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Minnesota businessman Mike Lindell filed paperwork Wednesday to run for governor next year as a Republican but said in an interview that he wasn’t making a formal declaration to enter the race just yet.

“I’m 98 percent sure I’m going to,” Lindell said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

Lindell, 64, is an ardent loyalist of President Donald Trump who gained attention with his efforts to fight Trump's 2020 presidential defeat. He has been successfully sued in multiple jurisdictions over his claims of election tampering. He’s perhaps best known for his My Pillow business. 

In September, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled that 

Lindell defamed the election technology company Smartmatic

 with false statements that its voting machines helped rig the 2020 presidential election.

Lindell would make a dozen Republicans trying to unseat Democratic Gov. Tim Walz in 2026. The race to choose a nominee could spill into an August primary if a state convention endorsement doesn't clear the field in May.

An aide to Lindell said the paperwork was filed in anticipation of a formal announcement soon. Lindell said it would happen as soon as Dec. 11. Lindell said he has reestablished residency in Minnesota after living in Texas for a short time.

Democrats didn’t wait on an announcement formality to take a swipe, saying Lindell would make the race more chaotic and called him a “sleazy businessman” with an extreme agenda.

“His entrance into the race is a bitter pill-ow for Minnesota Republicans to swallow,” Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Izzi Levy said in a written statement.

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Peter Cox

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Lindell is an ardent loyalist of President Donald Trump who gained attention with his efforts to fight Trump's 2020 presidential defeat. He has been successfully sued in multiple jurisdictions over his claims of election tampering.

MyPillow's Mike Lindell files paperwork to run for Minnesota governor

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