As a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026, I stand firmly against the continued use of fluoride in our city and state-controlled water supplies. This practice is an unacceptable violation of Minnesotans’ legal and ethical rights, and I demand its immediate cessation. Fluoride in our water undermines personal freedom, bypasses informed consent, and raises serious health concerns. It’s time to empower our citizens with the right to choose their own health solutions through safer, individualized alternatives.
Legal Violations Must End
Adding fluoride to public water is legally indefensible. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies fluoride as an “unapproved new drug” when used for therapeutic purposes, yet it’s dumped into our water without the stringent safety testing required for pharmaceuticals. This regulatory failure is a betrayal of public trust. A 2024 federal court ruling in California ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to confront fluoride’s potential cognitive risks, citing evidence linking high fluoride levels to lower IQ in children. Even at Minnesota’s lower levels, this precedent exposes the shaky legal ground of fluoridation. Water systems are not pharmacies, and our communities should not be subjected to unconsented medical interventions. As Governor, I will ensure Minnesota’s water is free from fluoride, restoring our legal right to clean, unadulterated water.
Ethical Breach of Consent
Ethically, fluoridation is a direct assault on individual autonomy. Forcing a bioactive substance into the water consumed by every Minnesotan—infants, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions—without their consent is a gross overreach. The National Toxicology Program’s 2024 review found moderate confidence that fluoride levels above 1.5 mg/L are linked to lower IQ in children, casting doubt on the safety of systemic exposure. Minnesotans should not be guinea pigs for a practice that disregards their right to choose. The ethical imperative is clear: no government should meddle with our water to deliver a substance we can access voluntarily elsewhere. This stops now.
A Non-Negotiable Commitment
The era of fluoridation is over. Most Western European nations, including Germany and the Netherlands, rejected water fluoridation decades ago, proving dental health thrives without it. Minnesota will follow suit. As Governor, I will:
• Ban fluoride in all city and state water systems, no exceptions.
Fluoride in our water is an outdated, unethical, and legally questionable practice. Minnesotans deserve pure water and the freedom to make their own health choices. I pledge to end this injustice and build a Minnesota that respects every citizen’s rights.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026