Donald Trump has encountered a significant setback in his endorsement campaign this cycle.
Mike Lindell, the former CEO of MyPillow and a prominent supporter of Trump who championed the denial of the 2020 election results, was defeated by Republican state House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the Minnesota gubernatorial primary held on Tuesday.
This marks the third defeat for candidates endorsed by Trump in the past two weeks. Prior losses include GOP Rep. Andy Ogles’ defeat last Thursday and another endorsed candidate in a key Michigan House race who lost to a candidate who had already withdrawn.
Similar to other Trump-supported candidates who fell short in this year’s primaries, Lindell faced a financial disadvantage, being significantly outspent in his campaign. Despite his close ties to Trump, recognition among MAGA supporters, and limited polling data suggesting his frontrunner status, he did not succeed.
Trump’s influence in gubernatorial races during this cycle has notably diminished. Examples include GOP Rep. Randy Feenstra’s defeat to Zach Lahn in Iowa, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ loss to billionaire Rick Jackson in Georgia, and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s defeat in South Carolina, although Trump later extended a dual-endorsement to Attorney General Alan Wilson.
