There are moments in politics when an announcement comes that makes you sit back and take notice. This is one of those moments.
Mike Lindell, the businessman who built MyPillow into a household name, has officially thrown his hat into the ring for Minnesota governor. The decision, announced Thursday, sets up what promises to be a contentious battle against incumbent Democrat Tim Walz in 2026.
“After prayerful consideration and hearing from so many of you across our great state, I’ve made the decision to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race,” Lindell declared. “I’m still standing and I’ll stand for you.”
The announcement follows Lindell’s filing of preliminary paperwork last week, though at that time he had not fully committed to the race. Now, with his official entry, the Republican primary field has become considerably more crowded and unpredictable.
Lindell faces significant competition within his own party. The state House Republican speaker has already announced a gubernatorial bid, as has Scott Jensen, who carried the Republican banner against Walz in the 2022 midterms but came up short. The question now becomes whether Minnesota Republicans will consolidate behind a single candidate or fracture their support across multiple contenders.
The MyPillow founder has launched a campaign website outlining his priorities, which read like a checklist of conservative concerns. He has pledged to combat election fraud, reform what he calls “failing school systems,” address rising property taxes, and implement stricter immigration enforcement including deportations.
But Lindell enters this race carrying considerable baggage. His business has faced legal troubles in recent years, including a court order earlier this year requiring payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to shipping company DHL. More significantly, a judge ruled that Lindell defamed election technology company Smartmatic after he made unsubstantiated claims that their voting machines manipulated the 2020 presidential election results. He faced similar legal challenges from Dominion Voting Systems over comparable allegations.
These legal entanglements raise serious questions about Lindell’s viability as a statewide candidate. In modern politics, past controversies have a way of becoming present liabilities, particularly in a general election where independent voters often decide the outcome.
Governor Walz, should he secure the Democratic nomination, would be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term. That itself presents challenges, as voter fatigue with long-serving incumbents is a real phenomenon in American politics.
The 2026 race is shaping up to be a test of whether Minnesota voters are ready for change or satisfied with the current direction. For Lindell, the challenge will be distinguishing himself in a crowded primary field while addressing the legal and reputational issues that have followed him in recent years.
One thing is certain: Minnesota politics just got considerably more interesting. The coming months will reveal whether Lindell’s name recognition and business background can translate into political success, or whether his controversies will prove too heavy a burden to carry into the governor’s mansion.
This story continues to develop as more candidates are expected to enter the race in the coming months.
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