Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, said Monday he will file a temporary restraining order against Secretary of State Steve Simon [1].
The legal move comes as Lindell challenges the state's recount process after losing the Republican gubernatorial primary by 45,401 votes [2]. The outcome determines the party's nominee for the state's highest office.
Lindell missed the deadline to request a private recount of the primary [2]. He now faces restrictions from the Secretary of State that limit the recount to only the two leading Republican candidates [1].
Lindell said these restrictions place him in an untenable position. He is seeking a broader recount of the ballots, and the recovery of $825,000 [4] he had set aside for a discretionary hand recount.
The dispute centers on the scope of the recount and whether a candidate who missed the filing window can legally compel a broader review of the results [1]. Lindell has previously questioned the integrity of election processes, though the current conflict focuses on the administrative rules set by the Secretary of State's office.
Secretary of State Steve Simon said the recount must follow established state guidelines, which include the deadline and the limitation to the top two candidates [1]. The filing of a temporary restraining order would ask a court to halt these restrictions and allow Lindell to proceed with his preferred recount method.
“Mike Lindell announced Monday he will file a temporary restraining order against Secretary of State Steve Simon”
This legal challenge tests the rigidity of Minnesota's election deadlines and the authority of the Secretary of State to limit recount scopes. If a court grants the restraining order, it could create a precedent allowing candidates to bypass statutory deadlines, potentially prolonging the certification process for gubernatorial nominations.
