How Mike Lindell from MyPillow could impact the Minnesota governor's race

Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow and a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump's unproven claims of election fraud in 2020, submitted paperwork Wednesday to explore a potential run for governor in Minnesota. The Republican primary already has nearly ten declared candidates, making the contest highly competitive.

Although Lindells team has filed documents with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board, he has not officially confirmed his candidacy. He indicated he would share more details about his plans on December 11. "I'm 98 percent sure I'm going to," Lindell told Minnesota Public Radio.

Even without an official campaign launch, the Democratic Governors Association seized on the news to critique Lindell. "His entry into the race is a bitter pill for Minnesota Republicans," said spokesperson Izzi Levy. "Minnesotans can be confident that we will stop any attempt to advance Lindell's extreme agenda."

If he decides to run, Lindell would aim to challenge incumbent Governor Tim Walz, who has frequently been criticized by Trump.

Background on Mike Lindell

Lindell is the founder and owner of MyPillow, based in Chaska, Minnesota. The company has sold over 41 million pillows, largely through infomercials. He met Trump in 2016 and became a devoted supporter, attending the inauguration and participating in meetings with business leaders.

Following Trumps defeat in 2020, Lindell promoted baseless conspiracy theories claiming that voting machine companies Smartmatic and Dominion rigged the election. No evidence has substantiated these claims. He has faced multiple defamation lawsuits, including a $2.3 million verdict in favor of a Dominion employee and other damages in the Smartmatic case, both of which he intends to appeal. Lindell has stated that his advocacy on election conspiracies has cost MyPillow $100 million in revenue.

Primary Outlook

The Republican primary already includes candidates such as state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former state senator Scott Jensen, and businessman Kendall Qualls. While Demuth emphasizes education and fiscal responsibility, Lindell could leverage his national profile and Trump connections to gain attention. Jensens positions on vaccines and health policy might attract supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health movement.

Winning the Republican primary is just one challenge; defeating Governor Walz in the general election would also be difficult. Republicans have not secured a statewide office in Minnesota since 2006. Walz remains unpopular, tied with Texas Governor Greg Abbott for one of the lowest approval ratings among U.S. governors, but the Cook Political Report still considers the race likely to favor Democrats.

Lindell positions himself as a "wild card" candidate, highlighting election security as a central part of his potential platform. "We are doing our due diligence, and so far things are looking very good," he said earlier this year. "I will certainly be adding securing our elections to my platform."

Author: Grace Ellison