Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, announced Thursday that he is running for governor of Minnesota [1, 2].
The move signals a significant shift for the businessman, who is stepping away from corporate leadership to enter a high-profile political race. His candidacy brings a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump into the state's executive contest during a critical election cycle.
Lindell made the announcement on the floor of the MyPillow factory in Shakopee, Minnesota [1, 2]. To focus entirely on the campaign, he has resigned as the chief executive officer of the company [2, 3].
Lindell is a fervent supporter of Donald Trump [1]. He said he hopes to become the next governor of Minnesota, driven by his desire to lead the state [3, 4].
The announcement comes just days before the upcoming primary on Tuesday [1, 3]. By resigning his position at MyPillow, Lindell removes himself from the day-to-day operations of the bedding company to dedicate his full attention to the gubernatorial bid [2, 3].
While Lindell has long been a figure in national political discourse, this run marks his first formal attempt to hold elected office in his home state [3, 5]. He intends to leverage his public profile and alignment with Trump's political movement to secure the nomination [3, 4].
“Mike Lindell announced Thursday that he is running for governor of Minnesota.”
Lindell's entry into the race transforms the Minnesota gubernatorial contest into a test of whether national Trump-aligned celebrity can translate into state-level electoral success. By resigning as CEO, he signals that he views the candidacy as a full-time commitment rather than a peripheral venture, potentially disrupting the established primary field just days before voters head to the polls.
