Fellow Minnesotans,
I am Phillip C. Parrish, a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander with 21 years of service as an intelligence officer and counter-terrorism expert, a whistleblower on daycare fraud, an educator, farmer, and now a proud Republican candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026. My life has been dedicated to servant leadership—protecting our nation abroad and fighting for integrity at home. As I step forward in this campaign, I want to make one thing crystal clear: This is not about right versus left. It’s not about partisan divides or political gamesmanship that pits neighbor against neighbor. No, this election—and the future of our great state—is about right versus wrong. It’s about reclaiming the moral compass that guides us toward a stronger, more unified Minnesota for all.
But how do we discern what is right and what is wrong in these complex times? I believe the answer lies in a fundamental understanding of intelligence—not just book smarts or strategy, but the deeper ability to act and interact with our environment and circumstances in a positive and productive way. True intelligence means engaging in actions that sustain and foster growth and life, for individuals, families, communities, and our shared ecosystems. It’s about making choices that build up rather than tear down, that promote long-term vitality over short-term gains.
This definition isn’t abstract; it’s the ethical foundation we need to rebuild Minnesota. Right actions are those that embody this intelligence: They enhance well-being, encourage resilience, and create opportunities for everyone to thrive. For example, exposing and ending the rampant fraud in our state programs—fraud that has siphoned hundreds of millions from hardworking taxpayers to support criminal networks—is right because it restores trust, protects vulnerable families, and redirects resources to foster real community growth. Wrong actions, on the other hand, contradict this: They disrupt life, breed stagnation, and harm the very fabric of our society, like ignoring whistleblowers, burdening families with unnecessary taxes, or allowing corporate greed to deny essential healthcare, leading to preventable suffering and loss.
Ethics, in this view, isn’t a set of rigid rules imposed from on high; it’s the practical application of intelligent living. It’s choosing policies that sustain our farms and rural economies, ensuring affordable energy without crippling costs, and prioritizing mental health support for our veterans and first responders—because these actions nurture life and productivity. It’s rejecting the divisiveness that exploits our differences for political gain and instead uniting around shared values: accountability, fairness, and prosperity for all Minnesotans, regardless of background or belief.
As your Governor, I’ll lead with this ethic of intelligence—focusing on outcomes that grow our state, not ideologies that divide it. We’ll tackle fraud head-on, cut wasteful spending, invest in education and infrastructure that builds futures, and protect our natural resources for generations to come. This isn’t about winning a political battle; it’s about doing what’s right to create a Minnesota where every person can live with dignity, security, and hope.
Join me in this movement. Together, we’ll discern right from wrong not through partisan lenses, but through actions that sustain life and foster growth. Let’s build a brighter Minnesota—for our children, our communities, and our legacy.
Respectfully,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026
LCDR, USN (Ret.)
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