Dispute Over Recount Payment in Minnesota Republican Primary

Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow, is delaying payment for a ballot recount and audit in the Republican primary for Minnesota governor. His campaign claims the Secretary of State’s proposed recount process is illegal, according to a statement from his team on Monday. Though Lindell finished second to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, he had pledged to fund the recount himself. Secretary of State General Counsel Lauren Bethke set Monday as the deadline for his request.

Lindell’s team announced the $825,000 was ready to pay for the recount but is withheld due to disagreements over the planned recount’s scope. The campaign argues that state plans to recount only votes for Lindell and Demuth, excluding other candidates, contradict Minnesota law. State law describes a recount as determining “the number of votes validly cast for the office or question to be recounted.” Lindell’s team is seeking to pause the payment deadline until a court can decide on recount parameters.

Cassondra Knudson, spokesperson for Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, responded that the recount plan was approved by the State Canvassing Board on August 18. She stated it aligns with state law and recount procedures followed for decades. The plan involves a statewide hand recount, led by Paul Linnell, the office’s director of elections, with public and media access.

No fraud or irregularities in the Minnesota primary results have been officially reported. On primary night, August 11, Lindell said he wouldn’t concede without every vote counted, alleging “anomalies” without presenting evidence. State election officials reported 179,683 votes for Demuth and 134,282 for Lindell. The Republican nominee is set to compete against Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar on November 3 to replace retiring Gov. Tim Walz.