MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is officially entering the race for the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election.
Recent state records indicate that Lindell has filed necessary paperwork to trigger a formal announcement regarding his candidacy. The Polymarket odds suggest the Democratic incumbent, Tim Walz, currently holds significant advantage against him.
Lindell stated in a recent phone interview with CBS News about this development: “I have not decided 100% on running for governor… but I wanted to file paperwork just in case.” He previously declared his intention to seek the Republican nomination if he were to run. Lindell is expected to formalize his candidacy plans at an upcoming press conference.
Lindell, known as a controversial figure due to his election denial stance, has been involved in numerous legal disputes following the 2020 presidential election. He previously falsely accused Smartmatic of election rigging and also leveled similar accusations against Dominion Voting Systems.
Minnesota’s political landscape features Democratic Governor Tim Walz defending his position for what would be his third consecutive term. Lindell will likely face a challenge from State Senator Julie Hatch, currently the frontrunner among Minnesota Republicans in the primary process. Other notable Republican figures have already announced their gubernatorial bids this cycle.
While Lindell has discussed his potential run previously, this latest filing confirms growing interest from the party base regarding his political ambitions.
