Politics

Mike Lindell withholds $825,000 recount fee in Minnesota GOP primary dispute

The candidate requested a deadline extension, claiming the state's proposed recount scope violates law by excluding other candidates' votes.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 02:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

Mike Lindell is withholding an $825,000 payment required to initiate a recount in Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial primary, which he lost to House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
Lindell's campaign argues that the state's plan unlawfully limits the recount to votes cast for him and Demuth, rather than all votes in the primary.
The Minnesota Secretary of State's office maintains its recount plan complies with state law, administrative rules, and historical precedent.
Lindell is requesting that state officials waive the payment deadline pending a court ruling on the scope of the recount.

Current primary results show Lisa Demuth leading Mike Lindell by 179,683 votes to 134,282 votes.[CBS News]
The Secretary of State's office set Monday as the deadline for Lindell to submit a recount request and the required $825,000 payment.[CBS News]
Lindell's campaign claimed the money was ready but withheld over a legal disagreement regarding whether votes cast for candidates other than Lindell and Demuth should be included.[CBS News]
Minnesota Secretary of State spokesperson Cassondra Knudson stated that the proposed recount plan aligns with state law and mirrors procedures used for the past two decades.[CBS News]
State law requires losing candidates to submit discretionary recount requests and full funding within five days of the primary election canvass.[CBS News]

Whether Minnesota election officials will grant Lindell a deadline waiver or if the dispute will move to court remains unconfirmed.[CBS News]
Lindell alleged election anomalies on primary night, but no evidence of fraud or official irregularity has been produced.[CBS News]