Statement from Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
August 8, 2025
Fellow Minnesotans,
As a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander with 21 years of service in intelligence and counterterrorism, an educator, farmer, and whistleblower who exposed fraud in our state’s daycare system, I have dedicated my life to protecting our freedoms, upholding integrity, and ensuring justice for all. Today, as your candidate for Governor in 2026, I am committed to governing a free and equal Minnesota where every citizen is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal opportunity under the law—regardless of race, sex, background, or belief. We must reject divisive agendas that pit us against one another and restore our government as a true steward of the people’s trust.
Recent revelations, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation launched on July 10, 2025, into Minnesota’s affirmative action policies, have exposed deep flaws in our state hiring practices. Statutes like Minnesota Statute §43A.191, which mandates affirmative action plans requiring agencies to justify “nonaffirmative action hires” and set demographic goals for protected groups, along with §363A.36 requiring compliance certificates for state contractors, have created a system ripe for discrimination. These policies, intended to promote equity, have instead fostered reverse discrimination, imposed unnecessary costs on taxpayers, and undermined merit-based hiring. The DOJ probe highlights potential violations of federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race or sex. As a veteran who fought for equal rights and opportunities, I will not stand by while our state perpetuates division and injustice.
When elected Governor, I will take decisive action to end these discriminatory practices and rebuild a system rooted in true equality. Here is my comprehensive plan:
1. Issue an Immediate Executive Order to Suspend Problematic Provisions: On day one, I will sign an executive order directing the Commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) to suspend enforcement of the “justification for nonaffirmative action hires” requirement in §43A.191, Subdivision 3, and any associated sanctions or incentives that prioritize demographics over qualifications. This order will align state practices with federal anti-discrimination standards, pending the DOJ investigation’s outcome, and ensure all hiring decisions are based solely on merit, skills, and experience—drawing from precedents like Ricci v. DeStefano (2009), where the Supreme Court ruled against practices that disadvantage non-minorities without strong justification.
2. Form a Bipartisan Task Force for Independent Audits and Reforms: I will establish a bipartisan task force of legal experts, civil rights advocates, community leaders, and whistleblowers to conduct a thorough, independent audit of all affirmative action and DEI policies under §§43A.191 and 363A.36. This task force will analyze a decade of hiring data, conduct anonymous employee surveys, and collaborate with the DOJ to identify and eliminate biases. Based on findings, we will implement merit-based reforms, including blind recruitment processes to remove demographic identifiers from applications and refocus outreach on inclusive training programs without quotas. This approach is inspired by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023), which demands strict scrutiny for race-based classifications.
3. Propose Legislation to Repeal or Amend Discriminatory Statutes: Working with the Minnesota Legislature, I will introduce and champion bills to repeal or amend the mandatory goals, justifications, and sanctions in §43A.191, converting them to voluntary guidelines that promote genuine equal opportunity. We will also revise §363A.36 to ensure state contractors are certified based on compliance with non-discriminatory laws, not preferential treatment. These changes will include sunset provisions for any remaining affirmative action elements, ensuring they are time-limited and narrowly tailored, as required by Grutter v. Bollinger (2003). To prevent future abuses, I will push for enhanced whistleblower protections under the Minnesota Whistleblower Act (§181.932), building on my own experience exposing fraud.
4. Establish the Office of Government Integrity for Ongoing Accountability: To maintain transparency, I will create a new Office of Government Integrity within the executive branch, tasked with annual public reports on hiring practices, DEI programs, and civil rights compliance. This office will monitor for any signs of favoritism or exclusion, host statewide community forums to gather input from diverse stakeholders, and collaborate with federal agencies to uphold Title VII standards. By fostering dialogue and accountability, we will rebuild trust and ensure our policies serve everyone equally—not as tools for division.
These steps are not about undoing progress but about advancing true equality, where opportunities are earned through hard work and talent, not dictated by identity. As Governor, I will draw on my background fighting threats abroad and fraud at home to root out injustice here in Minnesota. Together, we can end the era of government-sanctioned bias and create a state where freedom and fairness prevail for all.
Join me in this fight for a better Minnesota. Visit parrish4mn.com to learn more and get involved.
For Minnesota,
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
LCDR, USN (Ret.)
###