Minnesota Republicans are asking whether Mike Lindell can legally run for governor in the state he wants to lead, with the party’s residency question landing just one week before the Aug. 11 primary. The challenge adds a potentially explosive eligibility fight to an already turbulent Republican contest.
Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Alex Plechash sent Secretary of State Steve Simon a letter last Thursday asking for guidance on the residency standard, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. Plechash wrote that voters deserve “clear guidance” before casting ballots, warning that an unresolved qualification issue could leave supporters without the officeholder they voted for.
Minnesota’s Residency Rule Points To November 3, 2025
The Minnesota Constitution requires a governor to be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen and a bona fide Minnesota resident for one year immediately preceding the general election, according to the Minnesota Constitution. The state’s official candidate guide likewise says gubernatorial candidates must have lived in Minnesota for at least one year before the general election, while election law places that requirement on the day of the general election through the Secretary of State’s candidate guide.
For the 2026 race, that interpretation points to Nov. 3, 2025, rather than the January 2027 date when a new governor would take office. Lindell has acknowledged that he was living in Texas as recently as 2025, but he provided the Star Tribune with a temporary Minnesota standard driver’s license showing an Excelsior address and issued in September 2025. His running mate, Phillip Parrish, has argued that the one-year clock should instead run to the start of the term, a reading that would move the deadline into January 2026; Lindell’s campaign did not return requests for comment.
Trump’s Endorsement Made The Eligibility Fight More Urgent
The residency dispute comes as Lindell has become one of the central figures in a crowded Republican primary. President Donald Trump endorsed him on July 15, and a June SurveyUSA poll cited by FOX 9 showed Lindell leading House Speaker Lisa Demuth and party-endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls.
Qualls remains the Minnesota GOP’s endorsed candidate, while Demuth stayed in the race after the party released candidates from an endorsement pledge following voting problems at the state convention. That leaves Republicans to sort out both the nominee and whether one of the race’s most visible candidates clearly satisfies the constitutional rules.
What Happens Before The August 11 Primary
The immediate question is whether Simon’s office will clarify the standard before Minnesota Republicans vote next Tuesday. The party’s request does not itself remove Lindell from the ballot, but it raises the possibility that eligibility could remain a political and legal issue well beyond the primary.
For Lindell, the timing is especially uncomfortable: Trump’s endorsement has given his campaign momentum, but the party leadership is now asking state election officials to determine whether he has met the basic residency requirement for the job.
