In this episode of "Just When You Think You've Seen It All..."
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell on Wednesday took a formal first step to run for governor of embattled Minnesota in 2026, filing paperwork to create a campaign committee that will allow him to raise money to fund a campaign.
The "Mike Lindell for Governor" committee was registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, yet Lindell told The Minnesota Star Tribune that his run for governor “isn’t 100 percent, yet.” Ever the promoter, Lindell further told the outlet he will “announce either way on Dec. 11.”
The question is, will Lindell actually run? We'll revisit the question later in the article.
According to the Star Tribune piece linked above, Lindell told the publication in October he had polled hypothetical races against current Democrat Governor — and miserably failed vice presidential candidate — Tim Walz, as well as other Republicans running in the race, saying, "if there was someone to win, it would be me."
Here's more from the Star Tribune's report:
Lindell’s possible entrance into the race would shake up what’s become a crowded field of Republicans who are seeking to challenge Gov. Tim Walz. His close proximity to President Donald Trump and prominence in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement could make him a top contender for the GOP nomination, despite concerns about his electability and promotion of debunked election fraud theories.
Most of the GOP candidates have openly welcomed Trump’s endorsement. But a run by Lindell, a close friend of the president, could dash their hopes of winning Trump’s backing.
Before we go any further, let's first acknowledge the 300-pound elephant in the room.
While we long ago passed the point of anyone changing anyone else's mind about whether or not the 2020 presidential election was, as President Donald Trump continues to call it, "rigged" and "stolen," Lindell continues to pay a heavy price for his involvement in unsuccessfully attempting to prove it was.
Here's just part of the background:
Lindell, who became known for his cable TV ads hawking his pillows, has made the headlines in recent years more for his legal and financial woes. He was sued for defamation in 2022 for public comments he made, accusing voting machine manufacturers Dominion and Smartmatic of rigging the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to former President Joe Biden.
Both lawsuits ended with Lindell being found guilty, one resulting in a $2.3 million judgment, while damages have not been set in the second.
The law firm representing Lindell asked to withdraw in the middle of the proceedings, saying he informed them he didn't have enough money to pay them.
In 2024, package-delivery company DHL sued Lindell and MyPillow for $800,000 in unpaid bills.
While MyPillow is still in business, its products were dropped by a number of major retailers due to Lindell's public cries that the election was stolen from Trump.
Related MyPillow Guy Reads: We've Lost Everything': MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Says Election-Fraud Lawsuits Have Ruined Him
Mike Lindell Says His Company Has Taken a Serious Hit and Donald Trump Could Help in a Unique Way
As noted by the Star Tribune, Republicans aligned with the more moderate wing of the GOP have said having Lindell atop the ticket could hurt their chance to win the governor’s office for the first time since 2006.
But the question remains: Will Lindell actually run, when all is said and done?
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