Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of MyPillow, recently announced his intention to run for the governorship of Minnesota in the 2026 elections. Lindell, who will be 64 years old by the time of the elections, will run against incumbent Governor Tim Walz.
Lindell’s announcement came after he filed the necessary paperwork to potentially run for the office. However, at the time of filing, he expressed that he hadn’t yet made a firm decision on his gubernatorial run. But he eventually made his intention official last Thursday.
In a post on his social media page, Lindell stated, “After prayerful consideration and hearing from so many of you across our great state, I’ve made the decision to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race. I’m still standing, and I’ll stand for you.” This announcement has set the stage for what promises to be a heated and hard-fought contest.
As a well-known ally of former President Trump, Lindell will be running as a Republican. His entry into the race adds to a growing list of individuals who have already announced their intentions to vie for the governorship. The incumbent, Walz, a Democrat, will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term as Minnesota’s governor.
In response to Lindell’s announcement, Governor Walz said, “We’ve seen what happens when we elect a con man to the highest office in America. We can’t let it happen here in Minnesota.” This statement is a clear indication of the high-stakes political battle that lies ahead.
Lindell is not the only Republican hopeful for the governorship. Lisa Demuth, the current state House Republican speaker, has also announced her intentions to run for the office. Scott Jensen, who unsuccessfully ran against Walz during the 2022 midterms, is another contender for the office. Other Republican hopefuls include Minnesota Representative Kristin Robbins, Kendall Qualls, and defense attorney Chris Madel.
In anticipation of his gubernatorial run, Lindell has launched a campaign website. The website outlines the main priorities of his campaign, which include tackling fraud, overhauling “failing school systems,” curbing “exploding property taxes,” and dealing with illegal immigration.
However, Lindell’s political ambitions come against the backdrop of a series of legal issues surrounding his company, MyPillow. The company has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to shipping company DHL following a lawsuit. In addition, Lindell was ruled to have defamed election technology company Smartmatic after he made unfounded claims that their voting machines rigged the 2020 presidential election in favor of former President Joe Biden. Lindell made similar groundless allegations against Dominion Voting Systems.
The state of Minnesota has a history of political outsiders performing surprisingly well in statewide races. This trend was most notably seen during the 1998 gubernatorial elections when Jesse Ventura, a political outsider, clinched a surprising victory. However, it’s been over two decades since a Republican won a statewide race in Minnesota, a state that has been increasingly leaning towards the Democratic Party.
The upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race in Minnesota is poised to be a fierce political battle. With a growing list of contenders and the incumbent Governor Walz seeking an unprecedented third term, the race promises to be one of the most hotly contested in recent history. Lindell’s entry into the race, given his controversial past and alignment with former President Trump, adds an interesting dynamic to the upcoming elections. As the race heats up, all eyes will be on Minnesota to see how this political drama unfolds.
Jacob Rosen and Caroline Cummings contributed to this report.
As the race for the 2026 Minnesota governorship heats up, more candidates are expected to declare their intentions to run. For more information on this and other news, stay tuned to CBS News.
For a deeper dive into the state’s political landscape, The Free Press offers comprehensive coverage and analysis.
