Hennepin County tax records list nearly $48,000 in unpaid property taxes tied to MyPillow founder and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Lindell’s Tonka Bay home, even as Lindell insists the bill has already been taken care of. He says checks went out and the back taxes were paid on July 1, just as he heads into a contested GOP primary. The debt shown on the books combines a 2025 delinquency with late charges for the first half of 2026.
What the records show
According to Hennepin County property records, the Tonka Bay parcel lists $32,355 in delinquent 2025 taxes and $15,968 in unpaid first-half 2026 taxes, which includes a $1,318 penalty. County documents list the owner as Prior Lake 40 Acres LLC, with a mailing address connected to MyPillow’s Chaska operations. Added together, the outstanding balance comes in just under $48,000.
Lindell's response
Reached for comment, Lindell told the Minnesota Reformer that the checks “went out” and that the back taxes were paid on July 1. He said he could not afford the taxes last year, explaining that he sold another property to help cover debts, and he blasted the coverage as a “hit job.” Lindell has also told local TV outlets that he has poured large sums into post‑2020 election litigation and election‑security efforts.
Legal and financial backdrop
Lindell’s finances have been under pressure from a series of election-related court fights. The company once known as Dominion reached a confidential settlement that brought an end to its $1.3 billion suit, as reported by ABC News. Smartmatic later won a summary judgment against Lindell in 2025, according to the Star Tribune. The rulings and related judgments have generated liens and legal bills that observers say complicate a statewide campaign built on retail events and small-dollar donations.
What it means for the campaign
The tax records surfaced as Lindell battles for the Republican nomination, with the primary set for Aug. 11 and early voting already underway, per the Minnesota Reformer. Lindell, House Speaker Lisa Demuth and Kendall Qualls remain the main GOP contenders, and political handicappers note that personal financial troubles can clash with a candidate’s pitch to everyday voters. In a retail-heavy primary, unpaid tax headlines and ongoing legal exposure offer easy fodder for rivals and local media.
The reporting first ran in the Minnesota Reformer and was later picked up by KFGO. Any changes in the status of the tax bill will show up in Hennepin County’s online records, which campaigns, voters and reporters are likely to refresh more than once before the Aug. 11 primary.
