The endorsement of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell by former US President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy ahead of Minnesota's Republican primary on 11 August. Mr Trump's vocal backing of Mr Lindell comes as the latter trails significantly in general election polling, with Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar leading him by a considerable margin in a hypothetical matchup, according to a Star Tribune/KARE 11/Hubbard School poll conducted in June.
Mr Lindell's campaign has been beset by questions over his residency, having recently re-established himself as a Minnesota resident after several years registered to vote in Texas. This comes at a critical juncture in the gubernatorial race, with the primary election looming on 11 August and the general election set for 3 November 2026. The seat is up for grabs following Democratic-Farmer-Labor Governor Tim Walz's decision not to seek re-election, having previously defeated Republican Scott Jensen by a narrow margin in 2022.
The same poll which showed Senator Klobuchar's strong lead over Mr Lindell also highlighted her advantage over other Republican contenders. She leads party-endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls by 11 percentage points (48% to 37%) and state House Speaker Lisa Demuth by 8 points (48% to 40%). The Minnesota primary ballot features several candidates, including Scott Jensen, the 2022 nominee, and state representative Peggy Bennett.
While Senator Klobuchar emerged as a frontrunner on the Democratic side after announcing her candidacy in January, Mr Lindell secured Mr Trump's endorsement despite facing criticism over his unsubstantiated claims regarding the 2020 presidential election results. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump praised Mr Lindell as "one of America's greatest and most hard working Patriots," reiterating his own campaign slogan in the process.