KSTP\/SurveyUSA poll<\/a> placed Lindell ahead of the principal GOP field with 35% support, followed by Demuth at 26% and Qualls at 11%. The poll still left more than a quarter of voters supporting another candidate or undecided, leaving room for movement in the closing days.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe eventual Republican nominee will compete for an open seat. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz ended his bid for a third term in January amid mounting scrutiny of fraud involving state-administered programs. Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is widely viewed as the favorite for her party\u2019s nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lindell\u2019s rise as a national political figure has also brought years of courtroom fights tied to his claims about the 2020 election. In September 2025, a federal judge ruled that statements Lindell made about voting technology company Smartmatic were false and defamatory, while leaving the questions of actual malice and damages for later proceedings. Lindell has also appealed a separate $2.3 million defamation verdict involving former Dominion Voting Systems employee Eric Coomer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Lindell, resigning from MyPillow turns his campaign\u2019s central argument into a personal wager: The businessman who built his public identity around his company is now betting that Minnesota voters want him in the governor\u2019s office instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With less than a week before the primary, Lindell says there is no divided focus left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m all in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n