Trump ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell officially registered to raise campaign funds for a potential Minnesota governor bid through the state's site Wednesday.
The big picture: Lindell, who previously pushed false claims about 2020 election fraud, told MPR News he's "98 percent sure" he'll join an already packed gubernatorial field of candidates seeking the Republican nomination to challenge two-time incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
- He'll announce his plans on Dec. 11, Lindell told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
State of play: Around a dozen Republicans have announced their run for Minnesota's gubernatorial race, including Lisa Demuth, the state's House Speaker.
- Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) and Chris Madel, a prominent Twin Cities attorney, are among the high-profile candidates hoping to defeat Walz.
- Representatives for Lindell did not immediately respond to Axios' Wednesday evening request for comment. A spokesperson for MyPillow told Axios there is no information to provide at this time.
Catch up quick: Lindell has been at the forefront of controversy and legal issues over the past several years, most recently losing a $2.3 million defamation lawsuit over comments he made about a former employee of Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems tied to the alleged 2020 election rigging.
- In 2024, Lindell was ordered to pay a $5 million reward he promised to a man at his 2021 "cyber symposium," which challenged attendees to prove that data he provided did not reflect information connected to the 2020 election.
Zoom out: Trump's feud with Walz has only been escalating, after the president singled out Somali residents living in Minnesota, vowing to shift his attention to the state as part of his broader immigration crackdown.
- Meanwhile, Walz questioned the president's physical and mental capacity this week, leading Trump to release his October MRI results.
Flashback: Mike Lindell moves the goalposts on a run for Minnesota governor
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.
Axios' Torey Van Oot contributed reporting.
