Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, defeating MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell despite Lindell's endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Demuth, who has served in the Minnesota legislature and rose to become House Speaker, secured the nomination to represent the GOP in November's general election.

Lindell had entered the race as a high-profile figure backed by Trump, whose endorsement carried significant weight in Republican primaries across the country. However, Demuth's standing within the Minnesota Republican establishment and her record in the state legislature proved more persuasive to primary voters. The result marks one of the more notable instances this cycle where a Trump endorsement did not deliver a primary victory.

Demuth will now prepare for a general election campaign to succeed outgoing Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrat who became the party's 2024 vice presidential nominee. On the Democratic side, the primary to determine Demuth's opponent was also decided Tuesday, with results tracked across state and national outlets. Minnesota has been a competitive state in recent cycles, and both parties are expected to mount serious general election campaigns.

The outcome reflects an ongoing dynamic within the Republican Party in which Trump-aligned outsider candidates sometimes face resistance from voters who favor candidates with more conventional political experience. Demuth's victory positions the GOP with a candidate who has deep roots in Minnesota Republican politics heading into what is expected to be a closely watched fall contest.