Trump's Minnesota governor pick still can't vote for himself in the state he's running to lead

WASHINGTON, DC: Mike Lindell, President Donald Trump's newly endorsed pick for Minnesota governor, still cannot vote for himself in the state because he remains registered as a voter in Texas.

The disclosure creates an unusual contradiction for the longtime election skeptic at the start of his gubernatorial campaign. Before he can cast a ballot in Minnesota's Aug 11 Republican primary, Lindell will first have to register to vote there.

Trump endorsement meets voting registration hurdle

MAGA MyPillow CEO Lindell, 65, is still a registered voter in Texas, not Minnesota, according to the Daily Beast report on Saturday, July 18.

Trump endorsed him on Truth Social on Wednesday, calling him "one of America's greatest and most hardworking Patriots."

Lindell was living in Texas when he first floated a run for Minnesota governor. In a court filing last year, he also described himself as a "Texas citizen."

He previously said “he planned to re-establish residency in Minnesota if he entered the race, as state law requires gubernatorial candidates to have lived in the state for at least one year before the general election,” the report said.

Voting records show Lindell last cast a ballot in Minnesota in 2022. Before he can vote for himself this year, he will need to register in Minnesota, creating the unusual situation of being registered in both Texas and Minnesota.

That carries added irony because Lindell has spent years questioning the integrity of the US election system. The Trump ally has repeatedly promoted false claims about the 2020 election and has even suggested that "Satan" played a role in Trump's defeat.

Lindell leads GOP primary despite unusual situation

Despite the registration issue, Lindell has emerged as the front-runner in the Republican primary race.

A SurveyUSA/KSTP poll conducted earlier this month found him leading the GOP field with 27% support. House Speaker Lisa Demuth followed with 22%, while businessman Kendall Qualls received 17%.

Still, a hypothetical June general election matchup found Democratic Sen Amy Klobuchar holding a 17-point lead over the Trump-backed Republican, the report said.

Mike Lindell says GOP and media shut him out

Lindell has also accused Minnesota Republicans and local media of sidelining his campaign while the primary is underway.

"They're having a big GOP endorsement where they're having a debate, and I'm not allowed to come. They've shut me out," Lindell said on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast.

He also claimed Minnesota news outlets had largely ignored his campaign, saying, "You wouldn't even know I'm running."

The registration issue now adds another unusual wrinkle to Lindell's campaign, as the Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to lead Minnesota must first register to vote there before he can cast a ballot for himself, the report said.