By Phillip C. Parrish, Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
October 21, 2025
As a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander with 21 years in intelligence and counterterrorism, I’ve spent my career exposing threats and fighting for truth. Now, as a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026, I’m doing the same on the home front—detailing plans to combat rampant fraud, restore election integrity, and put Minnesotans first. But if you rely on the Minnesota media or the so-called political establishment, you’d think I don’t exist. Their bias isn’t just frustrating; it’s a deliberate attempt to silence voices like mine that challenge the status quo. It’s time to call it out: This is a staged screenplay, and it’s a bad one. Minnesotans are angry, and rightly so. We’re tired of being ignored while corruption festers and our voices are suppressed.
Take the recent Star Tribune article, “Republicans struggle to find candidate for open Minnesota U.S. Senate race.” It laments the lack of “competitive” GOP candidates for Senate, highlighting how national groups are scrambling but falling flat. It name-drops gubernatorial hopefuls like state Rep. Kristin Robbins and others who’ve passed on Senate bids, painting a picture of a party in disarray. Yet, amid all this hand-wringing about electability and fundraising, where’s the mention of candidates like me—who are actively publishing detailed, actionable plans to address Minnesota’s deepest crises? My website, parrish4mn.com, is a repository of in-depth articles exposing systemic fraud in programs like Feeding Our Future, the Housing Stabilization Services, and autism services. I’ve outlined a Bold 100-Day Plan that includes independent audits to recover billions in stolen funds, caps on NGO overhead, and staff reductions in bloated agencies—potentially saving $1.5-2.5 billion without raising taxes.
But the Star Tribune doesn’t call. They don’t write about my whistleblower experience or my proposals to transform elitist conferences into open public forums. Instead, they amplify the narratives of gatekeepers who decide who’s “electable.” Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty whines about the endorsement process favoring “far-right” candidates, but let’s be real: The real issue is insiders like him and party elites who control visibility, resources, and media access to prop up their preferred puppets. These gatekeepers—tied to debt-ridden party structures and special interests—cooperate with the media to dictate choices. They deem outsiders like me “unelectable” because I won’t play their game. I’ve been involved with the Minnesota Republican Party since 1982, yet they’ve excluded me from forums and events, as if Minnesotans can’t decide for themselves.
This bias extends to the fraud epidemic crippling our state. In a KSTP interview, Gov. Tim Walz admits to an “organized crime ring” operating in Minnesota for years, with more revelations likely. He blames COVID relaxations and claims his administration is now “stopping them” through audits. But reporter Tom Hauser lets him off the hook like an unaware bystander. Where’s the tough questioning? Walz championed these programs, yet there’s no accountability for his oversight failures. Hauser doesn’t press on why state regulators ignored red flags—like tiny venues claiming to feed thousands—or why Walz resisted a centralized Office of Inspector General until bipartisan pressure mounted. Instead, it’s a softball session that glosses over the human cost: Billions siphoned from the needy, enriching criminals while hardworking Minnesotans foot the bill.
I’ve been screaming this from the rooftops. My articles detail how fraud in refugee and welfare programs links to broader threats, drawing on my Navy intelligence background. I propose executive actions to claw back funds, mandate USCIS cross-checks for voter rolls, and enforce chain-of-custody for ballots. Yet, the media ignores it. Why? Because exposing the truth would disrupt their cozy relationships with the DFL and Republican insiders who benefit from the chaos.
And don’t get me started on the recent Elections Rulemaking 2025-2026 hearings by the Minnesota Secretary of State. This is one of the biggest issues of our time—proposed changes to rules in chapters 8200-8250 that could violate state and federal laws like HAVA and NVRA, especially on voter roll maintenance and absentee ballots. Out of 3.7 million registered voters, fewer than 100 participated in questioning these rules or pointing out flaws. Insane! Where are the journalists demanding transparency? Where are the “defenders of the weak and needy” amplifying public concerns? This low turnout isn’t apathy; it’s a symptom of a system that silences dissent. I’ve analyzed these rules, highlighting gaps that invite fraud, and called for safeguards like monthly death checks and public audits. But crickets from the press.
This isn’t journalism; it’s complicity. The media and political gatekeepers are deluding themselves if they think Minnesotans will continue down this path of corruption and controlled narratives. We’re angry—a righteous anger born from seeing our tax dollars stolen, our elections undermined, and our voices marginalized. The hardworking poor and middle class have had enough of this staged farce.
To any brave journalist reading this: It’s time to correct course. Call me. Talk to me. Write about what I’m exposing—the fraud cycles, the election vulnerabilities, the plans to fix them. Minnesotans deserve the truth, not dictated choices from elites who think they’re the arbiters of electability. My campaign is about right versus wrong, not left versus right. Join the fight at parrish4mn.com, or keep enabling the screenplay. The people are watching, and we’re ready to speak out.
Phillip C. Parrish
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota 2026
@phillipcparrish on X
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