A day after terror attacks left hundreds of casualties across Paris, a Democratic candidate for the Minnesota House tweeted, “ISIS isn’t necessarily evil. It is made up of people doing what they think is best for their community. Violence is not the answer, though.” He has since ended his campaign.

According to the Associated Press, Dan Kimmel, 63, said in a statement that his tweet was written not in response to the Paris attacks but rather to a remark made during the Democratic presidential debate on Saturday.

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen called for Kimmel to give up his campaign, and on Sunday the candidate did so. “I’m folding up the campaign tent,” he told the Star Tribune.

The tweet “was not interpreted as I intended. It was so badly misinterpreted,” he said, adding that he was ending his candidacy “to remove the ick” from the Democratic party.

In a statement, he said, “The tweet was stupid. I’m sorry.” From the AP:

He had earlier clarified his first tweet: “I deplore the evil acts of ISIS. I do not defend their acts.”

Screenshot via Star Tribune. Contact the author of this post: brendan.oconnor@gawker.com.