Minnesota Gubernatorial Primary Results
On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth and Senator Amy Klobuchar emerged victorious in the Minnesota gubernatorial primary. They will compete in the general election to succeed retiring Governor Tim Walz.
Demuth triumphed over a crowded Republican field, which included My Pillow founder Mike Lindell and Army veteran Kendall Qualls. She secured over a 15-point lead when the results came in.
Making history as both the first Black legislator and the first Republican woman to serve as Minnesota House Speaker, Demuth campaigned on combating fraud. She promised swift action to implement an “anti-fraud plan” if she takes office.
“Our government won’t keep collecting taxpayer dollars first and asking questions later,” she declared. “We will reshape Minnesota government into a responsible steward of our resources.”
Lindell, who had President Trump’s endorsement, surprisingly ended up in second place despite initial optimism about his chances. Trump, just hours before the polls closed, expressed his backing for Lindell on Truth Social, calling for Minnesota voters to support him.
Even with high-profile support from Trump, Lindell struggled to gain traction among Minnesota’s Republican establishment, which had endorsed Qualls back in May.
Starting from scratch, Lindell built My Pillow into a multimillion-dollar enterprise after overcoming a crack cocaine addiction. He announced his candidacy at his factory in Shakopee in December, claiming he could “save” Minnesota from its deteriorating leadership.
Klobuchar, having represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007, easily won the Democratic primary, outpacing six other candidates after prominent figures opted not to enter the race.
In announcing his candidacy earlier this year, Lindell entered a contest marked by scandal, as Governor Walz decided against a third term amidst a major benefits fraud case affecting the state.
Klobuchar is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the upcoming November election.
Republicans have not held the governor’s office since Tim Pawlenty’s re-election in 2006. The next governor will face serious challenges, including the aftermath of nearly $9 billion lost to extensive welfare fraud schemes, largely organized by some members of the Twin Cities’ Somali community. They created a sham nonprofit to illicitly obtain state funds meant for essential services.
During her campaign, Klobuchar emphasized a strong response to fraud, stating, “A fraud against our state is a fraud against Minnesota taxpayers. As Governor, I will preempt fraud, modernize our state’s tracking systems, and ensure that those who steal our money are punished.”
Klobuchar also proposed a comprehensive audit of state institutions aimed at eradicating waste and abuse from the very beginning of her term.
Despite the pressing issues, a Minnesota-based public policy group noted that Klobuchar had not addressed the ongoing fraud scandals in any of her numerous press releases since the FBI raided the fake nonprofit involved in the fraud.
Prior to her Senate career, Klobuchar served as Hennepin County’s chief prosecutor and attempted a run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, albeit unsuccessfully.
She’s one of several senators aiming for their state’s gubernatorial seat, joining colleagues from other states. Klobuchar has consistently won statewide elections by a significant margin.
