By Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, 2026
In recent weeks, Minnesota has been rocked by a scandal that strikes at the very heart of our democratic process. State Representative Kaohly Vang Her, a Democrat, admitted during a House session that she is an illegal alien. This shocking revelation, captured in a viral X post by @libsoftiktok, exposes a glaring failure in our state’s election integrity safeguards and demands immediate action from both state and federal authorities.
Minnesota law, as outlined in Article IV, Section 6 of our state constitution, explicitly requires candidates for office to be U.S. citizens, at least 21 years old, and residents of the state for one year. The Minnesota House Research Department further clarifies that legislators must be qualified voters, a status that presupposes citizenship. Yet, despite these clear legal requirements, Representative Her has been allowed to hold office, vote in our elections, and even influence policy decisions affecting Minnesotans.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of election integrity issues that I have repeatedly warned about through my articles on parrish4mn.com. From voter fraud schemes to the systemic incompetence in candidate vetting, Minnesota’s electoral process is under siege. The recent case of Ronnie Williams and Lorraine Lee Combs, charged with conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our system. As I have argued, these vulnerabilities are not mere oversights but symptoms of a deeper crisis that threatens the foundation of our Constitutional Republic.
The admission by Representative Her is particularly egregious because it violates the very laws she swore to uphold. Her presence in the legislature undermines the trust of Minnesotans in their elected officials and the fairness of our elections. It also raises disturbing questions about how such a breach could occur. Was this a deliberate oversight by those responsible for verifying candidate eligibility, or is it indicative of a systemic failure to enforce our constitutional requirements? Either scenario is unacceptable and demands immediate rectification.
The urgency of this situation is further amplified by recent events in Minnesota. The targeted shootings of state lawmakers in June 2025, including the tragic death of Representative Melissa Hortman, have heightened political tensions and underscored the fragility of our democratic institutions. In such a climate, allowing an ineligible individual to hold office is not just a legal violation but a potential catalyst for further instability. We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.
As a candidate for Governor in 2026, I am calling for immediate action from the Trump administration to address this scandal. The federal government, through agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), must investigate Representative Her’s status and ensure that she is held accountable for any laws she has broken. Furthermore, President Trump must use his executive authority to support states like Minnesota in fortifying our election integrity measures. This includes deploying resources to audit candidate eligibility processes, enhancing voter registration verification, and prosecuting those who undermine our electoral system.
The stakes could not be higher. If we fail to act decisively, we risk normalizing a culture where legal requirements are treated as mere suggestions, where the voices of illegal aliens can overshadow those of law-abiding citizens, and where the very principle of one person, one vote is eroded. Minnesota deserves better. Our citizens deserve leaders who are transparent, accountable, and fully compliant with the laws they are sworn to uphold.
I have long advocated for a return to the fundamentals of election integrity—transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law. The Kaohly Vang Her scandal is a wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore. It is a testament to the warnings I have sounded about the dire state of our electoral process and a rallying cry for all Minnesotans who value the integrity of our Constitutional Republic.
Let us demand action now. Let us ensure that every candidate for office in Minnesota is thoroughly vetted, every vote is cast by a qualified citizen, and every law is enforced without exception. Only then can we restore faith in our system and secure a future where liberty and justice prevail.
Phillip C. Parrish is a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026 and a staunch advocate for election integrity. His articles on parrish4mn.com have consistently highlighted the need for reform in Minnesota’s electoral process.
###