Mike Lindell steps down from MyPillow to campaign for governor of Minnesota

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Hannah Parry

By Hannah Parry

Associate News Editor

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Mike Lindell has announced he's stepping down as CEO of MyPillow to devote his full attention to his campaign for governor of Minnesota.

The pillow company founder and longtime Donald Trump ally said Tuesday that he was leaving the leadership role after more than two decades to focus exclusively on the race. Lindell also reduced his ownership stake in the company to a minority position but will remain on MyPillow's board of directors.

The move comes just days before Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial primary, with early voting already underway ahead of the August 11 election.

Why Is Mike Lindell Stepping Down From MyPillow?

Lindell said the decision was motivated by his desire to focus entirely on campaigning.

In a statement released by MyPillow, he said he wanted to dedicate all of his time and attention to Minnesota voters.

"After 22 years of leading MyPillow, I know the company is ready for its next chapter and I know Minnesota cannot wait," Lindell said.

Lindell has become one of the highest-profile Republicans seeking statewide office in Minnesota, and his departure from the company removes the day-to-day business responsibilities that could otherwise compete with campaign demands.

Who Is Mike Lindell?

Lindell founded MyPillow in 2004, transforming the Minnesota-based pillow company into a nationally recognized brand through television advertising and direct marketing.

Beyond business, he became one of Trump's most prominent supporters and has remained active in Republican politics for several years.

Lindell launched his campaign for Minnesota governor earlier this year and has emerged as one of the leading Republican candidates in the race. His campaign has received a boost from an endorsement by the president, although he faces competition for the GOP nomination from Kendall Qualls, who secured the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement, and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth.

His campaign has also faced scrutiny. Minnesota Republicans recently asked Secretary of State Steve Simon to clarify constitutional residency requirements for gubernatorial candidates, citing questions about Lindell's domicile. Lindell rejected those concerns, telling WCCO: "It's a lie. It's a hit job."

He has also faced allegations that his campaign violated state election laws after pillows promoting his candidacy were distributed during a Fourth of July parade. Lindell has denied wrongdoing.

If he wins the Republican nomination, he is expected to face Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is widely viewed as the frontrunner for her party's nomination, in November.

How Much Is Mike Lindell Worth?

Lindell has previously said he built MyPillow into a business generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.

However, the company's finances have come under pressure in recent years as several major retailers stopped carrying MyPillow products following Lindell's continued promotion of false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Lindell has also said he has spent millions of dollars funding election-related litigation and advocacy efforts.

His exact net worth is not publicly known, with published estimates varying widely because MyPillow is a privately held company and its financial information is not publicly disclosed.

Who Is Taking Over As MyPillow CEO?

With Lindell stepping aside, MyPillow announced that James Furlong will become the company's new chief executive officer.

Furlong previously served as a director of MyPillow from 2004 through 2019 and has longstanding ties to the company.

Although Lindell is leaving the CEO role, he is not severing his relationship with MyPillow. He will continue serving on the company's board of directors and will retain a minority ownership stake.

The leadership transition is intended to allow the company to continue operating independently while Lindell devotes his attention to the governor's race.

MyPillow's Financial Challenges

Lindell's departure also comes after several turbulent years for MyPillow.

Following the 2020 election, a number of major retailers—including Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's and others—stopped carrying MyPillow products amid controversy surrounding Lindell's election claims.

The company has also faced legal challenges and changing consumer demand while Lindell has said he spent millions of dollars supporting election-related investigations and litigation.

Because MyPillow is privately held, its financial performance is not publicly disclosed, making it difficult to determine the company's current valuation or Lindell's personal net worth.

Despite those challenges, MyPillow continues to operate nationally through direct sales and television advertising.

Lindell and Trump's Long Friendship

Lindell has been one of Trump's most loyal political allies since the president's first term in office.

The two have maintained a close relationship over several years, with Lindell frequently visiting the White House during Trump's first administration and continuing to publicly support him after leaving office.

Following the 2020 election, Lindell became one of the most outspoken advocates of claims that the election had been stolen from Trump. Courts repeatedly rejected legal challenges seeking to overturn the election results, and there is no evidence of widespread fraud that changed the outcome.

Last month, the president endorsed Lindell's campaign for governor, calling him a strong conservative candidate and encouraging Minnesota Republicans to back him.

The endorsement reinforced Lindell's position near the top of the Republican field as voters prepare to choose their nominee in next week's primary.

Dominion Voting and MyPillow logos photographed off multiple Apple devices.

...

Can Lindell Still Run for Governor?

One of the biggest questions surrounding Lindell's campaign has nothing to do with MyPillow.

The Republican Party of Minnesota recently asked Secretary of State Steve Simon to clarify how the state's constitutional residency requirement for governor should be interpreted after questions were raised about Lindell's domicile.

Minnesota's Constitution requires candidates for governor to have resided in the state for at least one year before the election.

State Republican Party Chairman Alex Plechash cited court filings and other public records that had previously described Lindell as a resident or domiciliary of Texas and asked Simon's office to clarify how the residency requirement would be enforced.

Simon responded that his office verifies candidate filings during the filing process but does not have authority to investigate or issue legal rulings on a candidate's constitutional eligibility outside that process. Any formal challenge would ultimately be decided by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Newsweek has reached out to Plechash for comment via email.

Lindell has strongly rejected suggestions that he is ineligible to run.

Speaking to WCCO, he called the allegations "a lie" and "a hit job," accusing party leaders of attempting to benefit rival Republican candidate Lisa Demuth.

Separately, Lindell has also faced allegations that his campaign violated state election law by distributing campaign-branded pillows during a Fourth of July parade. He has denied any wrongdoing.

No court has ruled that Lindell is ineligible to appear on the ballot.

Why Did Tim Walz Decide Not to Run Again For Governor?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced in January 2026 that he would not seek a third term, ending his reelection campaign and opening the governor's race to a new group of candidates. Walz said the decision came after discussions with his family and advisers and that he concluded he could not fully commit to both governing Minnesota and running another statewide campaign.

In his announcement, Walz said: "I came to the conclusion that I can't give a political campaign my all."

"Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences," he added.

Walz said he wanted to spend the remainder of his term focused on addressing fraud allegations involving state programs, which had become a major political issue and a focus of criticism from Republicans and Trump.

He has also said he does not plan to run for elected office again after leaving the governor's office. In an interview, he said: "I will never run for an elected office again. Never again."

Walz's decision created an open-seat race and reshaped Minnesota politics, with Democrats turning to new candidates while Republicans viewed the vacancy as an opportunity to win the governor's office for the first time in years.

Newsweek has reached out to Walz for comment via email.

Who Is In The Race For Minnesota Governor?

The 2026 Minnesota governor's race has become one of the most closely watched contests in the Midwest, with an open seat attracting high-profile candidates from both parties after Democratic Gov. Tim Walz decided not to seek another term.

On the Republican side, the primary has developed into a contest between establishment figures, party-backed candidates and one of President Donald Trump's most prominent allies. Polling has shown Lindell among the leading Republican candidates, and Trump's endorsement is expected to bolster his support among the GOP base.

If Lindell secures the nomination, he is expected to face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is widely viewed as the leading Democratic contender heading into the general election.

The Republican primary is scheduled for August 11, with early voting already underway.

Mike Lindell (Republican)

Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, entered the race as a conservative outsider with a strong national profile and his campaign has attracted significant attention because of his close relationship with Trump. However, he has also faced controversy, including questions raised over his residency status and allegations involving campaign activity. Lindell has rejected criticism of his candidacy and remains one of the leading Republican contenders.

Lisa Demuth (Republican)

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth entered the race as one of the leading Republican establishment candidates.

Demuth has emphasized her experience in state government and her record in the Minnesota Legislature. She has positioned herself as a candidate capable of building a broader coalition and defeating Democrats in a traditionally difficult state for Republicans.

Demuth remains a major contender despite not securing the party endorsement and continuing through the primary contest.

Newsweek has reached out to Demuth for comment via email.

Kendall Qualls (Republican)

Kendall Qualls, a businessman, Army veteran and former congressional candidate, received the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement for governor.

Qualls has campaigned as an outsider with executive experience, arguing Republicans need a candidate who can expand the party's appeal statewide. His endorsement has made him a central figure in the GOP primary battle.

Newsweek has reached out to Qualls for comment via email.

Amy Klobuchar (Democrat)

On the Democratic side, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the leading candidate seeking to succeed Walz.

Klobuchar, who has represented Minnesota in the Senate since 2007, entered the governor's race after Walz announced he would not pursue another term. She is widely viewed as the strongest Democratic contender and brings significant statewide name recognition and campaign experience.

What's Next

Lindell's immediate focus will be the final stretch of Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial primary campaign, with voters set to head to the polls on August 11 after several weeks of early voting.

By stepping away from MyPillow's day-to-day operations, Lindell is expected to spend the coming days campaigning across the state, seeking to convince Republican voters that his business background and high-profile political activism make him the strongest candidate to take on the Democratic nominee in November.

The outcome of next week's primary will likely determine whether Lindell's decision to relinquish the CEO role becomes a temporary political gamble or the start of a full-time transition into elected office. Regardless of the result, he will remain connected to MyPillow through his position on the company's board of directors.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Gray R. Thomas

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