The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday rejected a bid by Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow and a prominent election denialist, to force a recount in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary. Lindell, who has spent years promoting false claims about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, finished second in the August primary behind former state Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka.
The court's 4-3 decision marks the end of Lindell's attempt to overturn the primary results, which he lost by approximately 9 percentage points. Lindell had argued that irregularities in the voting process warranted a full hand recount of all ballots cast in the Republican primary.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic groups and election integrity advocates praised the ruling as a victory for democratic norms. Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin said the court's decision "affirms what we have long known: our elections are fair, secure, and conducted with integrity." He added that Lindell's attempt to challenge the results without evidence "represents the kind of anti-democratic behavior that undermines public confidence in our institutions."
Progressives argue that repeated attempts to overturn election results, even at the state level, pose a threat to democratic stability. Common Cause Minnesota released a statement saying, "We are relieved that the court rejected this baseless challenge. Every attempt to relitigate elections without evidence damages our democracy." The group has called for greater protections against what it describes as coordinated efforts to delegitimize voting outcomes.
What the Right Is Saying
Some Republican voices defended Lindell's right to pursue legal remedies, even while acknowledging the court's ruling. National Republican Governors Association spokesperson Sarah Anderson said the party "respects the judicial process" and noted that Gazelka is now the party's nominee. "Our focus now is on winning in November," she added.
Other conservative commentators expressed frustration with what they described as a lack of transparency in Minnesota's election administration. Conservative radio host and Lindell ally Dennis Prager wrote on social media that while he respected the court's decision, questions about ballot security "deserve serious answers." The MyPillow CEO has pledged to continue advocating for paper ballot audits nationwide.
What the Numbers Show
According to unofficial results from the Minnesota Secretary of State's office, Gazelka received approximately 112,000 votes (34%) compared to Lindell's 83,000 votes (25%). The margin of victory was roughly 29,000 votes. State law allows for recounts when the margin is within 0.5 percentage points; Lindell fell well short of that threshold at nearly 9 percentage points.
Minnesota has conducted post-election audits following every statewide election since 2016. The state's bipartisan canvassing board certified the primary results on August 19, finding no evidence of systematic irregularities that would affect outcomes.
The Bottom Line
The Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling effectively ends Lindell's primary bid for governor. He may now decide whether to run as an independent or endorse Gazelka in the general election against Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who is seeking a third term. The decision also serves as a test case for how courts handle recount requests from candidates who argue for broader audit powers beyond what state law requires.
Gazelka will face Walz in November in a race that Republicans have targeted as competitive. National party strategists from both sides are watching Minnesota closely, given the state's shift toward Democrats in recent federal elections while maintaining Republican strength in certain statewide races.