“For the best night’s sleep in the whole wide world, visit mypillow.com” is a jingle that punctuates every hour of Fox News viewing. Now “MyPillow guy” Mike Lindell is changing his tune: for the best governor of Minnesota in the whole wide world, vote Mike Lindell 2026.
Lindell is a Trump ally, businessman and election conspiracy theorist. He’s known for his rags-to-riches origin story, rising from a crack cocaine addiction to achieving sobriety and turning to religion. He founded My Pillow in Minnesota in 2004.
For readers unfamiliar with Lindell’s political history: before his run for governor, Lindell was sued by a voting machine company, then known as Dominion Voting Systems, for defamation pertaining to false conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. On July 1, the company, now called Liberty Vote, ended its billion-dollar lawsuit in a confidential settlement. He was also sued by other voting companies, such as Smartmatic.
Lindell is also known for starting the fringe media network LindellTV, his Twitter ban as a result of false 2020 election claims, his promotion of oleandrin (an unproven therapeutic treatment for Covid-19), his alleged involvement in January 6 and his rumored relationship with 30 Rock’s Jane Krakowski, which ended in a dismissed lawsuit. He was also once interviewed inside a claw machine on Jimmy Kimmel. To Cockburn, none of this screams, “elect me, swing-state voters!”
Lindell announced his run for Minnesota governor in 2025, initially preparing to challenge Governor Tim Walz. Now, he faces two other prominent Republican candidates, and leads a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll with 35 percent support among Republican voters. Still, he trails Senator Amy Klobuchar, the likely Democratic gubernatorial nominee.
Lindell’s gain in momentum came after President Trump’s endorsement. After calling Lindell “one of America’s greatest and most hard-working Patriots” on X, he praised the “Pillow Man” for his stances.
“Mike was with us from the beginning, and never let us down. He is a wonderful man, who truly loves our Country,” Trump wrote. “As Governor, Mike will work tirelessly with me to Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion American Energy Dominance, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, Strengthen our Great Military/Veterans, Restore Peace through Strength, and Defend our always under attack Constitution.
“Mike Lindell has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
According to his campaign website, Lindell hopes to help Minnesota families that are struggling, and is “running against the establishment politics that have left rural communities behind, burdened working families, and eroded public trust.”
His priorities include Minnesota’s economy and job market, secure elections, pro-family and pro-life policies, and protecting the right to self-defense as he “defends responsible gun owners while cracking down hard on violent criminals.” Lindell recently made headlines for wanting to impose a six-month, one-time amnesty period for illegal immigrants living in Minnesota. During this time, he explained, they would need to get a conditional work visa.
Yet Lindell’s run has been troubled from the outset. News outlets were quick to discover Lindell was not registered to vote in Minnesota, and questioned the businessman for his ties to the state.
“I’ve been a resident for over a year and a half, back in Minnesota. I’m qualified to run for governor,” Lindell said in a phone interview with the Independent. “You can register the same day you vote in Minnesota.”
Lindell is from Mankota, Minnesota, but moved to Texas for a year after marrying his third wife, Kendra, in 2024. He clarified to the Independent he might register early “because everyone’s making a big deal,” and emphasized his belief in same-day, in-person voting.
Lindell also faces a lack of support from his own party in Minnesota. While Trump thinks Lindell can “Make Minnesota Great Again,” Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash said in a statement he has his own “electability concerns.”
“We were surprised by President Trump’s endorsement of Mike Lindell,” Plechash wrote. “We strongly support the President and his agenda, but Minnesota Republicans must choose the candidate best positioned to defeat Amy Klobuchar.”
Plechash went on to criticize Lindell for leaving Minnesota “when things got tough,” and noted that Republicans should not forget his “financial baggage, public records showing tens of thousands of dollars in delinquent property taxes, significant electability concerns, and unanswered questions surrounding his running mate.”
Lindell responded in a video interview, calling Plechash a “poor leader.”
Other Republican contenders include Kendall Qualls, who won the GOP state party endorsement, and Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Lisa Demuth, who also released a statement. Both hoped to earn Trump’s nomination.
“Disappointment, yes, obviously. We were seeking the President’s endorsement as well,” Qualls said in the video interview. “All politics is local, and the local delegates will make the decision as far as the outcomes of this election.”
While Lindell is attempting to follow in Trump’s businessman-to-politician footsteps, the division among the GOP in Minnesota could prove a cause of concern for Republicans.
Minnesota votes on Tuesday August 11. Lindell’s colorful reputation guarantees an interesting campaign unlike any before. No matter the outcome, Cockburn is sure Lindell will find a American-made pillow to fall back on.
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