MAGA Pillow Baron Mike Lindell Files Paperwork To Run For Minnesota Governor

MyPillow Founder and CEO Mike Lindell filed paperwork to run for Minnesota governor in 2026, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the Mike Lindell for Governor committee was registered with the state’s Campaign Finance Board, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Lindell, a close ally to President Donald Trump, told the outlet in an interview that his gubernatorial bid “isn’t 100% yet,” but vowed to announce his final decision during a news conference on Dec. 11.

“I am going to announce either way on Dec. 11,” Lindell told the outlet.

Lindell also told the Star Tribune that “if there was someone to win, it would be me,” in reference to the field of GOP contenders in the state’s gubernatorial race.

Some of the other Republican gubernatorial candidates in the North Star State include Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former State Senate member Scott Jensen, State Rep. Kristin Robbins, businessman Kendall Qualls and attorney Chris Madel, the Star Tribune reported.

While there have been rampant rumors that incumbent two-term Democratic Gov. Minnesota Tim Walz may run for president in 2028, he announced his reelection bid for governor in September. Lindell has previously floated the idea of potentially launching a bid for Minnesota governor, claiming in April that “no one wants” Walz, the failed 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, in the role.

Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Lindell in February 2021 after he allegedly repeatedly promoted debunked theories about their machines. In June, Lindell lost a $2.3 million defamation case after he falsely alleged that Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems employee, helped rig the 2020 presidential election, BBC News reported.

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chair Richard Carlbom said in a statement provided to the Star Tribune on Wednesday that he thinks Lindell “represents exactly what today’s Republican Party has become: conspiratorial, extremist, and weird.” Carlbom added that Lindell is “an out-of-touch salesman running to turn Minnesota into his next failed business.”

Lindell could not immediately be reached for comment.