Mike Lindell For Governor of The Great State of Minnesota
Mike Lindell For Governor1 day
Mike Lindell Announces 2026 Minnesota Governor Run
Is Lindell a dangerous conspiracy theorist threatening democracy, or a transparent leader exposing election fraud and corruption?
Above: Mike Lindell announces his Minnesota governor run in Shakopee, Minnesota, on Dec. 11, 2025. Image credit: Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune/Getty Images
The Spin
Conservative narrative
Lindell running means Minnesota finally has a candidate willing to confront the rampant fraud that began in 2020 and the years of corruption under Walz. Mike’s run is about restoring honest elections, eliminating the machines and bringing total transparency back to state government. With Minnesotans fed up with Walz’s failures and tolerance for crime and runaway spending, Lindell stands out as the "political outsider" needed to clean house and help get America back on the right track.
Democratic narrative
Lindell's gubernatorial bid represents a dangerous escalation of election conspiracy theories into mainstream politics, threatening to normalize baseless fraud claims while his mounting legal liabilities and defamation judgments expose him as a sleazy huckster rather than a serious candidate. Despite all the scandals surrounding him, his candidacy might still pull enough GOP voters to splinter the Republican field and all but guarantee Walz another term — which, frankly, might be the only upside to this circus.
Republican narrative
For many Republicans, Lindell jumping into the governor’s race is a guaranteed disaster. His fringe reputation and constant chaos risk hijacking the primary, handing Democrats an easy win. GOP insiders warn he’s too polarizing to unite conservatives and too unpredictable to win moderates. A Lindell nomination would all but ensure Walz coasts to another term, dragging Minnesota deeper into failed leadership the right is desperate to end. President Trump must not endorse him.