Lindell would probably have lost badly to the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Amy Klobuchar, in November.

President Donald Trump’s endorsement wasn’t enough to power Mike Lindell to the Republican nomination for governor in Minnesota. The former MyPillow CEO is projected to lose to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Lindell is a conspiracy theorist and strong supporter of Trump and his outlandish claims that voter fraud corrupted the 2020 presidential election. His advocacy made him a target for a series of defamation lawsuits but won Trump’s support.

“Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today,” Trump said Tuesday on his Truth Social platform. “Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections.”

Though he had support from the national leader of the Republican Party, Minnesota Republicans wanted someone else to be their standard-bearer in the governor’s race, endorsing health care industry executive Kendall Qualls.

Minnesota Republican Party chairman Alex Plechash said Minnesota Republicans were surprised when Trump endorsed Lindell in July.

“We strongly support the President and his agenda, but Minnesota Republicans must choose the candidate best positioned to defeat Amy Klobuchar,” Plechash said in a statement last month

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.worldEnglish
    27·
    6 hours ago

    The numbers:

    The Associated Press called the race for Demuth at 11:26 p.m. ET as the state speaker had secured 43.6% of the 93% of the votes counted.

    Lindell, who was backed by President Donald Trump, came a distant second with 32.3%% of the votes.

    Kendall Qualls, a former healthcare executive who has backed the Minnesota GOP, placed third with 21.4% of the vote.

    Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with 89.6% of the votes, and polls show her with a wide lead in the general election.