Lisa Demuth Wins Minnesota GOP Governor Primary, Defeating Trump-Backed Mike Lindell

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for governor, defeating businessman Mike Lindell, according to projections from NBC News, CBS News, and Decision Desk HQ (via The Hill), reported on or around August 11-12, 2026. Lindell, known for founding MyPillow, had been endorsed by President Trump in the race. The primary took place amid reported division within the Minnesota GOP over Lindell's candidacy, with some Republicans expressing concern that his close association with Trump could hurt the party's chances in the general election, according to NPR. Demuth served as the top Republican in the Minnesota Legislature during a divided legislative session and campaigned with a focus on fraud in state government, according to CBS News Minnesota. Her running mate is Ryan Wilson, an attorney who previously ran for Minnesota state auditor. The Hill noted that a judge had previously ruled Lindell defamed election technology company Smartmatic with false statements, though this detail was not corroborated by other sources in connection with the primary coverage. Demuth is now positioned to face Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in the general election for Minnesota governor, based on NBC News reporting of Klobuchar's primary results; however, details of Klobuchar's primary performance were not independently corroborated by other outlets in the supplied reporting. The outcome represents a setback for Trump's efforts to influence the Minnesota gubernatorial race through his endorsement of Lindell, according to The Hill. No information was provided regarding the timing or format of a general election matchup, and specific vote totals or margins from the primary were not disclosed in the available reports.