In a move that signals his political ambitions, Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, has initiated the process to potentially run for the governorship of Minnesota in 2026. On Wednesday, Lindell filed the necessary paperwork to establish a campaign committee, which enables him to begin fundraising for his prospective campaign.

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board has officially listed the “Mike Lindell for Governor” committee. However, Lindell himself has expressed some uncertainty about his candidacy. In a conversation with The Minnesota Star Tribune, he remarked that his decision to run is not yet set in stone, promising a definitive announcement on December 11.

This development raises the question: will Lindell ultimately enter the gubernatorial race? While we will delve deeper into this question later, it’s worth noting his previous statements regarding his prospects.

In October, Lindell shared with the Star Tribune that he had conducted polls concerning hypothetical matchups against the incumbent, Democrat Governor Tim Walz, who also ran unsuccessfully for vice president. Lindell confidently asserted that among the potential Republican contenders, he believes he stands the best chance of winning, stating, “if there was someone to win, it would be me.” This statement underscores his confidence in his potential candidacy.

For further details, the comprehensive report by the Star Tribune offers additional insights into Lindell’s political aspirations and strategic considerations.

Here’s more from the Star Tribune’s report:

Lindell’s possible entrance into the race would shake up what’s become a crowded field of Republicans who are seeking to challenge Gov. Tim Walz. His close proximity to President Donald Trump and prominence in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement could make him a top contender for the GOP nomination, despite concerns about his electability and promotion of debunked election fraud theories.

Most of the GOP candidates have openly welcomed Trump’s endorsement. But a run by Lindell, a close friend of the president, could dash their hopes of winning Trump’s backing.

Before we go any further, let’s first acknowledge the 300-pound elephant in the room.

While we long ago passed the point of anyone changing anyone else’s mind about whether or not the 2020 presidential election was, as President Donald Trump continues to call it, “rigged” and “stolen,” Lindell continues to pay a heavy price for involvement in unsuccessfully attempting to prove it was. 

Here’s just part of the background:

Lindell, who became known for his cable TV ads hawking his pillows, has made the headlines in recent years more for his legal and financial woes. He was sued for defamation in 2022 for public comments he made, accusing voting machine manufacturers Dominion and Smartmatic of rigging the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to former President Joe Biden. 

Both lawsuits ended with Lindell being found guilty, one resulting in a $2.3 million judgment, while damages have not been set in the second. 

The law firm representing Lindell asked to withdraw in the middle of the proceedings, saying he informed them he didn’t have enough money to pay them.

In 2024, package-delivery company DHL sued Lindell and MyPillow for $800,000 in unpaid bills. 

While MyPillow is still in business, its products were dropped by a number of major retailers due to Lindell’s public cries that the election was stolen from Trump. 

Related MyPillow Guy Reads: We’ve Lost Everything’: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Says Election-Fraud Lawsuits Have Ruined Him

Mike Lindell Says His Company Has Taken a Serious Hit and Donald Trump Could Help in a Unique Way

As noted by the Star Tribune, Republicans aligned with the more moderate wing of the GOP have said having Lindell atop the ticket could hurt their chance to win the governor’s office for the first time since 2006. 

But the question remains: Will Lindell actually run, when all is said and done? 

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