Minnesota Voters Deliver Upset in GOP Gubernatorial Primary; Lisa Demuth Defeats Trump-Backed Mike Lindell
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican gubernatorial primary, soundly defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell who had Trump's endorsement. The result represents a significant setback for President Trump's endorsement power and signals support for establishment-backed candidates over Trump's picks.
Republican Primary Shock
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth will win the Republican primary in Minnesota's gubernatorial race, with 44.9% of votes, while Mike Lindell earned 31.1%. State legislative leader Lisa Demuth wins the Republican primary for Minnesota governor, NBC News projects, defeating Trump-backed businessman Mike Lindell.
Trump's Endorsement Stumbles
Mike Lindell's loss deals a blow to Trump's endorsement record. Lindell has the endorsement of Donald Trump, while Qualls has the backing of the state Republican Party. Despite Trump's backing and recent polling that showed him competitive, Lindell was unable to overcome Demuth's appeal to Minnesota GOP voters.
Senate Race Swings Democratic
Progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Democratic Senate primary. The Democratic race saw a battle between progressive and centrist wings of the party, with the race essentially between Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) and Lieutenant Gov. Peggy Flanagan, with fraud and immigration dominating the campaign as another battle between the party's progressive (Flanagan) and centrist (Craig) wings.
General Election Outlook
The governor's race will pit Demuth against Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The Minnesota primaries took place alongside closely contested races in Wisconsin, with Minnesota voters heading to the polls for the August primary elections with major races including governor and U.S. Senate, with several high-profile candidates in the mix.