Mike Lindell Files to Challenge Tim Walz for Governor of Minnesota

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has taken the first formal step toward a 2026 bid for governor of Minnesota, filing paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board to create a “Mike Lindell for Governor” campaign committee. The filing, submitted on December 3, allows Lindell to begin raising and spending money while he decides whether to officially enter the race.

Lindell has not yet made a final announcement but told reporters that he expects to decide by December 11. He said he may deliver that announcement at the MyPillow factory in Shakopee. Although he described the run as “not 100 percent yet,” the filing signals a clear intention to position himself for the Republican primary.

If he moves forward, Lindell would join a growing field of Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic incumbent Gov. Tim Walz in 2026. Other Republicans who have either declared or are weighing bids include Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, attorney Chris Madel, and state Rep. Kristin Robbins. Party insiders expect additional names to surface before the end of the year.

Lindell, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has remained a high-profile figure in conservative politics since the 2020 election. His continued promotion of debunked claims about widespread election fraud has made him a polarizing national figure and the subject of multiple defamation lawsuits. He has also faced financial and business challenges that critics argue could complicate a statewide campaign.

Supporters say Lindell’s name recognition, media presence, and alignment with Trump’s base could give him an advantage in a competitive primary. Detractors, including leaders within Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, argue that his legal controversies and history of promoting conspiracy theories would make him unelectable in a general-election contest in a state that has leaned Democratic in recent cycles.

Lindell has previously hinted at interest in running for public office but has never appeared on a ballot. His decision in the coming days will determine whether one of the most recognizable conservative activists in the country formally enters Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race.