Minnesotans care about each other. Deeply. It’s rooted here. But somewhere along the way, government stopped feeling like **of the people, by the people, for the people** and started feeling like a closed system you’re forced to fund but rarely allowed to see. This is a proposal to rebuild that trust through **visibility, accountability, and a more self-sustaining way of operating**. This is **not** a magical solution. It is **not** a day-one buildout. It is a different way

The entire bathroom debate exists because of bad design, not because of bad people. We’ve turned a basic public function into a culture war when the real solution is simple: build privacy into the system and the conflict disappears. This isn’t a question of labels, identities, or enforcement. It’s a question of architecture. New Construction: Single-Occupant by Default All new public buildings should use the model that already works in gas stations, family restrooms, clinics,

One, two, Donny’s coming for you Three, four, ICE at your door Five, six, get your crucifix Seven, eight, stay awake Nine, ten, vote him out again That rhyme popped into my head because it captures exactly how a lot of Minnesotans feel right now: anxious, alert, on edge, and unsure who’s actually in charge of keeping them safe. I’m not claiming this as poetry. I’m not claiming it as policy. It’s just a reflection of the atmosphere we’re living in. And that atmosphere is this:

Campaign finance notice Contributions to Bill E. Gates Jr. for Governor are accepted only from U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents, as required by law. Federal and state law prohibit contributions from foreign nationals.

This evening, I hosted a virtual town hall to share where this campaign is headed and to begin an open conversation with Minnesotans about accountability, affordability, and trust in government. This meeting was not a polished presentation or a final rollout of legislation. It was a working discussion — an opportunity to explain my thinking, hear feedback, and begin putting ideas on the table publicly. Below is a clear summary of the key topics we discussed. Campaign Announce

Introduction For too long, immigration policy in the United States has been trapped between two failures: chaos without enforcement and enforcement without realism. Minnesota is now experiencing the real-world consequences of that failure — rising fear, unpredictable encounters, and dangerous situations that put civilians and law-enforcement officers at risk. Recent events in Minneapolis underscore a hard truth: a system built on surprise, uncertainty, and panic is not a safe

The video circulating from South Minneapolis is deeply troubling and raises serious questions that deserve clear, independent answers. In the footage, federal agents are seen pulling up alongside a parked SUV, exiting their vehicle, and moving quickly to the driver’s side. At least one agent appears to attempt to access the SUV while it is stopped. The vehicle then begins to move forward, and shots are fired shortly afterward. From what is visible in the video alone, the driv

Minnesota voters have a unique opportunity to connect directly with Bill E. Gates Jr., a candidate for governor, during his first virtual town hall on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:00 PM Central Time. This event is designed to introduce Gates to Minnesotans, share his reasons for running, and discuss the values that guide his campaign. It will also provide a platform for community members to ask questions and share their views. This blog post will guide you through what to e

The recent crisis in the Robbinsdale Area School District is not just a local budgeting problem — it’s a warning sign for Minnesota’s entire education system. A roughly $21 million budget deficit, largely driven by an accounting error that double-counted compensatory funding, has now resulted in over 200 layoffs, school closures, program eliminations, increased class sizes, and state intervention through statutory operating debt. Families are losing neighborhood schools. Educ

Family court exists for one reason: to protect children and ensure their well-being. Yet too often, the system incentivizes conflict, rewards accusation over evidence, and places children in the middle of prolonged legal and emotional warfare. When that happens, no one truly wins—especially not the child. Minnesota can do better. Reforming family court is not about choosing sides between parents. It is about restoring balance, fairness, and a focus on outcomes that genuinely

Public safety is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. Communities deserve to feel safe, officers deserve to be supported, and the justice system must work in a way that is fair, effective, and rooted in reality. Strong law enforcement and meaningful reform are not opposites—they are partners. And Minnesota needs both. Law enforcement exists to protect life, not to generate revenue or enforce rules for their own sake. When policing drifts away from publi

I spent nearly two years in the foster care system. Long enough to know that while the system is meant to protect children, too often it ends up moving them around like pieces in a shell game—never settled, never safe, never certain of what comes next. Being bounced from home-to-home leaves marks that don’t show up on paperwork. It creates trauma, instability, and a constant sense of waiting for the floor to drop out again. Children in foster care don’t just lose their homes—

Before you ask me my opinion on abortion, ask yourself three questions. Are you the woman in question? Chances are, you’re not. Are you, her doctor? Chances are, you’re not. And the third question is the most important of all: Are you, her God? If the answer to all three is no—and for almost everyone it is—then this decision is not your business. It’s not mine either. And it certainly is not the governments. Abortion is a medical decision. Full stop. It involves complex, deep

Education is the foundation of Minnesota’s future, yet for far too long we have treated it like a budget line item instead of a public trust. We ask educators to do more every year—teach, mentor, manage classrooms, respond to trauma, ensure safety, and fill in the gaps created by underfunding—while offering them fewer resources and less support in return. That approach is not sustainable, and it is failing both educators and students. Teachers are professionals, and they dese

I didn’t come to this idea from a think tank or a donor meeting. I came to it the hard way—by living real life. I’ve gone to school hungry. I’ve slept without a permanent home. I’ve worked long hours and still come up short. And I’ve worked alongside educators who stretch miracles out of nothing—then get blamed when the system fails them. So when I talk about Minnesota needing a new, sustainable way to fund education and public services, I’m not talking ideology. I’m talking

Minnesotans work hard. We pay our taxes. And every year it feels like the answer to every problem is the same: pay more. I believe Minnesota can do better. This plan is about building income for the state, not squeezing more out of the people. --- The Idea — In Plain English Instead of relying almost entirely on taxes, Minnesota should carefully explore owning a small number of businesses that: meet real public needs compete fairly in the free market generate revenue to suppo

Minnesotans Deserve a Governor Who Understands Their Struggles ================================================================ Minnesotans deserve a governor who doesn’t just talk about hardship but understands it because they’ve lived it. This election isn’t about party labels or personalities. It’s about perspective. It’s about whether leadership comes from real life or from a system that has always cushioned the fall. That’s where I am different from Governor Tim Walz. Ti

A Clear Choice for Minnesota: Lived Experience vs. Career Comfort Minnesotans deserve a governor who doesn’t just talk about hardship, but understands it because they’ve lived it. This election isn’t about party labels or personalities — it’s about perspective. It’s about whether leadership comes from real life or from a system that has always cushioned the fall. That’s where I am different from Governor Tim Walz. Tim Walz has spent his adult life inside institutions — govern

We Can Protect Our Kids Without Abandoning Our Rights There’s a lot of noise right now around school safety, guns, and the Second Amendment. Too much shouting. Too many false choices. I want to be very clear about where I stand — and why. I support the Second Amendment. I also support safe schools, protected teachers, and children who can learn without fear. Those positions are not in conflict. The Problem With the Current Conversation Every time there’s a tragedy, the conver

Policy Statement: Fixing Minnesota’s Broken ID System to Protect Voters and Elections I support exploring voter identification policies, but only if the state fixes its own identification system first. Right now, Minnesota’s ID process is not just inefficient — it is punitive to the voter. Here is the problem, plainly stated: If you apply for a REAL ID in Minnesota and later realize you need an ID today, the state will: Charge you again for a lesser ID issued in office Cancel