Trump-backed Lindell loses Minnesota governor primary

State House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican nomination for Minnesota governor on Tuesday, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in a rare loss for a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. The victory sets up a general election contest between Demuth and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who secured the Democratic nomination without serious opposition.

Demuth argued she was the most electable and experienced Republican candidate, pointing to her role as a legislative leader. She became speaker in a power-sharing agreement for the Minnesota House, which is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats. Some Minnesota Republicans had worried that Lindell, best known for promoting false claims about the 2020 election, would be unable to win over independents and moderate Republicans, potentially dragging down the entire GOP ticket. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, Trump had urged voters to support Lindell, saying he "deserves a BIG WIN." The loss is a notable setback for Trump's influence in primary elections this cycle.

Klobuchar, a four-term U.S. senator, easily won the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nomination. She will face Demuth in the November general...