Mike Lindell launches Minnesota governor bid with vow to target Walz over ‘rampant fraud’ as scandal widens
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has officially announced his candidacy for the Minnesota governor’s race, aligning himself with the Republican Party and positioning himself as a staunch opponent of current Democratic Governor Tim Walz. Lindell’s campaign launch, which took place on “Steve Bannon’s War Room” via his own streaming platform, comes amid ongoing investigations into what has been described as the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the United States, allegedly involving Governor Walz. Lindell emphasized his commitment to combating fraud, stating, “I will stand up for you against the rampant fraud under Governor Walz,” and promising a series of reforms including curbing illegal immigration, lowering property taxes, and securing elections.
Lindell’s campaign is fueled by a strong anti-fraud message, which he believes resonates with voters concerned about government accountability. He declared on his campaign website, “Minnesota deserves a governor who will stand against all fraud and will go after anyone who steals our tax dollars. No one is above the law.” However, his entry into the race has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders, who view him as an extreme candidate out of touch with Minnesota’s electorate. Izzi Levy, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association, remarked that Lindell’s candidacy represents a troubling shift to the far-right within the Republican Party, asserting that Minnesotans can rest assured that they will not allow his agenda to take hold.
Lindell joins a competitive Republican primary field that includes notable figures such as Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and 2022 Republican nominee Scott Jensen, all vying for the opportunity to challenge Governor Walz in the upcoming election. Walz, who is seeking a third term, gained national attention when he was considered as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris last year. As the political landscape in Minnesota heats up, Lindell’s controversial past, including legal battles stemming from his unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election, could play a significant role in shaping the narrative of the race. With both parties gearing up for a fierce battle, the outcome of this gubernatorial contest could have implications not only for Minnesota but also for the broader political climate as the nation heads into the 2024 election cycle.
President
Donald Trump
‘s ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell launched a Republican campaign for Minnesota governor on Thursday.
Lindell jumps into the gubernatorial race as the Trump administration and the House Oversight Committee have launched investigations into Minnesota Democratic Gov.
Tim Walz’s
alleged role in what investigators are calling
the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme
in the country.
“I will stand for you as the next governor of the state of Minnesota. I will stand up for you against the rampant fraud under Gov. Governor Walz,” Lindell said while
launching his campaign
on “Steve Bannon’s War Room” on Lindell’s streaming platform.
Chief among Lindell’s campaign commitments is to “stop the fraud” in Minnesota, followed by his promise to continue deporting illegal immigrants, stop “exploding” property taxes, reform public education, cut fees and taxes, address addiction, improve public safety and
secure elections
.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MINNESOTA’S ‘FEEDING OUR FUTURE’ FRAUD AT THE CENTER OF TRUMP’S LATEST CRACKDOWN
“Minnesota deserves a governor who will
stand against all fraud
, and will go after anyone who steals our tax dollars. No one is above the law,” Lindell said on his freshly launched campaign website.
‘SCHEMES STACKED UPON SCHEMES’: $1B PUBLIC BENEFITS FRAUD FUELS SCRUTINY OF MINNESOTA’S SOMALI COMMUNITY
Democrats, however,
are gearing up to defeat him.
“Mike Lindell is the latest extreme, out of touch candidate to jump into what is becoming a more chaotic and dangerous race to the far-right by the day — and his entrance into the race is a bitter pill-ow for
Minnesota Republicans
to swallow,” said Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Izzi Levy in a statement shortly after Lindell filed paperwork to run for governor.
“Minnesotans can rest easy that we’re going to put to bed any dreams Lindell has of bringing his extreme agenda to the governor’s office.”
Lindell faced a slew of legal scrutiny for falsely claiming that Trump won the 2020 presidential election. Earlier this year, a federal jury in Colorado
found Lindell liable
for defamation and ordered him to pay millions in damages to a former Dominion Voting Systems employee.
The Republican joins a crowded primary field of candidates vying for the chance to challenge Walz next year, including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, 2022 Republican nominee Scott Jensen and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.
Walz is running for a third term as Minnesota governor next year. He was tapped as former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate last year, ushering his notoriety onto the national political stage.
