Statement by Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026
Fellow Minnesotans,
As your candidate for Governor in 2026, I pledge to restore integrity, transparency, and accountability to our state government. The rampant fraud under Governor Tim Walz’s administration, exemplified by the $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal, alongside Attorney General Keith Ellison’s failure to proactively investigate these abuses, represents a betrayal of public trust. Equally troubling are the COVID-19 protocols enforced by this administration, which led to harm and increased death tolls, particularly in our nursing homes, where restrictive policies isolated vulnerable residents and contributed to devastating outcomes. These failures demand accountability, but as Governor, I cannot do this alone. The good people of Minnesota must rise together, demand justice, and actively support the legal and legislative efforts needed to right these wrongs.
The most plausible approach to holding Walz, Ellison, and their administration accountable lies in leveraging legislative oversight and investigations, as authorized by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 3.971. This statute empowers the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) to audit state agencies and investigate allegations of waste, fraud, or abuse. The OLA’s 2024 report already exposed the Minnesota Department of Education’s negligence in overseeing Feeding Our Future, and similar audits can uncover mismanagement in other agencies, including those responsible for COVID-19 policies. By working with a reform-minded Legislature, I will push for expanded OLA investigations, public hearings, and subpoenas to obtain critical documents, as supported by precedents like United States v. Nixon (1974), which affirmed the enforceability of subpoenas against executive officials.
As Governor, I will champion the creation of an independent, centralized fraud investigations unit—free from the political ties of Walz’s 2025 executive order—and propose legislation to strengthen penalties for fraud, building on the OLA’s recommendations for robust internal controls. Regarding COVID-19 protocols, I will support investigations into the Department of Health’s nursing home policies, which contributed to Minnesota’s high death tolls, as evidenced by the 2022 OLA report on long-term care oversight failures. These probes can lay the groundwork for civil lawsuits under the Minnesota Tort Claims Act (Minn. Stat. § 3.736), allowing citizens to seek damages for harm caused by state negligence, as seen in precedents like Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978).
However, these efforts will falter without your active participation. I call on Minnesotans to use the Minnesota Data Practices Act (Minn. Stat. Chapter 13) to demand transparency through public records requests, exposing the truth behind fraud and harmful policies. I urge you to support legislators who prioritize accountability, attend public hearings, and hold candidates accountable at the ballot box. Together, we can pressure federal authorities to investigate misspent COVID-19 relief funds under statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 666, ensuring no one escapes scrutiny.
The path forward is clear, but it requires courage and unity. As your Governor, I will lead with unwavering commitment, but I need you—farmers, teachers, nurses, and families—to stand with me. Let us rebuild a Minnesota where trust in government is restored, where fraud is met with justice, and where the lessons of our past guide a safer, stronger future.
Sincerely,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026
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