May 4, 2025
Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
I strongly condemn Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for their failure to protect our state’s hardworking business owners from the scourge of repeat offenders. The case of Brian Ingram, a Minneapolis restaurant owner whose business was robbed twice by the same criminal—a man with multiple prior convictions who was released within 24 hours of arrest—is a shameful example of their soft-on-crime policies. Reports indicate this offender may have had up to 50 prior arrests, yet he was set free to prey on the same victim again. This is not justice; it’s a betrayal of every law-abiding Minnesotan.
Minnesota’s bail laws, which guarantee bail for nearly all defendants unless specific conditions like repeat DWI offenses apply, have enabled this revolving door of crime. A 2017 Minnesota House report confirms that judges can set higher bail for repeat offenders, but too often, as in Ingram’s case, they are released with little consequence. Meanwhile, Governor Walz’s administration has been criticized for supporting policies that reduce sentences for repeat and violent offenders, emboldening criminals across our state. In St. Paul, a neighboring city, commercial burglaries surged by 70.5% in 2020, with robberies increasing by 32.1%, according to St. Paul Police Department data. This crime wave is a direct result of leadership that prioritizes ideology over the safety of our communities.
As governor, I will put public safety first. My administration will crack down on all forms of crime, from white-collar fraud and money laundering to the violent repeat offenses plaguing our cities. I will ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to protect our citizens, and I will push for reforms that hold criminals accountable while safeguarding the rights of the innocent. To Brian Ingram and every business owner in Minneapolis and beyond: I will have your back. My campaign is built on servant leadership, and I am committed to restoring safety, trust, and prosperity to Minnesota. Together, we can stop this insanity and build a state where our communities thrive.
With unwavering commitment,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
###