Lisa Demuth wins Minnesota GOP gubernatorial primary, defeating Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for governor on or before August 11-12, 2026, according to projections from NBC News, CBS News, and Decision Desk HQ. Demuth defeated businessman Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow, who had campaigned on a platform aligned with President Trump and had received Trump's endorsement in the race. 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. Her running mate is Ryan Wilson, an attorney who previously ran for Minnesota state auditor. Prior to the primary, NPR reported that some Minnesota Republicans expressed concern that Lindell's close association with Trump could hurt the party's chances in the November general election. The Hill noted that Lindell had previously been found by a judge to have defamed election technology company Smartmatic with false statements. On the Democratic side, Amy Klobuchar won her party's primary for governor, according to NBC News. Demuth is set to face Klobuchar in the general election in November 2026. The outcome represents a setback for Trump's endorsement efforts in the race, as reported by NBC News and The Hill, though the full margin of victory and detailed vote counts were not specified in available reporting. Further details on the general election matchup and campaign developments remain to be confirmed.