ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – MyPillow CEO and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell said his name recognition could play a role in turning Minnesota red this fall, pointing to campaign fundraising.
“I’m not saving it for a rainy day. It’s pouring outside. We’re going right to Amy Klobuchar right now. This is it. We have to win,” Lindell said.
The Minnesota native said he is already looking to DFL U.S. Senator and declared DFL gubernatorial candidate Amy Klobuchar as his focus in a crowded GOP field.
Lindell sat down with KTTC to tout his jobs and economy agenda, advocating for faster permits and a “Buy Minnesota” push. He mentioned eliminating sales tax at the box-store level.
“They’re leaving. They’re going to Texas, they’re going to Florida, they’re heading out, businesses are,” Lindell said.
Lindell also explained preventing fraud is another key part of his platform.
Regarding how Minnesota landed in national headlines for fraud concerns, Lindell said, “Corrupt politicians. I’ll say it straight out.”
He went on to say, “I think that [in] Minnesota, there is so much wasted, frivolous money. I’ve got to look at this like a business, like I do with MyPillow,” he said.
Lindell has been in headlines in recent months battling defamation cases against voting machine companies following his claims about the 2020 election.
“I stand by everything I ever said. There’s only one truth, and I’ve never backed down to our election platforms,” Lindell told KTTC.
Regarding on if he would confirm he is not currently planning to pay penalties related to Dominion Voting Systems in Colorado court, Lindell said those cases are under appeal.
Lindell pointed to one-time election vendor concerns from Klobuchar as well. In 2019, Klobuchar and other senior senators called on a U.S. voting machine maker to explain why they sell devices with “known vulnerabilities.” Klobuchar has never questioned or denied the outcome of any elections.
Lindell referenced President Donald Trump at multiple points during the conversation. Lindell has publicly supported Trump since 2016. Both men have a business background and turned to politics.
Whether Trump is planning to make some kind of large-scale endorsement before the primary, Lindell said, “I’m going to say I don’t know. I’m not the president. That would be great.”
Lindell recalled conversations they had before he declared his candidacy as well as after.
“I want him to endorse me based on merit, not just on our friendship we had,” Lindell said.
Lindell said it is not his intention to split the party in November. He said he wants people to vote in August, and if he is not the party’s nominee, he will not hold back his policy positions and ideas from the winner.
KTTC had already been working on scheduling a one-on-one interview with Senator Klobuchar regarding her candidacy. KTTC also reached out regarding Lindell’s remarks and will share her response when we receive it.
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