Mike Lindell faces backlash for funneling 68% of his Minnesota governor campaign funds—$187,000 from loyal donors—directly into his own MyPillow company by buying copies of his autobiography.
Story Snapshot
- Lindell’s campaign raised $352,000-$356,000 in December 2025 but spent over half on 25,000-30,000 copies of his book “What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO” at $7 each.
- This unprecedented move contrasts sharply with rivals’ efficient spending on mailers and ads, raising ethical questions about self-dealing amid Lindell’s financial struggles.
- Minnesota Campaign Finance Board deems it legal if disclosed, but donors—mostly retirees supporting his Trump loyalty—may feel shortchanged on real campaign outreach.
- Lindell trails in GOP straw polls at 17%, behind leader Lisa Demuth at 32%, as his bid leverages fame from election integrity fights despite court battles.
Lindell’s Campaign Spending Breakdown
Mike Lindell announced his Minnesota gubernatorial candidacy on December 11, 2025. His campaign quickly raised $352,000-$356,000 from over 250 donors, primarily retirees nationwide drawn to his Trump-aligned stance. Year-end finance reports filed in St. Paul revealed the largest expense: $187,000 paid to MyPillow for 25,000-30,000 copies of Lindell’s self-published autobiography. These books served as voter handouts instead of traditional flyers or mailers. Lindell, MyPillow’s CEO and majority stockholder, defended the choice in a February 3, 2026, interview, calling books a superior alternative to “little flyers.”
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Legal But Questionable Self-Deal Ties
The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, led by Executive Director Jeff Sigurdson, confirmed the purchases comply with 1998 precedents allowing campaigns to buy candidate books if properly reported. No rivals, including frontrunner Lisa Demuth or Kendall Qualls, pursued similar strategies. Qualls spent $77,000 on mailers alone. Critics highlight the self-benefit loop: Donor funds flowed to MyPillow, described as “employee-owned” but controlled by Lindell. This occurs amid his claimed $10 million debt from 2020 election defamation suits by Dominion and Smartmatic, where he asserts inability to self-fund. Smartmatic attorneys cited the spending on February 2, 2026, to challenge his poverty claims in court.
Lindell’s financial history underscores the controversy. He built MyPillow into an empire but faced ruin promoting 2020 election fraud allegations. Ongoing lawsuits include a $2.3 million Smartmatic judgment pending appeal. Despite woes, his campaign prioritizes book distribution, with Lindell signing copies at a January 2026 GOP forum in Prior Lake. Supporters view it as innovative outreach tying his crack-addict-to-CEO story to conservative values of redemption and perseverance.
GOP Primary Standing and Broader Implications
Early February 2026 GOP caucus straw polls place Lindell third at 17-17.5%, behind Demuth (32%) and Qualls (25-26%) in the crowded field ahead of the August 11 primary. His Trump praise and election integrity fame sustain visibility, though no direct endorsement exists. Donors backing his loyalty to President Trump now question value, receiving books over policy-focused materials. Satirists mock it as self-grift, fueling perceptions of political opportunism. Short-term, it risks donor backlash and court sanctions; long-term, it spotlights lax rules on campaign self-purchases.
The spending highlights tensions in conservative politics. Lindell’s approach diverts resources from direct voter engagement, potentially weakening GOP unity against Democrat challengers. MyPillow gains revenue, aiding employees, yet ethical flags persist without Board investigation. Minnesota voters deserve transparency in how funds advance limited-government principles over personal gain. Lindell’s campaign presses on, embodying the fighter spirit conservatives admire, but efficiency matters in reclaiming the governorship from big-government excesses.
Sources:
MyPillow founder Mike Lindell spent majority of campaign funds buying his own book
Mike Lindell’s biggest gubernatorial campaign expense? Copies of his memoir
Lindell Governor Campaign Update
