MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is considering a run for Minnesota governor next year.
The staunch ally of President Donald Trump and prominent election denier told The Minnesota Star Tribune that he is “about 99% there” and that if he ran, it would be on a platform of “secure elections” and “common sense.”
“I love the state, I love the country and if I’m the only one that can win, that would be a shame if that opportunity slipped by,” he told the Minneapolis newspaper.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz recently announced that he will be seeking a third term.
Lindell — who was once primarily known for pillow infomercials, but now more so for pushing false conspiracy theories that the 2020 presidential election was stolen — was sued by voting machine companies Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic. In June, a federal jury in Colorado found Lindell liable for defaming former Dominion official Eric Coomer, whom Lindell had called “a traitor,” and ordered him to pay $2.3 million in damages. Lindell has said he plans to appeal.
In 2021, Lindell challenged anyone to “Prove Mike Wrong” that China didn’t interfere in the 2020 presidential election — for a chance to win $5 million. An arbitration panel determined that software developer Robert Zeidman was, in fact, able to prove him wrong, after Lindell refused to pay him the award. In July, an appeals court reversed the decision, but Zeidman says he’s taking his case to the Supreme Court.
Lindell, who also has recently lived in Texas, told the Star Tribune that he has re-established residency in Minnesota for his candidacy. The newspaper noted that gubernatorial candidates must live in the state for at least one year before the general election.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
