Last week, an event in Morgan, Minn. featured candidates for governor, where Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who won her party’s primary, stood alongside Republican Lisa Demuth. Joining them were Republican business executives Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls.

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth emerged victorious in the state’s Republican primary for governor. The Associated Press called the race after Demuth, at 59, successfully fended off competition from MyPillow founder and Trump supporter Mike Lindell. Her primary win sets her up for a fall contest against Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who won the Democratic primary handily.

Demuth, who presides over a nearly evenly split state House, emphasizes her bipartisan approach. In the Republican primary, she faced Lindell, endorsed by former President Trump, and Kendall Qualls, a businessman favored by the state Republican Party in May. Demuth asserted her capability to end a lengthy losing streak for Republicans in gubernatorial races.

Lindell attracted significant attention during the primary campaign, both positive and negative. Some Republican leaders expressed concern about Lindell’s electability, questioning his residency and business history. His backing of Trump’s election denial in 2020 caused further concern among Republicans about his chances in a general election, especially since Trump did not win Minnesota in his presidential campaigns. Trump’s administration had also sparked unrest in Minnesota with a controversial immigration enforcement surge.

Demuth held a substantial fundraising advantage over her opponents. She campaigned on her negotiations with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz over the state budget, advocating for conservative principles. Fighting against fraud in state government programs remains a cornerstone of her campaign.

Gov. Tim Walz decided against seeking a third term, opting to use his remaining time to tackle fraud in state programs.