Minnesota Supreme Court denies Mike Lindell's request for a full primary recount
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The state's highest court rejected the MyPillow founder's bid for a comprehensive recount of the GOP gubernatorial primary, upholding Lisa Demuth's victory.
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Saturday denied Mike Lindell’s petition for a full hand recount of the August 11 Republican primary for governor, where state House Speaker Lisa Demuth won by roughly 45,000 votes. Chief Justice Natalie E. Hudson wrote that the secretary of state’s office and the State Canvassing Board had provided a recount plan that complies with state law and does not constitute any error or wrongdoing, as Lindell alleged.
Lindell told NBC News he intends to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and is requesting election data from all 87 counties through a Freedom of Information Act request for an independent review.
Lindell had previously pledged to fund an $825,000 full recount but declined to pay after learning the plan would count only ballots cast for him and Demuth, not all candidates in the seven-person field. He sued the secretary of state’s office and the canvassing board, accusing them of a “bait-and-switch” for not including all ballots.
The secretary of state’s office said the recount plan, approved on Aug. 18, follows state statutes and prior recount procedures. Hudson noted that Lindell’s request for a recount of both Democratic and Republican primary ballots “confuses the purpose of a manual recount with an election contest.” The approved plan would sort ballots by primary, then separate Republican ballots into three piles—Lindell, Demuth, and other candidates—ensuring all votes are counted and subject to challenge.
The ruling affirms Demuth’s primary win and secures her place on the November ballot against Democratic nominee Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Lindell reiterated his demand for a full hand recount of all primary ballots, citing alleged anomalies linked to electronic voting machines.