Lisa Demuth wins Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for governor, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell. Demuth secured approximately 44% to 45% of the vote, while Lindell, who received an endorsement from Donald Trump, finished second with roughly 31% to 32%. Kendall Qualls, the official state GOP nominee, placed third with approximately 21%.

Demuth now advances to the general election in November, where she is expected to face Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination with nearly 90% of the vote. The race to succeed Governor Tim Walz follows his decision not to seek reelection.

Following the results, Lindell refused to concede, alleging voting irregularities and questioning the credibility of the Associated Press. He stated he would not give up the race until all mail-in and early votes were counted. Lindell, a prominent election denier, has faced various legal challenges and defamation suits related to his claims regarding the 2020 presidential election.