As the state’s Aug. 11 primaries inch closer, Minnesota Republicans remain split over who should be on the November ticket and how the nominee could affect other Republican hopefuls on the ballot.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell notched President Donald Trump's support last week, but the state GOP has called Lindell a flawed candidate and warned against making him the nominee. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth continues her campaign for governor despite losing the GOP nomination to former healthcare executive Kendall Qualls.
If Lindell prevails in the Aug. 11 primary and becomes the GOP’s candidate for governor, “it’s tough,” Amy Frederiksen, a Republican strategist and former Minnesota Senate majority leader, told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer
Frederiksen said a “weak” GOP gubernatorial candidate who lost badly to Gov. Tim Walz in 2022 likely cost Republicans other elections in the state that year.
Voters, she added, tend to vote for a party candidate at the top of a ballot and then stay with that party as they choose candidates down the ballot.
“Not only will every candidate have to answer for all of the faults and warts on the Mike Lindell campaign, but there is that dynamic of where people just vote down the ticket,” she added. So if Lindell wins the nomination, “it will definitely have an impact” on other races.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.
