Trump comes up short with Lindell in Minnesota gubernatorial primary
The Hill · C · trust 38/100
Comments: by Julia Mueller - 08/11/26 10:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Julia Mueller - 08/11/26 10:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING Minnesota state Rep. Lisa Demuth (R) was projected to win the Republican primary for governor of the North Star State, Decision Desk HQ projects, dealing a blow to President Trump.
Trump had endorsed Republican businessman Mike Lindell, the “My Pillow Guy” whom a judge ruled defamed the election tech company Smartmatic with false statements about the 2020 election, for the governor’s mansion.
But despite a last-minute push from Trump , who said Lindell “deserves a BIG WIN,” Demuth emerged from the crowded field vying to replace outgoing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).
Across the aisle, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), the popular four-term Democrat, was expected to easily win her gubernatorial primary in the blue state.
Lindell’s loss is the latest blow to Trump’s election scorecard.
The race for Minnesota governor is wide-open after Walz, who was Democrats’ 2024 vice-presidential nominee, ended his bid for a third term earlier this year amid scrutiny over a sprawling fraud scandal in the state.
“I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” Walz said in January, though he projected confidence about his ability to win if he’d stayed in the race.
Republicans have been hopeful that the scandal opens a door for them in the North Star State, which Trump lost by single digits in each of his three elections. But it’ll be an uphill climb.
Cook Political Report considers the seat solidly Democratic, after shifting the race from “likely” blue earlier this year.
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