Full Breakdown
Trump Endorses MyPillow Founder Mike Lindell in Minnesota Gubernatorial Race
7/19/2026, 8:49:57 AM
Core Event: Trump's Endorsement Shifts GOP Primary Landscape
On July 15, 2026, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he “completely and totally” endorses Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow, for governor of Minnesota. Trump called Lindell “one of America’s greatest and most hard-working Patriots” and declared he will be “spectacular.” The endorsement arrives a month before the August 11, 2026 Republican primary.
Background & Context
Lindell, a 65-year-old MyPillow CEO, has been a vocal supporter of Trump since 2016 and has promoted unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He faces defamation judgments from Dominion Voting Systems ($2.3 million) and an unresolved case from Smartmatic. Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor since 2006, and outgoing Democratic Governor Tim Walz withdrew from the 2026 race in 2025 amid scrutiny of state-run childcare-program fraud investigations. The Democratic field is led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who holds the DFL endorsement.
Key Figures & Groups
- Mike Lindell – MyPillow founder, GOP gubernatorial candidate, registered to vote in Texas, not yet in Minnesota.
- Donald Trump – Former president, endorses Lindell.
- Lisa Demuth – Minnesota House Speaker, GOP primary contender.
- Kendall Qualls – Businessman, endorsed by the Minnesota Republican Party.
- Alex Plechash – Chairman, Minnesota Republican Party.
- Richard Carlbom – Chair, Minnesota DFL Party.
- Amy Klobuchar – U.S. Senator, presumptive Democratic nominee.
Data & Statistics
- SurveyUSA/KSTP poll (early July): Lindell 27 % of GOP primary voters, Demuth 22 %, Qualls 17 %; 24 % undecided.
- Private Business Council survey (June 23-25): Demuth 34 %, Qualls 28 %, Lindell 24 %; 15 % undecided.
- Mason-Dixon poll (June 8-10) – general election matchup: Klobuchar 53 % vs. Lindell 36 %, Demuth 40 %, Qualls 37 %.
- Prediction-market aggregators rate the November race as “safe/solid” for Democrats, assigning a 94 % probability of a Democratic win.
Official Statements & Responses
- Trump praised Lindell’s “hard-working patriotism” and vowed to help “bring Minnesota back from oblivion and embarrassment.”
- Lindell said the endorsement “gives people hope” and pledged to eliminate voting machines, describing them as needing to be “melted down … and turned into prison bars.”
- Alex Plechash affirmed support for Trump’s agenda but warned Republicans must choose the candidate best positioned to defeat Klobuchar, citing Lindell’s “serious financial baggage” and unpaid property-tax allegations.
- Richard Carlbom labeled Lindell “Minnesota’s election-denying Trump clone,” warning that MAGA voters expect candidates to act as rubber stamps for Trump.
- Lisa Demuth emphasized her lifelong Minnesota roots and conservative record, positioning herself as the party’s electability option.
Criticism & Opposition
- GOP insiders, including Plechash and strategist Preya Samsundar, argue that Trump’s endorsement could hurt the party by elevating a candidate with low favorability among independents.
- Democratic analysts such as Larry Jacobs and David Schultz note Lindell’s extremist reputation and legal liabilities make him a weak general-election contender.
- Legal and financial concerns: Lindell faces pending defamation judgments and a reported $27,000 delinquent property-tax bill (payment unverified).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The New York Times could not verify Lindell’s payment of the alleged property-tax debt.
- Primary polling is inconsistent: SurveyUSA shows Lindell leading, while the Private Business Council survey places him third.
- No detailed information on Lindell’s running-mate or campaign finance totals appears in the sources.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mike Lindell, the ‘Pillow Man,’ and one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots, is running to be GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA,” — Donald Trump, President
- “I think it's gonna give people hope now in Minnesota that we have change,” — Mike Lindell, Gubernatorial Candidate
- “Minnesota cannot afford to nominate a ticket that gives Democrats an easy target and creates the very real possibility of another DFL trifecta.” — Alex Plechash, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman
- “Mike Lindell is Minnesota's election-denying Trump clone,” — Richard Carlbom, Minnesota DFL Party Chair
- “I entered this race for governor last November as a lifelong Minnesotan and a committed conservative Republican who has fought for Minnesotans and against Tim Walz and his extremist Democrat policies,” — Lisa Demuth, Minnesota House Speaker
What’s Next
Early voting is underway, and the August 11, 2026 Republican primary will determine the GOP nominee who will face Amy Klobuchar in the November gubernatorial election. No additional campaign events were detailed in the available reports.
