- In the Minnesota Republican primary, Demuth secured 43.6% of the vote, while Lindell came in second with 32.3%.
- Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with 89.6% of the votes.
- Russia released American military veteran Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, after four years of alleged wrongful incarceration.
- The Minnesota Republican Party questioned whether Lindell has lived in the state long enough to meet the qualifications for governor.
- A judge found probable cause that Lindell may have violated campaign laws by giving out pillows with Mike Lindell for Governor packaging during a July Fourth parade.
- Lindell, who stepped down as CEO of MyPillow, settled a $1 billion defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems last month over false claims about the 2020 election.
- Lindell’s loss adds him to a list of GOP candidates who failed to win primaries despite Trump’s backing.
- President Donald Trump confirmed Gilman's release on his Truth Social platform, stating that Russia asked for no one in return.
- Gilman is bound for a military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological assessment and treatment.
- Gilman's health deteriorated severely in Russian custody, where he was in a psychiatric ward and described as being in a "dissociative stupor" for 47 days.
- Gilman's family and the State Department disputed the charges against him, crediting Trump and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for his release.
Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder and ally of former President Donald Trump, lost the Minnesota GOP gubernatorial primary to Lisa Demuth, who garnered 43.6% of the votes. Lindell received 32.3%, while Kendall Qualls placed third with 21.4%.
Demuth's victory positions her favorably in a state where Democrats are expected to perform well in the upcoming general election. Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with an overwhelming 89.6% of the votes, solidifying her status as a strong candidate.
Lindell's loss adds to a trend of GOP candidates backed by Trump failing to secure primary wins. Questions arose regarding Lindell's residency qualifications, as he had lived in Texas until recently. Additionally, he faced legal scrutiny for potential campaign law violations related to promotional activities during a parade.
In a separate development, Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine, was released by Russia after four years of wrongful detention. His family and U.S. officials reported that he endured abusive treatment, leaving him in critical condition. President Trump confirmed his release, stating it was achieved on a humanitarian basis, with no exchange required. Gilman is set to receive medical treatment in Texas after his harrowing experience in Russian custody.
Gilman's father disputed the charges against him, while his sister credited Trump and Senator Ed Markey for advocating for his release. Gilman's condition was described as dire, prompting urgent action from the U.S. government.
“Lindell's loss adds to a list of Trump-backed candidates who failed in primaries, and he faces a residency challenge and a probable cause finding over campaign law violations. Gilman, detained since 2022, was in a 'dissociative stupor' for 47 days before release, and Trump confirmed no exchange took place.”
Forbes
