My Platform

Bill E. Gates Jr.
Candidate for Governor of Minnesota (DFL)

A different kind of Democrat.
Grounded. Independent. Focused on building a Minnesota that works for everyone—not just the political class.

This page outlines my platform—the foundation of my campaign.
For deeper discussion on specific issues, please visit the blog, where I expand on my positions in greater detail. If you have questions or would like to reach out directly, you can contact me through the Contact section on the homepage.

My Blog

Education

Students deserve safe, stable classrooms that support learning
Teachers deserve respect, fair pay, and manageable class sizes
Educators should not be forced to pay out of pocket to do their jobs
If a police officer doesn’t pay for the lead in his bullet, a teacher shouldn’t pay for the lead in her pencil
Fully fund public education, including special education and student support services
Protect teacher prep time and address burnout before it drives good educators away
Ensure every district—regardless of property wealth—can provide a quality education

Taxes

Support a long-term plan to reduce and eventually eliminate state tax collection in Minnesota
Transition away from reliance on traditional taxation by developing state-owned enterprises
Shift government funding toward revenue earned through productive participation in the free market
Reduce the tax burden on working families and small businesses
Build a self-sustaining state that funds public services without constantly raising taxes

Healthcare

Everyone should have access to quality, affordable healthcare
Medical decisions must be made by individuals and their doctors — not politicians
Protect personal freedom and privacy in healthcare choices
Expand access to mental health and addiction support without punitive barriers
Focus on reducing costs and improving outcomes, not bigger bureaucracy
Oppose one-size-fits-all mandates that strip local control
Promote transparency and competition to drive down prices and increase options

Reproductive Freedom / Abortion

Abortion is a medical decision and does not belong in the hands of government
Medical decisions should be made by the individual and their doctor, not politicians
No lawmaker can choose a fetus over a mother—or a mother over a fetus
Doctors should not risk their licenses or freedom for providing life-saving care
A hard ban on abortion endangers women who need it as necessary medical care
Government has no role in personal, private medical decisions
Survivors of rape should never be forced by the state to carry a pregnancy
Adoption and foster care reform matter—but they do not replace medical choice

Foster Care & Adoption Reform

Foster care should be a path to safety and stability, not a cycle of constant disruption
Children should not be bounced from home to home due to system failure
Reunification must only occur after rigorous, meaningful vetting—not paperwork alone
Once a child is removed for abuse or neglect, the standard for return must be high and enforced
Children returned home must receive mandatory, periodic follow-ups with a case worker
Case worker check-ins should include private conversations with the child, without parents present
Adoption pathways must be clearer, faster, and focused on permanent, safe placements
The system must prioritize the child’s safety over timelines, quotas, or adult convenience

Law Enforcement, Public Safety & Justice Reform

Public safety must focus on protecting lives, not generating revenue
Police stops should occur only when there is a legitimate, immediate safety concern
Minor, non-dangerous infractions should not be treated the same as major crimes
Enforcement should follow a graduated approach: verbal warning, documented warning, then citation
Ticketing should be a last resort, not the first response
Officers must be empowered to use judgment, context, and discretion based on circumstances
Invest in better training that emphasizes decision-making, de-escalation, and situational awareness
Maintain strong enforcement and accountability for major crimes, including violent offenses and sexual assault
Prohibit investigative tactics designed to coerce false statements or confessions
Focus policing on truth, accountability, and public trust
Create clear, automatic pathways for people to regain their rights after rehabilitation
Ensure minor, nonviolent offenses do not permanently define a person’s life

Family Court, Divorce & Child Custody Reform

Family court should prioritize the best interests of the child, not financial punishment or adversarial incentives
Establish 50/50 parenting as the default starting point when both parents are fit and willing
End systems that reward one parent while financially crushing the other
Stop forcing parents to pay simply to remain part of their child’s life
A parent should not be required to support two households while being denied equal parenting time
If a parent cannot financially support a child they primarily have custody of, custody arrangements should be re-evaluated
Eliminate the practice of suspending driver’s licenses for unpaid child support, which prevents people from working and paying their obligations
End jailing parents solely for inability to pay child support—incarceration does not solve financial hardship
Focus child support enforcement on employment, payment plans, and compliance, not punishment
Recognize parental alienation as child abuse and make intentional alienation an arrestable offense
Hold parents accountable for deliberately interfering with a child’s relationship with the other parent

Second Amendment & Public Safety

The Second Amendment is a constitutional right and must be protected
Law-abiding citizens should not be punished for the actions of unstable or violent individuals
Gun violence is primarily a mental health and system-failure issue, not a lawful gun owner issue
Focus on identifying and addressing mental instability before it turns into violence
Expand mental health treatment, early intervention, and crisis support as the first line of defense
Support responsible gun ownership paired with accountability and common sense
Prevent government overreach that infringes on constitutional rights
Address violence by fixing broken systems—not by eroding freedoms
Protect children and communities through prevention, not reaction