Full Breakdown
Trump Endorses MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell in Minnesota Gubernatorial Race
7/15/2026, 8:32:02 PM
Core Event
On Wednesday, July 15 2026, former President Donald Trump issued a “complete and total endorsement” of Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow, for the Minnesota governor’s race. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform praising Lindell as “one of America’s greatest and most hard-working Patriots” and pledged to support his candidacy ahead of the Aug. 11 Republican primary.
Background & Context
Mike Lindell rose to national prominence through a long-running television advertising campaign for MyPillow and has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. Lindell’s campaign emphasizes election-integrity reforms, including the elimination of voting machines in favor of hand-counts and paper ballots. The Minnesota gubernatorial contest features a crowded Republican field, with Lindell competing against state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and businessman Kendall Qualls. Outgoing Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat who withdrew from seeking a third term, has been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism, particularly regarding alleged fraud in federally funded childcare programs.
Key Figures & Groups
- Donald Trump – Former U.S. president, endorsing Lindell.
- Mike Lindell – MyPillow CEO, Republican gubernatorial candidate.
- Lisa Demuth – Minnesota House Speaker, Republican primary contender.
- Amy Klobuchar – U.S. Senator, Democratic nominee for governor.
- Richard Carlbom – Chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party.
- Tim Walz – Outgoing Democratic governor, former 2024 vice-presidential nominee.
Data & Statistics
- A Survey USA/KSTP poll conducted earlier in July shows Lindell leading Republican primary voters with 27 % support, Demuth at 22 %, and Qualls at 17 %.
- Minnesota’s Aug. 11 primary is already underway with early voting in progress.
- Nationwide, 36 gubernatorial elections are scheduled for November 2026; the current partisan split is 26 Republican governors and 24 Democratic governors.
Official Statements & Responses
- Trump’s Truth Social post read: “Mike will be SPECTACULAR!!! He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it!” — *Donald Trump, Truth Social*
- Lindell told WCCO the endorsement is “huge” and “exciting,” adding, “I think it's gonna give people hope now in Minnesota that we have change.” — *Mike Lindell, interview*
- Lindell also said, “Those voting machines need to go. They need to be melted down ... and turned into prison bars.” — *Mike Lindell, interview*
- DFL Chair Richard Carlbom responded, “Mike Lindell is Minnesota's election-denying Trump clone. We look forward to holding them both accountable in November.” — *Richard Carlbom, party chair*
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic leaders, including Senator Klobuchar, have highlighted the Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdown, which they say resulted in multiple deaths and a school shooting in Minnesota. The DFL also accused Trump of employing racist rhetoric that targets the state’s Somali immigrant community as a source of alleged fraud. Lindell’s alignment with election-denial narratives has drawn criticism from both parties, with opponents questioning the feasibility of his proposed voting-machine reforms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Lindell asserted that the presidential endorsement does not obligate him to follow Trump on every issue, stating, “Just because the president endorsed me doesn't mean I'm gonna do everything that he would do. Absolutely not.” This contrasts with the DFL’s portrayal of Lindell as a “Trump clone,” indicating a lack of clarity on how closely Lindell will align his policy agenda with Trump’s platform.
What’s Next
The Republican primary will conclude on August 11, 2026. The winner will face Amy Klobuchar, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in the November gubernatorial election. Both campaigns are expected to intensify messaging around election integrity, childcare program oversight, and immigration policy in the weeks ahead.
