Trump-backed Mike Lindell loses Minnesota governor primary to Lisa Demuth, clearing path for November race with Amy Klobuchar

Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for Minnesota governor, defeating Mike Lindell in a race that included support from President Donald Trump, according to NPR. Demuth, who serves as speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, will advance to the general election.

The primary outcome ends Lindell’s bid for the governorship. NPR reported that Lindell had received President Trump’s endorsement, a factor that drew national attention to the contest as Republicans looked for a nominee to challenge Democratic candidates in the fall.

NPR also reported that Demuth’s victory positions her to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota’s governor’s race this fall. Klobuchar is the Democratic standard-bearer for the general election, setting up a statewide contest between Demuth and Klobuchar.

While the primary was decided within Minnesota’s Republican nomination process, the endorsement from President Trump contributed to the race’s broader profile, according to NPR. The president’s involvement reflected the level of national scrutiny applied to high-visibility state contests as parties sought candidates with strong partisan support.

Demuth’s win also underscores the role of state legislative leadership in Minnesota politics. As House speaker, she came into the primary with an established statewide leadership profile, a factor voters considered alongside Lindell’s backing and profile.

The general-election matchup is scheduled for later this year. Both campaigns will now shift from the primary contest to the broader electorate, with Demuth seeking to secure the Republican governorship nomination and Klobuchar preparing for a fall statewide challenge.

Because the reporting provided here is limited to NPR’s summary, additional details about vote totals, turnout, and any specific platform issues were not included in this account.