Mike Lindell delays payment for Minnesota GOP primary recount over scope dispute
The MyPillow founder has not submitted the $825,000 required for a recount of the Republican gubernatorial primary, citing disagreement with the state’s proposed recount parameters.
Mike Lindell, who placed second to House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary, has withheld the $825,000 payment needed to trigger a recount and audit. His campaign said the funds are ready but have not been transferred because state officials plan to recount only the votes for Lindell and Demuth, excluding those for other candidates.
The campaign argues that this limited scope conflicts with Minnesota law, which defines a recount as a determination of "the number of votes validly cast for the office or question to be recounted." Lindell’s team has asked the Secretary of State’s office to extend the payment deadline until a court can decide on the appropriate parameters.
Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office responded that the contingency recount plan, approved by the State Canvassing Board on August 18, follows state law and longstanding administrative rules. The plan outlines a statewide hand recount overseen by the director of elections, Paul Linnell, with public and media access.
Minnesota law requires a losing candidate to request a discretionary recount and provide funding within five days of the primary canvass. The primary recorded 179,683 votes for Demuth and 134,282 for Lindell. No official evidence of fraud or irregularities has been reported.