Full Breakdown
Mike Lindell Refuses to Concede After Loss in Minnesota GOP Gubernatorial Primary
8/13/2026, 1:00:53 AM
Primary Outcome and Lindell’s Contestation
In the August Republican primary for Minnesota governor, House Speaker Lisa Demuth secured the nomination, leading by more than 45,000 votes and finishing with roughly 43 % of the vote while Mike Lindell received about 32 %. Decision Desk HQ reported the margin as roughly 11 percentage points. He maintained that the results “just don’t make sense” and promised a further review before acknowledging defeat.
Background and Lindell’s Political Profile
Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow, rose to national prominence by promoting the false claim that the 2020 election was “stolen.” He launched LindellTV in 2021 and appeared on election-denier podcasts. In July, Trump endorsed Lindell for governor, a boost that proved insufficient to overcome Lindell’s legal debt and backlash over a brief immigration-amnesty proposal.
Data and Vote Totals
- Vote share: Demuth ? 43 % (officially 43.5 %); Lindell ? 32 % (32.5 %).
- Raw vote count: Demuth 179,523; Lindell 134,154, a margin of 45,369 votes.
- Precinct reporting: 100 % reported by the morning after the primary.
- Projected margin: Decision Desk HQ estimated an 11-point gap; the AP called the race at 11:26 p.m. on election night.
Official Statements & Responses
- Donald Trump reiterated his support on Truth Social, writing that “Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today… nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair elections.”
- Lisa Demuth described her victory as a “major milestone” and said her campaign “is not done yet,” urging continued voter engagement.
- Lindell told reporters on LindellTV that he was “down by 18,000 now” with “265,000 votes left” and that his team had “seen a couple of anomalies.” He said he would not concede until the numbers were reconciled.
- The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office confirmed that all precincts had been counted and that Demuth’s lead exceeded 45,000 votes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Why would I listen to the AP?” — Mike Lindell
- “Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today. Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections,” — Donald Trump
Implications for the General Election
Demuth’s nomination pits her against DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar in November, marking the first time both major parties will field female nominees in Minnesota. The result suggests that Trump’s endorsement alone cannot overcome an established legislative candidate in a state where Trump has not carried the presidential vote in three consecutive elections. Demuth’s campaign will focus on tax cuts, regulatory rollbacks, and a “fraud prevention plan,” while Klobuchar has pledged to lower costs, expand the economy, and root out fraud in state programs.
What’s Next
With the primary settled, the Minnesota Republican Party will rally behind Demuth as she prepares for the November contest. Lindell has not issued further public statements since primary night, and his campaign has not responded to media inquiries about a possible legal challenge. The November ballot will test whether the GOP’s shift toward institutional candidates can retain the governorship in a state that has trended Democratic at the presidential level.
