Mike Lindell isn’t conceding.
The MyPillow founder is refusing to acknowledge his defeat in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, claiming there are still voting irregularities to sort out despite trailing Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth by roughly 11 percentage points.
Decision Desk HQ projected Demuth as the winner. But Lindell isn’t buying it.
During a live broadcast on LindellTV, a reporter asked whether he would concede if The Associated Press called the race for Demuth.
“Why would I listen to the AP?” Lindell responded.
“There’s 265,000 votes left to count. I’m down by 18,000 now,” he continued. “I’m not going to give up this race until the votes are counted. That’s nonsense.”
For Lindell, refusing to accept an election result is hardly new territory.
The former MyPillow CEO has spent years promoting Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, becoming one of the most prominent figures in Trump’s effort to cast doubt on the results.
Trump returned the favor on Tuesday with a last-minute endorsement blitz, urging Minnesota Republicans to send Lindell to the governor’s mansion.
“Mike Lindell deserves a BIG WIN IN MINNESOTA today,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Nobody has worked harder, and given up so much, in fighting for free and fair Elections.”
“Go out, NOW, and VOTE for Mike Lindell for Governor,” Trump added, promising that Lindell “will not let you down.”
Minnesota Republicans apparently had other ideas.
Demuth defeated Lindell by a substantial margin, and Democrats were quick to pounce on Lindell’s refusal to concede.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., mocked Lindell’s claims in a post on X.
“Many people say Venezuela rigged the election against Mike Lindell because they don’t like his pillows. Never seen anything like it,” Lieu wrote.
The joke was aimed squarely at Lindell’s long-running fixation with election conspiracies.
Meanwhile, Demuth was already looking ahead to November.
In a statement posted shortly after midnight Wednesday, the Minnesota House speaker called the victory a “major milestone” but warned supporters that the campaign wasn’t over.
“Tonight, Minnesotans made it clear they are ready for real change — at the top,” Demuth wrote. “It’s time to end the fraud, restore common sense to our state government and return Minnesota to a place that works for families, seniors, businesses and our next generation.”
“Let’s go win in November!” she added.
Demuth will now face Democratic nominee Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the general election as Minnesota voters choose a successor to retiring Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
But before the general election begins in earnest, Lindell appears determined to keep fighting the primary result. Apparently, for him, the counting isn’t over until he says it is.
