# Mike Lindell campaign surge, amnesty, finance probe > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mike-lindell-legal-case-and-minnesota-campaign > Updated: 2026-08-06T22:06:15.000Z. Sources: 33. Developments: 9. By early August 2026, MyPillow founder Mike Lindell had stepped down from day‑to‑day duties at the company, remaining on the board and retaining a minority stake while former executive James Furlong returned as CEO. Lindell continued to focus on the Republican gubernatorial primary slated for 11 August, buoyed by former President Donald Trump’s endorsement and a July poll that placed him ahead of his GOP rivals. The campaign remained under scrutiny. After an administrative law judge’s August 1 finding of prima‑facie evidence that Lindell’s Fourth‑of‑July pillow giveaway may have violated state campaign‑finance rules, a further ruling on 6 August found probable cause and sent the matter to a three‑judge panel for an evidentiary hearing. Lindell denied wrongdoing, criticized media coverage and the state GOP, and announced a budget proposal to eliminate Minnesota’s state income tax. Meanwhile, Lindell’s six‑month immigration amnesty plan, which would grant conditional work visas and impose penalties on employers hiring undocumented workers for cash, continued to shape his policy platform. The Minnesota Republican Party also pressed the secretary of state on Lindell’s residency status, noting his Texas voter registration. The legal and procedural challenges intersected with his campaign momentum, keeping the race highly contested despite the party’s endorsement of another candidate. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-06: Mike Lindell faces campaign‑law probe over pillow giveaways in Minnesota A Minnesota judge found probable cause that Mike Lindell violated state campaign law by handing out pillows at parades; the case moves to a three‑judge panel for a hearing. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-faces-campaignlaw-probe-over-pillow-giveaways-in-minnesota ### 2026-08-04: Mike Lindell Resigns as MyPillow CEO to Focus on Minnesota Gubernatorial Campaign Mike Lindell quits as MyPillow CEO to run for Minnesota governor, staying on the board while James Furlong returns as CEO; he has Trump’s backing but faces residency disputes ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-resigns-as-mypillow-ceo-to-focus-on-minnesota-gubernatorial-campaign ### 2026-08-01: Mike Lindell faces hearing on Minnesota campaign finance complaint Mike Lindell faces a Minnesota probable‑cause hearing over a campaign‑finance complaint for handing out branded pillows, while the state GOP questions his Texas residency and seeks clarification from Secretary 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-faces-probable-cause-hearing-over-minnesota-campaign-finance-complaint ### 2026-07-22: Mike Lindell proposes six-month immigration amnesty in Minnesota MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, running for Minnesota governor, proposes a six‑month amnesty that would let undocumented immigrants obtain conditional work visas if they have clean criminal histories. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-proposes-six-month-immigration-amnesty-in-minnesota ### 2026-07-21: Mike Lindell and Michele Tafoya Lead Minnesota GOP Primary Polls SurveyUSA poll shows Mike Lindell leading the GOP governor primary (35%) and Michele Tafoya leading the GOP Senate primary (41%) in Minnesota, while DFL Senate contenders Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan are tied 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-and-michele-tafoya-lead-minnesota-gop-primary-polls ### 2026-07-17: Mike Lindell lacks Minnesota voter registration amid Trump endorsement Trump endorsed Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor, but he is still registered to vote in Texas, needing to file in Minnesota by Aug 11 to vote for himself. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-lacks-minnesota-voter-registration-amid-trump-endorsement ### 2026-07-15: Mike Lindell gets Donald Trump's endorsement for Minnesota governor race Donald Trump endorsed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for Minnesota governor, praising him as a patriot; Lindell joins the GOP primary against Lisa Demuth and others, facing Democrat Amy Klobuchar. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-receives-trumps-endorsement-in-minnesota-governor-race ### 2026-06-25: Mike Lindell settles Dominion lawsuit while leading Minnesota governor primary Mike Lindell settled Dominion's $1.3 billion defamation suit, clearing a legal hurdle as he leads the Republican primary for Minnesota governor and seeks Trump's endorsement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-settles-dominion-lawsuit-while-leading-minnesota-governor-primary ### 2026-06-24: Mike Lindell faces legal scrutiny over campaign giveaways and lawsuit dismissal Mike Lindell’s Minnesota gubernatorial campaign giveaways of pillows and books drew legal questions, while Dominion Voting (now Liberty Vote) dismissed its $1.3 billion defamation suit against him. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mike-lindell-faces-legal-scrutiny-over-campaign-giveaways-and-lawsuit-dismissal --- Cite as: Mike Lindell campaign surge, amnesty, finance probe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mike-lindell-legal-case-and-minnesota-campaign