MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s Minnesota gubernatorial campaign spent a staggering 68% of its donor funds—$187,000—purchasing copies of his own autobiography from his own company.
Story Snapshot
- Lindell’s campaign spent $187,000 of $352,000 raised buying 25,000-30,000 copies of his memoir from MyPillow
- The expenditure funded his own company while he claims $10 million in debt and poverty in court proceedings
- Smartmatic attorneys cite the campaign spending to counter Lindell’s claims he cannot pay $2.3 million in legal fees
- Minnesota Campaign Finance Board deems the spending legal if reported, despite no rivals making comparable self-purchases
Campaign Funds Diverted to Personal Company
Mike Lindell raised approximately $352,000 for his Minnesota gubernatorial bid shortly after announcing his candidacy on December 11, 2025. Campaign finance reports filed in St. Paul revealed that $187,000—representing 68% of total spending—went directly to purchasing copies of his self-published autobiography “What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO” from MyPillow. The campaign acquired 25,000-30,000 books at roughly $7 each, purportedly to distribute to voters instead of traditional campaign materials like flyers or mailers that other candidates utilize.
Self-Dealing Raises Ethical Red Flags
The arrangement creates a concerning financial loop where donor contributions flow directly into Lindell’s own pockets through MyPillow, where he remains the majority stockholder despite describing the company as “employee-owned.” This stands in stark contrast to his Republican rivals’ spending patterns—competitor Kendall Qualls allocated $77,000 to traditional mail campaigns, while others invested in digital advertising and voter outreach. Over 250 donors, predominantly retirees from across the nation, contributed to Lindell’s campaign expecting their funds would support genuine political activities, not subsidize book sales that enrich the candidate himself.
Watch:
https://youtu.be/Rq9AJ0qPA0U?si=rqaI9k_LV5echc-N
Legal Troubles Contradict Poverty Claims
The campaign spending revelation arrives amid Lindell’s ongoing legal battles stemming from his promotion of 2020 election fraud claims. He currently faces defamation judgments from Smartmatic and Dominion, with Smartmatic seeking a contempt ruling after Lindell claimed poverty and inability to pay $2.3 million in legal fees. Smartmatic attorneys filed documents on February 2 citing the campaign’s book purchases as evidence contradicting his assertions of financial destitution. A judge previously warned Lindell to provide proof of his claimed $10 million debt, making the $187,000 payment to his own company particularly problematic for his legal defense strategy.
Regulators Permit Questionable Practice
Minnesota Campaign Finance Board Executive Director Jeff Sigurdson confirmed the spending is legal if properly reported, citing a 1998 precedent allowing campaigns to purchase or publish candidate books. However, no previous complaints resulted in enforcement actions because candidates disclosed the expenditures. This permissive regulatory environment enables what many view as an obvious conflict of interest, where candidates can essentially reimburse themselves with donor money. While technically legal, the practice undermines donor trust and transforms campaign contributions into personal revenue streams, particularly troubling when the candidate controls both the campaign and the vendor receiving payment.
Campaign Struggles Despite Controversial Spending
Despite distributing tens of thousands of books at GOP forums and events throughout January 2026, Lindell’s campaign performance remains lackluster. A recent February straw poll showed him placing third with approximately 17% support, trailing House Speaker Lisa Demuth at 32% and Kendall Qualls at 26%. The August 11, 2026 primary approaches with Lindell’s viability increasingly questionable. When interviewed on February 3, Lindell defended the expenditure, claiming books serve as better campaign materials than “little flyers” and insisting the benefit to MyPillow is minimal “in the big picture”—a statement that rings hollow given his majority ownership stake.
Sources:
Mike Lindell’s biggest gubernatorial campaign expense? Copies of his memoir – Star Tribune
Lindell Governor Campaign Update – 103.7 The Loon
