Minnesota’s 2025 off-year elections left the Senate at 34-33 DFL, a margin decided by two special races—SD 47 (DFL win by ~23 points in Woodbury) and SD 29 (GOP hold by ~24 points in Wright County). Turnout topped 75% in Hennepin County, with GOP gains in rural and suburban areas on crime and taxes. Yet trust in the system is at rock bottom. As a 21-year Navy intel officer (LCDR, ret., 1998–2019), farmer, educator, and 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate, I’ve tracked compromise across parties: donor leverage, scandals, consultant fees, debts, and reporting tricks. These warp decisions—favoring insiders over innovators, optics over outreach—on both sides.
The MN GOP hasn’t won statewide since Pawlenty’s 2006 reelection. The DFL, despite trifecta control, bleeds credibility from $1B+ in program fraud under Gov. Walz. As I warned in “RISE, MINNESOTA—RISE AGAIN!”, it’s time to rise—transparent, voter-led, uniparty-free.
Donor Dependencies: Strings from Tainted Ties
Few donors control too much.
GOP: Anton Lazzaro’s Big Tent PAC gave ~$190K (2019–2021), including $10K to the party. He aided ex-Chair Jennifer Carnahan’s rise—until his 2021 sex-trafficking indictment (seven counts, 21-year sentence in 2023). Funds were pledged to charity; tracing diverted resources.
DFL: ActBlue processed $426K+ for Tina Smith, Angie Craig, and others through 2022, amid 2025 DOJ probes into fraud (identity theft, foreign donations). House DFL raised $9.2M in 2024—three times GOP—but unions and wealthy donors dominate.
Impact: GOP picks “safe” moderates; DFL shields fraud-riddled programs (Medicaid, unemployment). Voters lose.
Scandals and Divisions: Toxicity Breeds Bad Bets
GOP: Carnahan (2017–2021) used NDAs to silence harassment claims; four ex-directors called the party “morally bankrupt.” Interim Chair David Hann faced 2023 ouster bids.
DFL: Walz’s admin hit with FBI raids on autism centers (2025, tied to Feeding Our Future) and $250M+ Housing Stabilization fraud. Unemployment: $183M overpaid (75% fraud rate). Frontline bonuses: $215M improper.
Nefarious: Feeding Our Future defrauded $250M in meals—fake sites, luxury buys—50+ convictions. Walz was subpoenaed (2024 House probe) yet claims he “caught it early.” DFL blocks audits; GOP uses NDAs. Both lost the 2022 House.
Consulting Fees Amid Losses: Paid for Perpetual Stumble
GOP: Tony Sutton’s 2005–2011 fines ($170K FEC, $33K recount) hid $249K invoices. Preya Samsundar’s K2 & Co. billed $100K+ for 2022–2024 flops (Jensen -7.7%, White -5%).
DFL: Heavy outside spend ($9.2M House DFL) buys messaging, but yields slim margins. Sheila Nezhad’s PAC fined in 2025 for undisclosed coordination.
Impact: Both back “pragmatists,” starving bold ideas like my tax cuts and audits.
Reporting Tricks: Faking Momentum, Hiding Havoc
GOP: 2022 CD1 self-loans (Ettinger $1.5M, Carnahan $227.5K) padded reports.
DFL: Emily Koski fined (2025) for misusing $31K council funds in mayoral run. Sen. Omar Fateh fined $500 for revoked-endorsement signs. Right Now MN PAC (conservative, but DFL probes similar) fined $240K for mislabeling via shell 1854 Inc.
Nefarious: ActBlue’s 2025 fraud allegations (bots, foreign cash) evade FEC, fueling DFL’s haul but decisions toward unchecked spending.
Debts: Choking Choice
GOP: $414K peak (2023), $150K Carnahan severance.
DFL: Fraud losses ($1B+) dwarf this—yet Walz’s anti-fraud unit (Jan 2025) reacts late.
Impact: GOP begs insiders; DFL covers tracks. Bold reforms die.
Reclaim Integrity: Bipartisan Fixes Now
Lazzaro’s trafficking, ActBlue probes, $1B frauds, NDAs, shell PACs—these demand action. As Governor, I’ll mandate:
• Full donor audits
• Ban state-race shell LLCs
• Cap consultant fees at 10% of budgets
• Require self-loan repayment timelines
• Enforce open primaries
No uniparty fog. Real wins for farmers, parents, truckers.
As in “EXPOSÉ: THE EDINA ELITE” and “Phillip C. Parrish: Fighting for YOU!”, we’ll expose and rebuild. Join at parrish4mn.com—volunteer, donate, rise. Minnesota deserves decisions for people, not puppets.
Phillip C. Parrish
LCDR, USN (Ret.) | Republican candidate for Governor—Minnesota 2026
Phillip C. Parrish is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, farmer, teacher, administrator, and candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2026.