Overview
- President Trump posted a formal endorsement on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling MyPillow founder Mike Lindell “one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots” and urging Republicans to back his bid for governor.
- Hours after the post, the Minnesota Republican Party publicly rejected the pick, with chair Alex Plechash saying the party was surprised and citing concerns about Lindell’s electability and financial and residency questions.
- Lindell comes into the Aug. 11 Republican primary with polling strength in some surveys and a large media operation, but he also faces major legal and financial liabilities including defamation judgments, ongoing Smartmatic litigation, and reports of substantial personal debt.
- Early voting is already underway and the GOP primary is crowded, with state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls among Lindell’s rivals; Trump’s endorsements have had strong success in 2026 primaries, which could boost Lindell’s chances.
- If Lindell wins the nomination, critics warn his profile as an election denier and his legal troubles would give Democratic front-runner Sen. Amy Klobuchar a clear advantage in November, and the fight will likely shift Minnesota’s campaign narrative from local policy to national culture-war disputes.