For Immediate Release
Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota
June 14, 2025
The tragic murders of Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the wounding of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, are a heartbreaking loss for Minnesota. My prayers are with their families and our state as we grieve. But as we mourn, we must confront the truth—and the legacy media’s predictable attempts to obscure it.
ABC News and their counterparts have wasted no time spinning a narrative that paints these shootings as a broad attack on Democratic leadership, hyping an unconfirmed “hit list” of high-profile names like Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar. This sensationalism conveniently distracts from the real story: the radical rhetoric and tacit support for violence from DFL leaders tied to the “No Kings” rallies. Authorities found “No Kings” fliers in the suspect’s vehicle, yet ABC glosses over this connection, refusing to scrutinize the inflammatory statements from DFL figures that have fueled these protests.
Worse, the media deliberately omits a critical fact: Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman were the only DFL lawmakers who dared to break ranks with their party’s reckless agenda on funding undocumented immigrants. Their courage in standing up for Minnesotans’ interests made them targets, not their party affiliation. By ignoring this, ABC and the legacy media protect the DFL’s radical wing, steering the narrative away from their role in fostering division and violence.
This is no coincidence. It’s a playbook we’ve seen before—amplify unverified details to bury inconvenient truths. The DFL’s support for policies that prioritize undocumented immigrants over hardworking Minnesotans, coupled with their failure to condemn the “No Kings” rallies’ violent undertones, has consequences. Minnesotans deserve a media that reports facts, not one that shields a failing establishment.
As your next governor, I will demand accountability—from our leaders and the media. We cannot heal as a state until we face the truth: radical rhetoric and divisive policies breed violence. I call on ABC and all legacy media to stop their spin, report the full story, and acknowledge the DFL’s complicity in this tragedy. Minnesotans deserve better. We deserve leaders who unite us, not inflame us, and a press that serves the people, not a party.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota