Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and businessman Kendall Qualls, according to race results reported by the Associated Press. Demuth secured the nomination in an open race following Gov. Tim Walz’s decision not to seek a third term, positioning her to face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the November general election.
Lindell, who received an endorsement from President Donald Trump last month, finished a distant second with 32.3% of the vote. Qualls, a former healthcare executive who earned the Minnesota GOP endorsement at the party convention earlier this year, placed third with 21.4% of the vote. On the Democratic side, Klobuchar comfortably secured her party’s nomination with 89.6% of the vote, and polls show her holding a wide lead entering the general election.
Primary Dynamics and Campaign Controversies
The Republican primary drew intense attention largely due to Lindell’s high-profile campaign and subsequent controversies. The Minnesota Republican Party questioned whether Lindell met the state’s residency requirements for governor after he acknowledged living in Texas as recently as last year before moving back prior to the one-year candidacy deadline. Additionally, a judge found probable cause last week that Lindell may have violated campaign laws by distributing pillows in packaging marked “Mike Lindell for Governor” during a July Fourth parade. Last month, Lindell also settled a $1 billion defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims regarding the 2020 presidential election.
According to NPR, Republican leaders in the state had openly questioned Lindell’s electability, citing his active role in pushing false election denial claims and his association with Trump. Trump lost Minnesota in all three of his presidential runs, and some GOP figures worried those factors would hinder the party’s chances in November. Demuth campaigned on her experience presiding over an evenly divided state House and her ability to work across the aisle, telling voters she was best equipped to break the party’s two-decade losing streak in gubernatorial races.
Did You Know?
Minnesota’s gubernatorial contest marks the first time the state has held an open race for governor since 2018, following Gov. Tim Walz’s announcement in January that he would not seek a third term.
Context of the Open Race and Key Campaign Issues
Gov. Walz dropped out of the race to focus on his gubernatorial duties and manage the fallout from a massive welfare and social services fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors have estimated the stolen funds could top $9 billion, an amount Walz has disputed while acknowledging it could reach into the billions. Trump and his allies have leveraged the scandal to target the Democratic administration and the state’s Somali community, as some defendants are of Somali descent.
Fox 9 reported that primary candidates staked out distinct policy positions on key issues during the campaign. Lindell proposed a state-level program similar to DOGE to review welfare programs, eliminate state income taxes starting with seniors, and adopt a subscription-based direct primary care model. Demuth called for stronger internal controls against fraud, establishing an independent Office of Inspector General, reducing income taxes for the lowest two brackets, and eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits.
Expert Insight
General Election Outlook
Demuth enters the fall contest relying on her legislative record and a focus on fiscal accountability and government oversight, while Klobuchar carries a wide lead into the final months of the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Republican primary for Minnesota governor?
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the GOP primary, defeating Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls, according to the Associated Press.
What percentage of the vote did Mike Lindell receive?
Mike Lindell finished in second place with 32.3% of the vote.
Who will Lisa Demuth face in the November general election?
Lisa Demuth will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who comfortably secured her party’s nomination with 89.6% of the vote.
How will Demuth’s legislative background shape the upcoming general election contest against Sen. Klobuchar?