Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2025
Minnesotans deserve a governor who listens, understands, and represents the true heartbeat of our state—not one who reduces our citizens to stereotypes and insults their intelligence with hollow platitudes. Governor Tim Walz’s recent comments at Harvard Kennedy School, where he boasted about being chosen to “code talk to white guys” who watch football and fix trucks, reveal just how intellectually and morally broken his leadership has become.
Walz’s statement isn’t just a clumsy attempt at political analysis—it’s a shameful admission of how disconnected he is from the reality of the people he claims to serve. By framing himself as a “permission structure” for white men to vote for his ticket, he not only patronizes an entire demographic but also dismisses the diverse struggles and aspirations of all Minnesotans—men and women, urban and rural, of every background. His words imply that our citizens can’t think for themselves, that they need a cultural translator to “ease” them into voting for a radical agenda. This is an insult to the intelligence and agency of every Minnesotan.
As governor, Walz has pushed divisive policies—like placing tampons in boys’ bathrooms—while failing to address the pressing issues that unite us: economic hardship, rising costs, and the need for practical solutions in education and healthcare. His shock that America didn’t vote for “the most qualified person” in 2024 shows he’s more concerned with elite accolades than the real reasons his campaign failed—because he and his party ignored the everyday struggles of families across this state and nation. Minnesotans aren’t looking for someone to “code talk” to them; they’re looking for a leader who will fight for their jobs, their children’s future, and their dignity.
I’m running for governor in 2026 to restore integrity and servant leadership to Minnesota. My campaign is about engaging directly with the people—the real experts on the ground—and delivering solutions that work for everyone, not just a select few. We will tackle poverty, protect the innocent, and end the fraud and bureaucratic waste that Walz has allowed to fester.
Minnesotans deserve a governor who sees them for who they are: hardworking, resilient, and capable of making their own choices—not as pawns in a political game of stereotypes and tokenism.
It’s time for a new direction. It’s time for leadership that respects and unites us all. Together, we can rebuild Minnesota on a foundation of intellectual honesty and moral clarity—something Governor Walz has proven he cannot provide.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
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