Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has secured the Republican primary for governor, as confirmed by the Associated Press. She triumphed over MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a Trump supporter, in a closely watched contest.
Demuth, aged 59, leads a state House almost equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. She emphasized her cross-party collaboration skills throughout her campaign. With this victory, she will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the fall election. Klobuchar won her party’s primary with a clear margin.
Lindell, who received Trump’s endorsement in the race, contended against Demuth, as did businessman Kendall Qualls, who the state Republican Party favored in May. Demuth argued that she was the Republican most suited to end a losing streak in Minnesota’s gubernatorial races that has lasted over two decades.
The primary drew significant attention, particularly towards Lindell. Some Republican leaders questioned Lindell’s suitability for the general election, scrutinizing his residency and business track record. His support of Trump’s unfounded claims regarding the 2020 election further complicated his chances. Trump has consistently lost Minnesota in his presidential bids. His administration’s immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota led to fatalities and unrest.
Demuth enjoyed a significant fundraising edge over her competitors. She advocated a campaign theme revolving around her past negotiations with Democratic Governor Tim Walz on state budgets. Her focus includes combating state government program fraud. Governor Walz, who decided not to pursue a third term, aims to address similar fraud issues in his remaining tenure.
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