Mike Lindell to Finance Hand Recount of Minnesota GOP Primary Ballots

Mike Lindell announced Wednesday that he will fund a statewide hand recount and audit of all paper ballots cast in Minnesota’s Republican primary for governor, stating the effort will not cost state taxpayers. He said the recount is being pursued after he identified what he described as irregularities in the election-night reporting data.

Lindell, who lost to Lisa Demuth by roughly 45,000 votes, said he is exercising a legal right to audit and hand-count every ballot. He added that, even if the recount does not change the outcome, it could serve as a "gateway to get rid of election voting machines."

Among the issues he cited were vote totals that appeared to move backward during reporting, synchronized totals across all seven Republican candidates, and counties reporting more votes than were cast. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office has been contacted for comment.