MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Democratic candidate for the state Legislature is quitting his campaign after tweeting this weekend that “ISIS isn’t necessarily evil.”

Dan Kimmel, of Burnsville, is giving up his run for a seat in the House after the online response to his tweet Saturday was swift, loud and negative.

The controversial tweet said: “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.”

The tweet has since been deleted.

In a statement on his campaign website Sunday, Kimmel said that the tweet wasn’t in response to the terror attacks in Paris but to the Democratic presidential debate.

“It was poorly worded and did not convey my intent,” Kimmel said.

He apologized in the statement to the DFL party and to the volunteers who helped his campaign.

“I will do everything I can to help resolve the issue: most likely the best thing for me to do is shut up,” he said. “The tweet was stupid. I’m sorry.”

After the controversial tweet went out, House Minority Leader Paul Thissen called for Kimmel to end his campaign.