Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has won the Republican nomination for governor, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in Tuesday’s primary. According to results reported by Breitbart, Demuth captured 43.6 percent of the vote, while Lindell trailed with 32.3 percent.
The victory sets up a general election showdown in November, with Democrats looking to replace outgoing Governor Tim Walz, whom Trump has repeatedly attacked as one of the worst governors in U.S. history.
Lindell’s Trump Endorsement Falls Short
Lindell entered the race with the backing of former President Donald Trump, who praised him on social media as one of America’s greatest patriots and a fighter for election integrity. Trump’s endorsement—issued while early voting was underway—called Lindell ‘SPECTACULAR’ and predicted he would bring Minnesota back from what Trump termed ‘oblivion and embarrassment.’
Despite that high-profile support, Lindell was unable to overcome Demuth’s advantage as the state’s top Republican legislator. Her campaign emphasized her experience leading the House and her message of ‘common sense’ government reform.
Demuth’s Victory Speech
Demuth celebrated her win on X, framing the primary as a turning point for the state. ‘It’s an absolute honor to be the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota,’ she wrote. ‘Today was a major milestone in this campaign, but we’re not done yet.’
She added that Minnesota voters are ‘ready for real change – at the top,’ and pledged to ‘end the fraud, restore common sense to our state government and return Minnesota to a place that works for families, seniors, businesses and our next generation.’
Demuth’s reference to ‘end the fraud’ suggests she will echo Republican criticisms of state governance, though she has not specified exactly what fraud she aims to address.
Race for Governor Takes Shape
With the primary decided, Demuth now pivots to the general election. Democrats are expected to rally around their nominee, with the party seeking to retain the governorship amid national headwinds. The race is likely to center on issues such as the economy, education, and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz’s record on pandemic policies and social programs.
Demuth’s victory signals that Republican primary voters prioritized legislative experience over celebrity status, even with Trump’s intervention. Political observers note that Trump’s endorsement has been decisive in many races but was not enough here, possibly due to Lindell’s controversial claims about election fraud that have drawn legal scrutiny.
Lindell has not yet conceded publicly as of this report, but the vote margin appears insurmountable. The campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Demuth’s team is already looking ahead, with plans to target swing voters and suburban districts that have trended Democratic in recent cycles. Her message of ‘restoring common sense’ is aimed at independents who may be wary of more extreme positions.
The November election will determine whether Republicans can flip a state that has been solidly Democratic in presidential races, though Republicans have won statewide offices in the past. Demuth’s leadership role in the state House could give her a fundraising edge and a platform to contrast her agenda with the Democratic nominee’s.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/11/lisa-demuth-defeats-mike-lindell-minnesota-governor-nomination/