US President Donald Trump has officially endorsed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in Minnesota’s race for governor, describing him as a loyal supporter and encouraging voters to back his campaign.
In a message shared on social media on Wednesday, Trump praised Lindell, calling him “one of America’s greatest and most hard-working Patriots.”
Reacting to the endorsement, Lindell described the move as unexpected and significant for his campaign.
“It’s huge” and “exciting,” Lindell said, adding that he had no prior knowledge that the endorsement was coming.
“I think it’s gonna give people hope now in Minnesota that we have change,” he said. “And we have to have change.”
Despite Trump’s backing and years of publicly supporting the former president, Lindell said he would not automatically follow Trump’s position on every issue.
“Just because the president endorsed me doesn’t mean I’m gonna do everything that he would do. Absolutely not. I’m gonna do what Mike Lindell’s gonna do,” he said.
A SurveyUSA/KSTP poll released earlier this month placed Lindell ahead in the Republican race with 27 per cent support among GOP primary voters. House Speaker Lisa Demuth followed with 22 per cent, while businessman Kendall Qualls, who secured the state party’s endorsement, had 17 per cent.
Responding to Trump’s endorsement, Qualls argued that the Republican nomination would ultimately be decided by Minnesota voters rather than national political figures.
“Republican delegates did the hard work and got it right at the statewide convention in Duluth. I’m trusting them and their fellow Republicans that are closest to the issues of Minnesota,” Qualls said.
“They know that I’m the one candidate that can beat a 20-year sitting U.S. Senator, not Lisa Demuth or Mike Lindell.”
Early voting has already begun ahead of Minnesota’s Republican primary scheduled for August 11.
Lindell has remained one of Trump’s strongest allies, repeatedly supporting the former president’s claims that the 2020 US presidential election was manipulated.
He also reiterated his proposal to remove electronic voting machines in Minnesota if elected, replacing them with paper ballots counted by hand.
“Those voting machines need to go. They need to be melted down … and turned into prison bars,” Lindell said.
Trump had previously expressed support for Lindell’s political ambitions in December, saying he “deserves to be governor of Minnesota.”
The endorsement drew criticism from the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, whose chair, Richard Carlbom, argued that Republican candidates were competing for Trump’s approval.
“Every Minnesota Republican candidate for Governor chased Donald Trump’s endorsement and today, one of them has prevailed. This endorsement underscores that MAGA voters expect their candidates to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump, regardless of how much it hurts Minnesotans,” Carlbom said.
“Mike Lindell is Minnesota’s election-denying Trump clone. We look forward to holding them both accountable in November.”
The winner of the Republican primary will face the Democratic nominee in the November election.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, who received her party’s endorsement and holds a commanding fundraising advantage, is widely regarded as the leading Democratic contender.
Reacting to Trump’s endorsement of Lindell, Klobuchar posted a brief response on social media.
“Mike Lindell is Donald Trump’s choice. I hope to be Minnesota’s,” she wrote.
Outgoing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who decided not to seek a third term earlier this year, said the endorsement was not unexpected.
“That does not surprise me,” Walz said.
“Republicans will respond on Aug. 11, I guess, and then everyone else will get a chance in November.”
Political analyst Abou Amara said many Democrats would welcome the prospect of facing Lindell in the general election.
“I think Democrats are very excited about the prospect of running against Mike Lindell,” Amara said.
“In many ways, he’s the Minnesota version of Donald Trump, right? He’s outlandish, he’s a business guy who got into politics. Whereas Amy Klobuchar is a workhorse, she’s been winning for 20 years. She’s undefeated statewide when running for statewide office.”
