Minnesota Republicans are divided over MyPillow founder Mike Lindell's run for governor ahead of the state's August 11, 2026 primary, NPR reported on August 8.

Lindell started his campaign from his pillow factory in Shakopee. He is one of three Republicans trying to win the party's nomination for governor. He has support from Donald Trump, who endorsed him in mid-July. A recent poll showed Lindell ahead of the other Republican candidates. The other two are Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls, who was endorsed by the state Republican Party.

The race has revealed a split within the party. Trump picked Lindell over Qualls and Demuth. After that, the Minnesota Republican Party went after Lindell, questioning whether he really lives in the state.

Party officials looked into Lindell's voting records. Minnesota records show he last voted in the state in 2022, and there are records of him voting there as far back as 1998, the Star Tribune reported on July 22. Lindell said he voted in Texas in 2024. He also said he moved back to Minnesota on August 10, 2025. He showed the Star Tribune pay stubs proving he started paying Minnesota taxes after moving back. State records had previously shown he was not registered to vote there, and Lindell blamed the state for that report.

The Minnesota Republican Party chair said she had doubts about whether Lindell was eligible to run, MPR News reported on August 5. Lindell brushed off the residency concerns and talked up his Trump endorsement at a rally in Sauk Centre on July 23.

Lindell is also accused of breaking campaign laws by handing out free pillows, CBS Minnesota reported on August 4. That same day, Lindell said he was stepping down as CEO of MyPillow to focus on the governor's race. He no longer owns most of the company.

The broader context here is whether Republicans can win in November. Some Republicans worry that Lindell's close ties to Trump could hurt his chances in the general election, NPR reported. A Republican strategist told MPR News on July 22 that Lindell could also drag down other Republican candidates running for different offices in November.

Lindell has said he is confident he can win over Minnesota's conservative voters. MPR News reported on August 5 that after getting Trump's endorsement, Lindell stayed confident about his chances. He showed up at the Minnesota GOP convention in Duluth in May 2026.