SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) – Mike Lindell, known as the “MyPillow Guy” and a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, launched his campaign for Minnesota governor on Thursday. He aims to secure the Republican nomination for the 2026 election, intending to challenge Democratic Governor Tim Walz.
Lindell made his announcement during a news conference at his MyPillow factory located in Shakopee, a suburb of Minneapolis. He broadcasted the event live on his conservative news platform, Lindell TV. During his speech, he criticized his political opponents who have allegedly tried to undermine him and his company due to his support for Trump’s baseless claims regarding the 2020 election, asserting, “Well, it didn’t work. I’m still standing. MyPillow is still standing. And now I want you to know that I will stand for you as governor of the state of Minnesota.”
As factory machinery operated in the background, Lindell transitioned into a live interview with Steve Bannon, a conservative strategist and Trump ally, on the “War Room” podcast. Following the interview, he expressed his commitment to visit towns across Minnesota to connect with voters and promote his campaign.
In discussions with reporters after his announcement, Lindell revealed that he informed Trump of his gubernatorial aspirations back in August. He was hesitant to predict whether he would receive Trump’s endorsement but acknowledged the significance it could hold for grassroots Republicans participating in the upcoming state party convention. Lindell mentioned that he often receives advice from Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former attorney, who also has a show on Lindell TV.
Lindell, 64, founded MyPillow in Minnesota in 2009, becoming a well-known television pitchman through his infomercials. However, in the wake of his outspoken support for Trump’s election fraud claims, Lindell faced significant legal and financial challenges that he claims to have overcome. He pointed out his experience in navigating substantial adversity and vowed to apply this experience to address issues such as business support, addiction, homelessness, and government fraud if elected as governor.
Democratic representatives quickly condemned Lindell’s candidacy. The Walz campaign characterized him as “a snake oil salesman caught up in multiple legal fights who wants to bring Trump extremism to Minnesota.” Despite the recent challenges for Republicans in statewide elections in Minnesota, which have seen no victories since 2006, Lindell draws on the state's history of unconventional elections, recalling the election of former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura as governor in 1998.
Lindell often shares his personal story of overcoming crack cocaine addiction, which followed his religious conversion in 2009 as MyPillow was gaining traction. His strong support for Trump began in 2016 when he met the then-candidate and subsequently served as a warm-up speaker at numerous Trump rallies, even co-chairing Trump’s campaign in Minnesota.
Throughout the years, Lindell has faced a series of challenges, including major retailers discontinuing MyPillow products in response to his election denial rhetoric. His company reportedly suffered substantial financial losses, with lawsuits filed against it over disputes. Lindell has been involved in high-profile defamation lawsuits concerning his assertions about voting machines; however, he also experienced a legal victory when an appeals court overturned a significant arbitration award against him.
Moving forward, Lindell emphasized that his campaign would encompass issues beyond election integrity, including advocating for hand-counting votes—a stance contrary to many election officials who assert machine counting is more accurate. Potential Republican challengers in the gubernatorial race include state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and former state senator Scott Jensen, among others.
Lindell was non-committal about adhering to the GOP endorsement process and expressed confidence in his ability to win. He acknowledged his current financial constraints but expressed optimism, citing an influx of offers for campaign donations following the announcement of his candidacy.
