President Donald Trump made a last-minute appeal to Minnesota voters Tuesday, urging Republicans to head to the polls and deliver a primary victory for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in the state’s gubernatorial race.
Lindell faced a crowded Republican field that included Kendall Qualls and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
The latest SurveyUSA poll put Lindell at the front of the pack with 34% support. Demuth followed closely behind at 28%, while Qualls received 17%. The remaining 21% of respondents did not select any of the three candidates.
With Minnesota voters heading to the polls Tuesday, Trump used Truth Social to make one final pitch for his endorsed candidate.
“Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today,” Trump wrote.
The president praised Lindell for his efforts surrounding elections and urged supporters to immediately cast their ballots for the MyPillow CEO.
“Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections,” Trump said. “Go out, NOW, and VOTE for Mike Lindell for Governor. He will not let you down.”
Lindell launched his campaign for Minnesota governor in December during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s “War Room.”
At the time, Lindell pledged to protect Minnesotans from what he called “rampant fraud under Governor Walz” while also targeting “unnecessary regulation that strangle the entrepreneurial spirit.”
Trump endorsed Lindell just days after he entered the race.
Lindell, who has denied election results, reached a confidential settlement in June after Dominion Voting Systems sued him for defamation.
But not every Republican has been enthusiastic about the possibility of Lindell becoming the party’s gubernatorial nominee.
GOP strategists expressed concerns that Lindell could damage Republicans’ chances of capturing the Governor’s Mansion in November.
One strategist went so far as to predict that Lindell would “lose pretty badly” against whichever Democrat he faced in the general election.
Lindell also faced another controversy when it was revealed that he was not registered to vote in Minnesota.
If Lindell emerges victorious from Tuesday’s Republican primary, he would face U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
Klobuchar ran virtually unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Recent general election polling showed Klobuchar holding a larger advantage over Lindell than she did over Demuth.
A June poll showed Klobuchar leading Lindell by 17 percentage points. Her advantage over Demuth, meanwhile, stood at just 8 points.
Despite those numbers and concerns from some Republican strategists, Trump remained firmly behind Lindell as primary voters prepared to make their choice.
His Election Day message left little doubt about whom he wanted Republicans to nominate, praising Lindell’s efforts and calling on Minnesota voters to deliver him a “BIG WIN.”
“He will not let you down,” Trump declared.
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