Mike Lindell has resigned as CEO of MyPillow to concentrate fully on his campaign for governor of Minnesota, handing the company back to former president Jim Furlong. Lindell, who founded MyPillow in 2004, recently received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. He remains a controversial figure after a federal judge ruled he defamed Smartmatic and he reportedly settled a $1.3 billion suit with Dominion. A KSTP/SurveyUSA poll puts Lindell ahead in the GOP primary with 35% support.
Mike Lindell Resigns As MyPillow CEO To Focus On Minnesota Gubernatorial Bid
Mike Lindell quits MyPillow so he can focus on his run for Minnesota governor
Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, has resigned as the company's chief executive to devote his full attention to his campaign for governor of Minnesota.
"Today, I've made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I'm stepping down as CEO of MyPillow so I can devote 100% of my time and energy to my campaign for Governor of Minnesota," Lindell wrote on X. "Minnesota deserves my full attention, and that's exactly what I'm giving it. I'm all in, and I can't wait to earn your vote."
Mike Lindell has stepped down as CEO of his bedding company MyPillow so he can focus on his run for Minnesota governor (Getty Images)
Lindell founded MyPillow in 2004 and announced his gubernatorial run late last year. Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Lindell, calling him "one of America's greatest and most hard working Patriots." At a recent farmers' event, Lindell noted his connection to Trump as a strategic advantage, telling supporters he could "call up and work with the president of the United States."
MyPillow said Jim Furlong, who served as the company's president from 2004 to 2019, will return as CEO. In a press release Lindell added,
"Real leadership means knowing when to lead, when to trust your team, and when to put a larger calling first. I trust Jim and the Board to protect our employees, our customers, and our Minnesota roots."Company officials also assured the public that the leadership change will not result in any Minnesota job losses.
'Minnesota deserves my full attention, and that's exactly what I'm giving it,' the pro-Trump CEO said (AFP via Getty Images)
Legal Controversies and Public Profile
Outside his business, Lindell remains a polarizing public figure for promoting unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election. In September 2025 a federal judge in Minnesota ruled that Lindell defamed Smartmatic by falsely alleging the company's voting technology was used to rig the election. He also reportedly reached a settlement last month in a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit originally filed by the company formerly known as Dominion Voting Systems.
President Trump, who continues to assert without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen, posted on Truth Social praising Lindell's efforts on what he calls "Election Integrity."
Aside from his MyPillow product, Lindell is known for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election (Getty Images)
Where the Race Stands
Minnesota's primary elections for governor are scheduled for Tuesday. A recent KSTP/SurveyUSA poll shows Lindell leading the Republican field with 35% support among likely GOP primary voters, ahead of state Representative Lisa Demuth at 26% and businessman Kendall Qualls at 11%. On the Democratic side, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is the most prominent candidate in the primary.
Incumbent Governor Tim Walz announced in January that he will not seek a third term amid scrutiny over his administration's handling of welfare fraud. In his statement, Walz defended the steps his administration took to detect and prosecute fraud and said the state had sought additional legislative tools to address the problem.
Bottom line: Lindell's resignation formalizes his shift from business leader to full-time political candidate, returning operational control of MyPillow to a former executive while the campaign — and ongoing legal fallout from his election claims — remain central to how voters and opponents will view him heading into the primary.
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