Former President Donald Trump threw his weight behind Mike Lindell on Tuesday, urging Minnesota Republicans to vote for the My Pillow founder in the state's gubernatorial primary just hours before polls closed.
"Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections."
Trump's endorsement, delivered with characteristic hyperbole, underscores Lindell's alignment with the former president's baseless claims of election fraud in 2020. Lindell has repeatedly asserted that Trump, not Joe Biden, won the presidency, a claim rejected by courts and election officials.
Lindell is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed outgoing Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who announced in January he would not seek a third term amid a statewide fraud scandal. The GOP field is crowded, including state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who has positioned herself as a more establishment alternative.
The winner of Tuesday's primary will likely face Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in November, as she is favored to win her party's nomination. Klobuchar, a prominent Trump critic, has already begun framing the general election as a contrast between her record and the MAGA agenda.
Lindell entered the race in December, months after a federal judge ruled he defamed Smartmatic, an election technology company, by falsely claiming its machines were used to rig the 2020 election. He stepped down as CEO of My Pillow last week to focus on his campaign.
Recent polling gives Lindell a narrow lead over Demuth. A KSTP-TV/SurveyUSA poll conducted from July 29 to August 4 showed Lindell with 34 percent support among Republicans, compared to 28 percent for Demuth, with Army veteran Kendall Qualls trailing at 11 percent. Sixteen percent of respondents were undecided, and the margin of error was 5.6 points.
Trump's endorsement may provide a late boost to Lindell, who has made election integrity the centerpiece of his campaign. But Demuth has argued she is the more electable candidate against Klobuchar, and some GOP strategists worry Lindell's baggage could hurt the party in November.
The primary comes amid broader Republican divisions over Trump's influence, as seen in recent votes in the Senate that highlight lawmakers' fear of crossing the former president. Lindell's candidacy is a test of whether Trump's endorsement can overcome concerns about electability.
Trump's backing also fits a pattern of him rewarding loyalty, as seen in his policy decisions that often align with his political allies. Lindell has been a vocal supporter of Trump's claims about the 2020 election, even as courts and recounts confirmed Biden's victory.
With polls showing a tight race, the outcome could hinge on turnout. Trump's last-minute appeal to Minnesota Republicans may be decisive, especially among the base that trusts his judgment on election integrity.
