Lisa Demuth Will Continue Campaign for Governor After Losing GOP Endorsement
Qualls won after Lindell’s delegates shifted support, and the endorsement is not a guarantee of victory in the August primary, officials said.
- On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Republican activists in Duluth endorsed Army veteran and former healthcare executive Kendall Qualls for governor, following 10 ballots of voting.
- Voting devices malfunctioned during the fifth and sixth rounds, setting off procedural debates that complicated the convention path for House Speaker Lisa Demuth, the early frontrunner.
- Qualls secured 60.4% of the vote on the final ballot, aided by MyPillow mogul Mike Lindell, who urged his supporters—more than 20% of delegates—to back the winner.
- On Tuesday, June 2, House Speaker Lisa Demuth announced she will bypass the party endorsement and continue her campaign into the August primary, citing "unusual circumstances."
- A contested August primary featuring Demuth, Qualls, and Lindell now awaits, as Republicans attempt to break a 20-year streak of losing statewide gubernatorial races in Minnesota.
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24 Articles
Post Bulletin
Lisa Demuth will continue campaign for governor after losing GOP endorsement
Minnesota Republicans said Monday that because of ballotting complications, candidates are free from any commitments to abide by the endorsement.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth to run in GOP primary for governor
Lisa Demuth says she’ll move to a primary after Republican delegates picked businessman Kendall Qualls for the endorsement. Republican Party officials said Monday night that gubernatorial candidates aren’t bound to their commitments to abide by the endorsement due to balloting glitches.
Minnesota GOP stands by Qualls but says candidates aren't bound by endorsement pledge after chaotic vote
Two days after Kendall Qualls won the Minnesota GOP endorsement for governor, the party chair says other candidates should feel free to go to the primary anyway.
MyPillow Guy's Gubernatorial Dreams May Be Dashed As Minnesota GOP Endorses Opponent
MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell definitely not trying to murder this lady. Image: MyPillow Ad screenshotLast week, the Mike “The MyPillow Guy” Lindell was flying high. He was pretty certain he was well on his way to becoming the next governor of Minnesota and that he was successfully fending off accusations that his website had been hacked, largely because he is somewhat delusional. Alas, at the GOP’s state convention this weekend, some time after the…
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