Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
Date: June 14, 2025
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
My fellow Minnesotans,
As your candidate for Governor in 2026, I stand before you with a commitment to rebuild Minnesota on strong foundations of integrity, transparency, and true community representation. For too long, initiatives like the “One Minnesota” conferences—once a beacon of forward-thinking governance—have strayed from their noble origins. Established in the 1970s to unite our state with a shared vision, these gatherings have evolved into closed-door forums dominated by elite interests, fostering distrust and damaging our government and bureaucratic institutions. The recent concerns voiced by Minnesotans, including allegations of manipulation since the 1970s, underscore a critical need for change. I agree: the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The evidence is clear. From the shift to private sessions in 2002 to the lack of transparency in recent years—evidenced by inaccessible records for 2019, 2020, and 2024—these conferences have prioritized corporate agendas and legislative elites over the voices of rural communities, urban workers, and Indigenous citizens. The 2024 House tie and the 2020 COVID-19 response exposed how this opacity and elitism have left us ill-prepared for crises, sidelining the very people we are sworn to serve. This must end. Minnesota deserves a government that reflects its diverse heart, not one manipulated by a select few.
I propose a bold transformation: converting the “One Minnesota” conferences into an open, hybrid public-legislative forum. This change is essential to restore trust, ensure accountability, and reconnect our legislators with the people. Here’s why it’s needed:
• Power Dynamics: The current model entrenches a technocratic elite, often aligned with progressive and corporate interests, undermining democratic representation. An open forum will decentralize power, giving every Minnesotan a seat at the table.
• Transparency: The lack of public documentation and closed-door decisions has fueled skepticism. A transparent process with live streams, archived materials, and public oversight will rebuild confidence.
• Public Engagement: Excluding the public since 2002 has alienated our communities. Including diverse voices—rural, urban, and Indigenous—will ensure policies reflect Minnesota’s true needs, not just those of the powerful.
As your Governor, I will take immediate action to address these primary issues:
1. Launch a Transition Task Force: Within my first 30 days in office (January 2027), I will establish a bipartisan Task Force, including public representatives, to design the first hybrid forum for January 2028. This team will work with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Legislative Reference Library to draft an inclusive agenda.
2. Open Public Applications: By February 2027, I will direct the Legislative Reference Library to open an application process, ensuring 50–100 community leaders—selected for their diversity and expertise—participate in the 2028 forum, countering the elitism of past years.
3. Secure Transparent Funding: By March 2027, I will propose a state budget amendment to allocate public funds, capping private sponsorship (e.g., Blandin, McKnight) at 50%, to prevent corporate overreach and fund a digital portal for real-time feedback.
4. Implement Technology Solutions: By April 2027, I will partner with University of Minnesota IT to develop a secure, accessible platform for hybrid participation, addressing technical barriers like the recent JavaScript issues on x.com, ensuring every Minnesotan can engage.
5. Mandate Reporting: By May 2027, I will require the Task Force to submit a public report linking forum outcomes to legislative priorities, establishing an annual accountability cycle to end the fraud of untracked influence.
This transformation is not just a policy shift—it’s a promise to serve you, the people of Minnesota. Together, we will streamline governance, cut through wasteful bureaucracies, and return to sound intellectual and moral principles. I pledge to listen, act, and deliver a government that exceeds your expectations, starting with an open “One Minnesota” forum in 2028. Join me in this mission to rebuild our state, one community at a time.
Thank you, and God bless Minnesota.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor, 2026
Contact: phillip@parrish4mn.com | www.parrish4mn.com
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