Mike Lindell refuses to concede after loss in Minnesota GOP gubernatorial primary, alleging vote irregularities

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell said he has not conceded defeat following his loss in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, telling a reporter he is refusing to accept the outcome while alleging irregularities in the vote totals. Lindell’s comments came after the primary results showed him trailing Minnesota House Speaker Lisa DeMuth, the GOP nominee for governor in the general election process.

According to The Hill’s reporting, Decision Desk HQ projected Lindell’s loss by roughly 11 percentage points and more than 45,000 votes to DeMuth. DeMuth, a Republican, is Minnesota’s House Speaker and emerged from the primary as the party’s choice in the gubernatorial race.

The Hill reported that Lindell, who has sought to cast the primary result as unreliable, was asked by a reporter about whether he would concede. Lindell responded that he would not concede, and he reiterated claims that there were voting irregularities that affected the vote count, while not providing additional verified evidence in the account described by the outlet.

Lindell has previously been a prominent figure in election-related disputes nationwide, and his Minnesota challenge places focus on election administration questions at the state level. In the immediate aftermath of the primary, the practical issue for voters and election officials is whether any formal recount, contest, or legal challenge is filed, and what standard applies under Minnesota election procedures.

The Hill also described that Lindell is backed by President Donald Trump. The reporting characterized the relationship as part of Lindell’s political profile leading into the primary, but the dispute in Minnesota remains centered on whether Lindell’s allegations will result in a contest to the official results.

Because the Minnesota primary outcome ultimately determines ballot placement for the next stage of the election cycle, the next steps in the case will depend on whether Lindell’s refusal to concede leads to an action in Minnesota courts or through any recount or election contest mechanisms available under state law. If no formal filing occurs, the refusal will remain a public dispute without changing the official outcome.