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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Lisa Demuth Defeats Trump-Endorsed Mike Lindell, Advances to Face Amy Klobuchar for Governor
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican gubernatorial primary over Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls. She will face DFL nominee Amy Klobuchar in November.
SAINT PAUL, MN (August 12, 2026) Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth defeated President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidate, Mike Lindell, in Tuesday’s Republican gubernatorial primary, setting up a November contest against Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
Demuth and her running mate, Ryan Wilson, received 170,926 votes, or approximately 43.8 percent, with about 92 percent of precincts reporting in the latest unofficial state results.
Lindell and running mate Phillip Parrish received 125,383 votes, or 32.1 percent. Kendall Qualls and Brian Nicholson finished third with 83,854 votes, or approximately 21.5 percent.
Klobuchar and her running mate, former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer, dominated the DFL primary with 588,989 votes, representing approximately 89.5 percent of the party’s primary vote.
The results remain unofficial pending the state canvassing process.
Demuth overcomes Trump endorsement
Demuth’s victory represents a significant rejection of Trump’s endorsement in a competitive Minnesota Republican primary.
Lindell, the MyPillow founder and longtime Trump ally, entered the contest with substantial name recognition and the president’s support. His campaign was also affected by questions involving his residency, campaign-finance compliance and continuing controversies surrounding his challenges to the 2020 presidential election.
Demuth campaigned on her legislative leadership, public safety, affordability, education and concerns about fraud involving Minnesota government programs.
Qualls entered the primary with the Republican Party’s endorsement but finished behind both Demuth and Lindell.
Demuth, who represents a central Minnesota district, became the first Black person and first person of color to serve as speaker of the Minnesota House when she assumed the position in 2025.
A contest between two established officeholders
Klobuchar has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007. Before entering the Senate, she served as Hennepin County attorney.
She entered the gubernatorial contest after Gov. Tim Walz announced that he would not seek another term. Her commanding primary victory gives Democrats a nominee with extensive statewide campaign experience.
Demuth will argue that Minnesotans need new leadership following years of DFL control of the governor’s office. Klobuchar is expected to emphasize her statewide electoral record, federal experience and ability to appeal to voters outside the Twin Cities.
The outcome will determine Minnesota’s first new governor since Walz took office in January 2019.
If Klobuchar wins in November, her departure from the Senate would create an additional vacancy and trigger Minnesota’s process for filling the remainder of her federal term.
Unofficial election results:
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