Trump-backed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell loses Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary

Published Aug 12, 04:47 AM UTC

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, endorsed by President Donald Trump, lost the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary to state House Speaker Lisa Demuth on August 11, 2026. Demuth secured 43.6% of the vote, while Lindell received 32.3% and Kendall Qualls 21.4%. On the Democratic side, Senator Amy Klobuchar won her primary with 89.6% and is heavily favored in the general election. The primary follows Governor Tim Walz's announcement that he would not seek reelection amid a massive welfare fraud scandal, with federal prosecutors estimating over $9 billion stolen. Lindell faced controversies including residency questions and a campaign finance violation, and recently settled a defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems.