The winner of the Aug. 11 primary is expected to face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the general election. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz chose not to seek another term as his administration faced growing scrutiny over reports of fraud involving Minnesota’s social and human services programs.
The latest KSTP/SurveyUSA poll surveyed 478 likely Republican primary voters between July 15 and July 20. It found Lindell leading the GOP field with 35 percent support, according to KSTP-TV. The poll carried a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percentage points.
Lindell’s support increased by eight percentage points compared with the previous survey.
The poll also showed notable gains among several groups of voters. His support among women rose by nine points, while his backing among voters age 65 and older increased by 17 points.
Thank you, Mr. President! I truly appreciate your confidence in me as I run to become the next Governor of Minnesota.
Support the campaign today: https://t.co/8zZVI7H3qz
Let’s Make Minnesota Great Again! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/n6URW7D9Or
— Mike Lindell (@realMikeLindell) July 15, 2026
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth placed second with 26 percent support, an increase of four points from the June poll.
Kendall Qualls, who received the endorsement of the state Republican Party, stood at 11 percent. That represented a decline from the 17 percent support he received in June.
The poll also examined the Republican primary for Minnesota’s U.S. Senate seat. Former sportscaster Michele Tafoya led that contest with 41 percent support, placing her well ahead of the other candidates in the race.
On the Democratic side, the Senate primary remained close. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan each received 40 percent support, leaving the race effectively tied.
Since the previous poll was conducted in June, Lindell has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump. Trump announced his support in a lengthy Truth Social post praising Lindell’s work ethic, political activism, and loyalty.
“Mike Lindell, the ‘Pillow Man,’ and one of America’s greatest and most hard working Patriots, is running to be GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA,” Trump wrote.
Trump argued that Lindell would be a strong replacement for Walz and said he believed the businessman could restore the state’s reputation.
“Early Primary Voting has begun and, if given the chance, Mike will be SPECTACULAR,” Trump wrote. “He truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment.”
BREAKING: Even ABC/KSTP Confirms It – Mike Lindell’s Lead Just Got Bigger.
Support the campaign at https://t.co/8zZVI7H3qz
The newest KSTP/SurveyUSA poll shows Mike Lindell climbing from 27% to 35% following President Trump’s endorsement.
Learn more at https://t.co/8zZVI7H3qz pic.twitter.com/rzX5MNkAgY
— Mike Lindell (@realMikeLindell) July 22, 2026
Trump also praised Lindell for his outspoken focus on election-related issues.
“Nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity,” he wrote.
The president concluded the message by offering Lindell his “complete and total endorsement” and telling Minnesota voters that Lindell would not let them down.
In the Republican Senate primary, Tafoya was the only candidate to gain support since the June survey. Her share rose by five points, bringing her to 41 percent.
Royce White moved in the opposite direction, falling five points to 10 percent. Adam Schwarze, the Republican-endorsed candidate, received 5 percent support.
Despite Tafoya’s sizable lead, the Senate race remained unsettled. The poll found that 28 percent of Republican voters were still undecided, leaving room for the contest to shift before the primary.
