Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Mike Lindell Rejects Minnesota Primary Defeat, Funds Full Recount
Mike Lindell ran in the Republican primary for governor of Minnesota.
He lost to Lisa Demuth by about 11 percentage points.
Lindell has not accepted the result.
He says some election-reporting data looked irregular.
He wants every paper ballot to be counted by hand again.
Lindell says he will pay for the recount so taxpayers will not have to.
The recount would cost about $825,000 if it includes both governor and lieutenant governor races.
Minnesota will not automatically pay for a recount because the result was not close enough.
Lindell must request and pay for it by August 24.
Mike Lindell refused to concede the Republican primary for Minnesota governor after losing to Lisa Demuth by roughly 11 percentage points.
Lindell said he would pay for a full hand recount of paper ballots in the August 11 primary.
He cited what he called irregularities in election-reporting data as the reason for seeking the recount.
The recount would cover the governor and lieutenant governor races and cost about $825,000, according to CBS News.
Lindell must submit the recount request and payment to Minnesota’s secretary of state by Monday, August 24.
- Who
- Mike Lindell, Lisa Demuth, and Minnesota election officials are central to the dispute.
- What
- Lindell is seeking a privately funded full recount of paper ballots after losing the Republican gubernatorial primary.
- When
- The primary was held August 11, and the recount request and payment are due by Monday, August 24.
- Where
- Minnesota.
- Why
- Lindell cited alleged irregularities in election-reporting data and said he intends to audit and hand-count every ballot.
Lindell's Position
Reported Election Result
Need for a recount
Lindell's Position
Mike Lindell says alleged irregularities in election-reporting data justify a complete audit and hand count of the paper ballots.
Reported Election Result
The reported result showed Lisa Demuth winning by roughly 11 percentage points, far outside the margin for an automatic state-funded recount.
Who should pay
Lindell's Position
Lindell says he will pay for the recount so it will not cost taxpayers anything.
Reported Election Result
A full recount of the governor and lieutenant governor races is estimated to cost about $825,000, and Minnesota will not automatically fund it because the result was not sufficiently close.
- Primary result
- Lisa Demuth defeated Mike Lindell by roughly 11 percentage points.
- Recount scope
- Lindell said the recount would cover every paper ballot in the governor primary; the estimated cost cited includes the lieutenant governor race.
- Estimated cost
- About $825,000 for the governor and lieutenant governor races, according to CBS News.
- Payment
- Lindell said he would fund the recount rather than use taxpayer money.
- Automatic recount threshold
- The margin was too large for Minnesota’s 0.25% threshold for an automatic state-funded recount.
- Deadline
- The request and payment must reach the secretary of state’s office by Monday, August 24.
- Trump endorsement
- Donald Trump endorsed Lindell and said he deserved a big win in Minnesota.