Mike Lindell, the outspoken CEO of MyPillow and a prominent backer of former President Donald Trump, has thrown his hat into the ring for Minnesota’s 2026 gubernatorial race, setting off a political storm that could reshape the state’s Republican primary landscape. His announcement, made on December 11, 2025, at the MyPillow factory in Shakopee, Minnesota, was anything but ordinary—broadcast live on his own Lindell TV platform, with the buzz of machinery and workers packaging pillows in the background. “Well, it didn’t work. I’m still standing. MyPillow is still standing,” Lindell declared, referencing efforts by his political opponents to shut down his business due to his unwavering support for Trump’s claims about the 2020 election. “And now I want you to know that I will stand for you as governor of the state of Minnesota,” he added, according to the Associated Press.
Lindell’s candidacy instantly gave Minnesota’s GOP right flank a high-profile champion. He wasted no time leveraging his connections, jumping straight from his announcement into a live interview with Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, on the “War Room” podcast. He also revealed that Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former personal lawyer and current host on Lindell TV, is advising his campaign. “I was able to make it through the biggest attack on a company, and a person, probably other than Donald Trump, in the history of our media ... lawfare and everything,” Lindell told the AP, highlighting his resilience through legal and financial battles that have dogged him since he became one of the loudest voices amplifying Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election.
Lindell, 64, is no stranger to adversity. After founding MyPillow in 2009, he overcame a crack cocaine addiction through a religious conversion—a story he’s shared often, especially since meeting Trump in 2016 and serving as a warm-up speaker at dozens of campaign rallies. His business, once a staple of late-night infomercials, suffered after major retailers dropped MyPillow products in response to Lindell’s election denialism. “Not only have I built businesses, you look at problem solution,” he said, arguing that his experiences equip him to tackle issues like business support, addiction, homelessness, and government fraud as governor.
But Lindell’s legal woes are far from over. He’s been sued twice for defamation over his claims that voting machines were manipulated to deprive Trump of victory. In June 2025, a Colorado jury awarded $2.3 million in damages against him for defaming a former Dominion Voting Systems executive. In September, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled that Lindell had defamed Smartmatic with 51 false statements, though the question of “actual malice” remains unresolved. Smartmatic is seeking “nine-figure damages.” However, Lindell did notch a win in July when a federal appeals court overturned a $5 million arbitration award to a software engineer who disputed Lindell’s data on alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election.
Despite these setbacks, Lindell’s campaign launch was met with immediate enthusiasm from influential right-wing groups in Minnesota. Action 4 Liberty, a group with sway among state GOP delegates, hosted Lindell at its Christmas party the same night as his announcement. “The candidacy of Mike Lindell seems to provide a stark contrast to a field that largely consists of RINO [Republican-in-name-only] politicians climbing the political ladder,” the group wrote in a blog post. Royce White, the 2024 GOP nominee for U.S. Senate and a candidate again in 2026, also voiced his support: “His story is one of perseverance, determination and success.”
Lindell’s celebrity status, MAGA bona fides, and ties to Trump’s inner circle likely make him a leading contender for the Minnesota GOP nomination, even as some party insiders warn that his nomination could jeopardize Republicans’ chances of winning the governor’s office for the first time since 2006. The party’s endorsing convention is set for spring 2026, but several candidates—including Lindell—have suggested they’ll take their campaigns to the August primary if they don’t secure the endorsement. The Republican field is crowded, with other candidates including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former state senator and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Scott Jensen, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, defense lawyer Chris Madel, and former executive Kendall Qualls.
Lindell, for his part, isn’t promising to abide by the party endorsement. “These guys haven’t lived what I live,” he said, drawing a sharp line between himself and his rivals. He’s also realistic about his campaign’s financial hurdles, openly acknowledging that his personal finances are depleted after years of legal battles and business losses. “I don’t have the money,” Lindell admitted. But he struck an optimistic note, telling reporters that since news of his candidacy broke, “I’ve had thousands upon thousands of people text and call, saying from all around the country ... ‘Hey, I’ll donate.’” He intends to rely on this grassroots support to fund his campaign, vowing to take his red-white-and-blue campaign bus to every town in Minnesota.
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who is also the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate, announced in September that he’s seeking a third term. The Walz campaign wasted no time going on the offensive, issuing a statement that pulled no punches: “Lindell has made a name for himself kissing up to Donald Trump and pushing far-right conspiracy theories, especially around the 2020 presidential election results — not to mention selling subpar pillows. He’s a snake oil salesman caught up in multiple legal fights who wants to bring Trump extremism to Minnesota.”
Election security is poised to be a central issue in Lindell’s campaign. While Minnesota uses paper ballots, it also employs electronic tabulators for counting—a process Lindell wants replaced with hand-counting, despite widespread agreement among election officials that machines are more accurate. Lindell told the AP his crusade against electronic voting machines will be part of his platform, though he acknowledged that Minnesota’s current system is already relatively secure compared to other states.
Minnesota’s voters have a history of surprising the nation with unconventional choices, from electing former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura as governor in 1998 to sending TV pitchman Rudy Boschwitz to the U.S. Senate in 1978. No Republican has won statewide office since 2006, but the state’s political landscape remains unpredictable. As the 2026 race heats up, the question remains: Will Lindell’s notoriety and unwavering base propel him to the governor’s mansion, or will his high-profile controversies sink the GOP’s chances once again?
The coming months will reveal whether Lindell’s blend of resilience, celebrity, and controversy is the winning formula Minnesota Republicans have been searching for—or a gamble that could cost them dearly.
