Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
For Immediate Release: April 27, 2025
Dear Minnesotans,
For too long, Minnesota’s elected leaders and legacy media have failed to uphold the ethical and moral standards our state deserves. Today, I call out the primary figures and institutions of the past decade—Governor Tim Walz, DFL Chair Ken Martin, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, the Star Tribune under Kathleen Hennessey and Glen Taylor, the St. Paul Pioneer Press under Mike Burbach and Alden Global Capital, Hubbard Broadcasting under Joe Mazan, WCCO-TV under Kari Patey, Minnesota Public Radio under Nancy Cassutt, KMSP-TV under Marian Davey, and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder under Tracey Williams-Dillard—for their collective failure to address rampant fraud, policy failures, and the devastating harm inflicted on our citizens.
The Feeding Our Future scandal, which saw $250 million in taxpayer funds misappropriated under Governor Walz’s watch, exemplifies a systemic lack of oversight, with audits revealing major failures by the Minnesota Department of Education. Attorney General Ellison’s defense of state actions, coupled with a leaked 2021 audio raising conflict-of-interest concerns, further erodes public trust. Meanwhile, DFL Chair Ken Martin, Lieutenant Governor Flanagan, and Senators Smith and Klobuchar have remained silent or complicit, failing to demand accountability for these egregious lapses. This inaction has allowed fraud, waste, and abuse to flourish, exploiting Minnesotans for profit and political control.
Equally troubling is the role of Minnesota’s legacy media. The Star Tribune, led by Kathleen Hennessey and owned by Glen Taylor, has been criticized for its lenient coverage of Walz’s administration, neglecting to critically examine systemic failures. The St. Paul Pioneer Press, under Mike Burbach and Alden Global Capital, has similarly failed to hold power to account, constrained by cost-cutting priorities. Hubbard Broadcasting’s KSTP-TV, led by Joe Mazan, WCCO-TV under Kari Patey, Minnesota Public Radio under Nancy Cassutt, and KMSP-TV under Marian Davey have not provided the rigorous scrutiny needed to expose fraud and policy harms. Even the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, led by Tracey Williams-Dillard, has not sufficiently challenged the status quo, despite its community focus. This collective failure of journalistic integrity has obscured the truth, shielding leaders from accountability and perpetuating harm.
The MNDFL’s policies, particularly during the COVID-19 era, have caused undeniable suffering—economic hardship, educational setbacks, and loss of life—while fraud scandals have burdened taxpayers. Yet no leader or media outlet has faced meaningful consequences or pushed back with a critical lens. This raises serious questions about whether our leadership and media have collaborated to hide failures, prioritizing political agendas over the public good. While I stop short of alleging criminal conspiracy, the pattern of inaction and selective reporting suggests a troubling alignment that demands scrutiny.
Minnesotans deserve better. I call on Tim Walz, Ken Martin, Keith Ellison, Peggy Flanagan, Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, and the leaders of the Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Hubbard Broadcasting, WCCO-TV, Minnesota Public Radio, KMSP-TV, and Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder to atone for their roles in this era of ethical and moral failure. Acknowledge your part, step away from these harmful practices, and make amends to the people of Minnesota. We cannot continue down this path of exploitation and unaccountability.
As your candidate for Governor in 2026, I pledge to restore integrity, demand transparency, and hold all leaders—elected and media—accountable. Together, we can rebuild a Minnesota that prioritizes its citizens over profit and power.
Respectfully,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
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