Mike Lindell told NBC News he plans to spend "upwards of $1 million" to fund a statewide hand recount of the Minnesota GOP primary he lost to Lisa Demuth by about 11 points on Aug. 11. The Secretary of State's office estimated a statewide hand recount would cost roughly $825,000; Lindell must file a formal request and post a bond by the deadline. He frames the recount as part of a campaign against electronic voting machines, despite past legal sanctions and widely debunked claims about the 2020 election.
Mike Lindell Vows 'Upwards of $1 Million' for Minnesota Hand Recount After 11-Point Primary Loss
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File
Mike Lindell said he is prepared to spend "upwards of $1 million" to fund a full hand recount of the Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary, which he lost to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth by roughly 11 percentage points on Aug. 11.
The MyPillow founder and longtime Donald Trump ally told NBC News he plans to pay for a statewide hand recount and has been in contact with the Minnesota Secretary of State's office to learn about the costs and procedures.
According to a letter from Secretary of State general counsel Lauren Bethke, the office estimated the expense for a statewide hand recount at about $825,000. Lindell told NBC News he expects that figure to rise once his own investigative team, observers and other associated expenses are included.
"I'm planning to personally go in there myself," Lindell said, adding that he intends to hand-deliver the formal recount request and to station observers at recount locations across the state. The Secretary of State's office said it had not yet received a formal request; state rules require a petitioner to file a request and post a bond, cash or surety to cover the estimated cost by the stated deadline.
Claims, Context And Legal History
Lindell — who received an endorsement from former President Trump — refused to concede on election night as results made clear Demuth had a decisive lead. He has since alleged his team uncovered "irregularities" in election data and framed the recount as part of a broader effort to scrutinize or eliminate electronic voting machines.
"Even if this recount and audit does not overturn my election for governor of Minnesota, I believe this is the gateway to getting rid of these electronic voting machines," Lindell said in a recent press release.
Observers note Lindell has a well-documented history of promoting false claims about voting machines and the 2020 presidential election, which has produced costly legal consequences. In January, a federal judge ordered him to pay Smartmatic USA Corp. $56,369 in sanctions, and an additional $500-per-day penalty was imposed after he failed to pay. Lindell's attorneys told NBC News they do not plan to pay those sanctions and cited other documents and statements in defense of his position.
This unfolding recount effort ties together Lindell's political bid, his long-running criticisms of electronic voting systems, and his ongoing legal battles related to past election claims. The Secretary of State's office will proceed according to state law if and when a formal recount request and bond are submitted.
Help us improve.
