Mike Lindell is refusing to concede after losing Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary to Lisa Demuth.
MINNESOTA — Mike Lindell is not ready to concede.
The MyPillow founder and longtime ally of President Donald Trump is refusing to concede Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary after losing to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth by nearly 11 percentage points.
With 100% of Minnesota’s 4,105 precincts reporting, unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State showed Demuth winning 179,576 votes, or 43.44%, compared with Lindell’s 134,206 votes, or 32.47%. Republican Party-endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls finished third with 88,356 votes, or 21.38%.
That leaves Demuth ahead of Lindell by 45,370 votes.
But Lindell says he is not prepared to accept the outcome yet.
Lindell: “I’m Not Going to Give Up This Race”
The Associated Press called the Republican gubernatorial primary for Demuth late Tuesday night, August 11.
During coverage on his LindellTV network, Lindell pushed back when informed that the race had been called.
“I’m not going to give up this race until the votes are counted.”
At the time, Lindell argued that hundreds of thousands of ballots remained outstanding and questioned why he should accept a media projection before the count had been completed.
Later, Lindell told reporters that his campaign wanted additional time to examine the numbers.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” Lindell said, adding that his team was reviewing what he described as possible “anomalies.” He has not publicly provided evidence showing irregularities significant enough to change the outcome.
As of Wednesday evening, however, the Minnesota Secretary of State website showed all 87 counties complete and every precinct reporting. The results remain officially classified as unofficial until the state canvassing process is completed.
Demuth Scores a Significant Victory
Demuth’s victory was notable for more than simply defeating one of the most recognizable figures in Republican politics.
She becomes the first woman to win the Republican nomination for governor in Minnesota, setting up an historic November election.
Demuth entered the primary after a complicated Republican endorsement process.
Kendall Qualls had secured the Minnesota Republican Party endorsement at the state convention after 10 ballots. Demuth nevertheless entered the August primary, saying controversy surrounding the convention process had effectively released candidates from earlier commitments to honor the party endorsement.
Lindell entered the race with something neither Demuth nor Qualls had: the endorsement of President Trump.
Trump formally backed Lindell on July 15 and again urged Minnesota Republicans to vote for him on primary day.
It still was not enough.
Trump’s Endorsement Couldn’t Carry Lindell Across the Finish Line
Lindell has been one of Trump’s most outspoken supporters for years and became a nationally recognized political figure following the 2020 presidential election.
Trump made a final push for Lindell on Tuesday, praising his work on election issues and calling on Minnesota voters to give him a “BIG WIN.”
Instead, Demuth won by a comfortable statewide margin.
The result provides another example of the limits of even a high-profile presidential endorsement when state-level Republican voters favor a different candidate.
Lindell had also touted internal polling earlier in the campaign suggesting he could lead the Republican field, particularly with Trump’s endorsement. His campaign released polling in May showing Lindell narrowly ahead of Demuth before Trump’s support was factored into the hypothetical race.
Election Day produced a dramatically different result.
Lindell Has Made Election Integrity Central to His Political Identity
Lindell’s refusal to immediately concede will likely attract additional attention because of his years of activism surrounding U.S. elections.
Following Trump’s 2020 presidential election loss, Lindell became one of the country’s most visible promoters of claims that widespread election fraud changed the result.
Courts, election officials and multiple investigations failed to substantiate claims of fraud sufficient to overturn the 2020 presidential outcome.
Lindell nevertheless spent years funding investigations, events, documentaries and legal efforts centered on election security and voting systems.
His reaction to his own Minnesota primary loss is therefore likely to receive scrutiny far beyond the state.
For now, Lindell has said his team wants to examine the results before determining what happens next.
Minnesota’s Results Are Complete — But Not Yet Certified
There is an important distinction between a race being called and election results being legally certified.
News organizations such as the Associated Press analyze vote totals and outstanding ballots to project winners. Those projections do not legally determine election winners.
Minnesota election officials do.
As of 6:37 p.m. Central Time Wednesday, August 12, the Minnesota Secretary of State reported that 100% of precincts had submitted results.
The statewide results remain unofficial until Minnesota completes its statutory canvassing process.
According to the Secretary of State, results for state and federal races are scheduled to be certified by the Minnesota State Canvassing Board on August 18, 2026.
That process is routine and applies regardless of whether a losing candidate concedes.
A concession itself is also political rather than legally necessary. The certified vote determines who advances.
Demuth Will Face Amy Klobuchar in November
Demuth now moves toward what could become one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races of the 2026 midterm election cycle.
She will face Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who overwhelmingly captured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor gubernatorial nomination.
Unofficial statewide results showed Klobuchar receiving 614,474 votes, or 89.68%, in the Democratic primary.
The November race will determine who succeeds retiring Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
It will also guarantee a historic result: Minnesota is positioned to elect its first woman governor.
What Happens Next?
Unless a recount, legal challenge or other formal action changes the result, Demuth will represent Republicans in November.
Lindell has not yet detailed what specific challenge, if any, his campaign intends to pursue.
For the moment, his message is simple: he wants the election reviewed before he accepts defeat.
But the mathematical picture has become increasingly difficult to dispute.
With every Minnesota precinct reporting Wednesday evening, Demuth held more than 43% of the Republican vote and a margin exceeding 45,000 votes over Lindell.
The certification process still lies ahead.
Politically, however, Minnesota Republicans appear to have made their choice.
And despite President Trump’s endorsement and Lindell’s considerable national profile, their choice was Lisa Demuth.
Sources
Minnesota Secretary of State — 2026 State Primary Election Results.
The Guardian — Reporting on Lindell’s response to the Minnesota GOP primary results.
People — Reporting on Lindell’s election-night statements and reaction to the race being called.
Minnesota Reformer — Background on Demuth’s candidacy, the Republican endorsement process and President Trump’s endorsement of Lindell.
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