Former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has announced his intention to allocate over $1 million for a hand recount of ballots in the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary, despite his significant 11-point defeat.
In a press release on Tuesday, Lindell stated, “Even if this recount and audit does not overturn my election for governor of Minnesota, I believe this is the gateway to getting rid of these electronic voting machines.”
Lindell, known for his support of President Donald Trump and election conspiracy theories, lost to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth but has not conceded. He alleges there were “irregularities in election-night electronic reporting.”
His defeat was also beyond the 0.25% margin required to trigger an automatic state-funded recount.
Lindell must now formally request a recount from the Minnesota secretary of state’s office. He told NBC News in a brief conversation on Wednesday that he plans to “personally go in there myself.”
Lindell has already hired a team to investigate the election outcomes and has been informed that a complete hand recount would cost around $825,000. However, he anticipates spending “upwards of $1 million” due to additional expenses.
Lindell has gained prominence within the MAGA community by endorsing debunked conspiracy theories suggesting the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.
In 2025, he reached a settlement in a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, a company specializing in voting technology, over his allegations. Additionally, a Colorado jury awarded $2.3 million to a former Dominion employee who claimed Lindell defamed him.
