MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Trump Loyalist and Election Denier, Launches Bid for Minnesota Governor
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Mike Lindell, notorious for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and serving as a mouthpiece for Trumpism, has announced his campaign to unseat Democratic Governor Tim Walz in 2026 as a Republican.
Mike Lindell, the controversial founder and CEO of MyPillow, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial race as a Republican, targeting incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Walz. Lindell, 64, is infamous for his unwavering support of former President Donald Trump and for aggressively promoting debunked claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election, undermining public trust in democracy.
In his campaign announcement, Lindell attempted to highlight his business background and his personal story of overcoming addiction, but his platform is steeped in right-wing talking points. He claims his priorities include addressing addiction and homelessness, fighting so-called government fraud, and pushing for changes to the state's voting systems. Lindell has been a relentless critic of electronic voting machines, advocating for a regressive shift to hand-counted ballots, despite the fact that Minnesota already uses paper ballots and tabulators, and there is no evidence of widespread fraud.
The Republican primary is shaping up to be a crowded contest, with other candidates such as State House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former state senator and failed 2022 gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen, State Representative Kristin Robbins, and healthcare executive Kendall Qualls. Governor Walz, seeking a third term, has prioritized real issues like gun violence prevention and progressive legislative victories, though he has faced right-wing attacks over his handling of the George Floyd protests and isolated COVID-19-related fraud cases.
Lindell's entry injects a notorious election denier and conspiracy theorist into the Republican field, threatening to drag the Minnesota gubernatorial race further into the mire of Trumpist extremism. His campaign is expected to focus on manufactured fears about 'election integrity' and hardline conservative values, appealing to the most reactionary elements of the Republican base.
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