Full Breakdown
Mike Lindell Refuses to Concede After Losing Minnesota GOP Gubernatorial Primary
8/12/2026, 10:50:23 PM
Core Event
Former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was defeated in the Minnesota Republican primary for governor by state House Speaker Lisa Demuth. Although the Associated Press called the race for Demuth, Lindell said he would not concede, citing voting-count anomalies and the number of uncounted ballots.
Background & Context
Lindell entered the race in 2023 as an “election-integrity” candidate and aligned himself with former President Donald Trump. He stepped down as MyPillow CEO in May to focus on the campaign. Earlier, he faced criticism for a proposed six-month immigration amnesty plan, which he later reversed, and his candidacy was shadowed by defamation judgments tied to 2020 election conspiracy claims.
Data & Statistics
- With roughly 95 % of precincts reported, Demuth led with about 43 % of the vote while Lindell trailed at 32 % (NBC News).
- Decision Desk HQ reported a final margin of roughly 11 percentage points and a vote gap of over 45,000 votes.
These figures illustrate the contested nature of the remaining count.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lisa Demuth called the win a “major milestone” and said her campaign “is not done yet.”
- Tim Walz, the outgoing Democratic governor, said he was stepping out of the race to focus on other work.
- Donald Trump posted on Truth Social urging supporters to vote for Lindell, describing him as deserving a “BIG WIN.”
- Lindell, on his livestream, said he would wait for the remaining “day-of” votes before accepting defeat.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact vote deficit and the number of ballots still uncounted:
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Lindell down by 18,000 with 265,000 votes left | The Hill |
| Lindell down by 20,000 with 277,000 votes left | The Daily Beast |
| Final margin 11 pp and 45,000-vote gap | Decision Desk HQ / NBC News |
No source provided definitive verification of the remaining ballots, leaving the alleged “anomalies” unsubstantiated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’m down by 20,000 votes with 277,00 votes left to count,” — Mike Lindell
- “Tonight, Minnesotans made it clear they are ready for real change — at the top,” — Lisa Demuth
- “I’m not for amnesty, I’ve never been for amnesty, and I never will be for amnesty,” — Mike Lindell
- “Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today,” — Donald Trump
- “I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” — Tim Walz
