Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has defeated Trump-endorsed former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary. Despite strong backing from Donald Trump, Lindell faced heavy resistance from local party leaders, who endorsed executive Kendall Qualls and raised concerns over Lindell's residency eligibility, delinquent taxes, and defamation lawsuits. Demuth now advances to the November general election to face Democratic nominee Senator Amy Klobuchar.
Lindell primary defeat to Demuth
- ▪Mike Lindell stepped down as CEO of MyPillow in early August 2026 to focus full-time on his Minnesota gubernatorial campaign
- ▪Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth defeated former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary on August 11, 2026
Trump endorsement influence
- ▪Former U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor, stating on Truth Social that Lindell would be spectacular and deserved a big win
- ▪The Minnesota Republican primary was viewed as a test of whether Donald Trump's endorsement still holds the same sway over Republican voters as in previous elections
Minnesota GOP internal divisions
- ▪The Minnesota Republican Party endorsed health care industry executive Kendall Qualls for governor instead of the Trump-backed Mike Lindell
- ▪Minnesota lawyer Chris Madel dropped out of the Republican gubernatorial race in January 2026, citing opposition to national Republican policies following a Minneapolis immigration campaign
- ▪Minnesota Republican Party chairman Alex Plechash stated that Minnesota Republicans were surprised by Donald Trump's endorsement of Mike Lindell
Lindell residency eligibility questions
- ▪Mike Lindell provided paystubs to a local television station to prove he had been working and paying taxes in Minnesota since August 2025 to meet residency requirements
- ▪Minnesota Republican Party chairman Alex Plechash questioned Mike Lindell's eligibility to run for governor, suggesting that Lindell appeared to live in Texas
Lindell financial baggage concerns
- ▪Minnesota Republican Party chairman Alex Plechash raised concerns over Mike Lindell's financial baggage, including public records showing tens of thousands of dollars in delinquent property taxes
- ▪Mike Lindell's advocacy for claims of 2020 election fraud made him a target for a series of defamation lawsuits
General election matchup with Klobuchar
- ▪Lisa Demuth will face Democratic nominee Senator Amy Klobuchar in the November 2026 general election for Minnesota governor
- ▪Seven Republican candidates competed in the primary to face Amy Klobuchar, who secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination in May 2026
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