Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow, is trading in his CEO title for a campaign trail. On Tuesday, the company announced that Lindell has stepped down as chief executive officer after 22 years and reduced his ownership stake to a minority position, all to devote his full attention to running for governor of Minnesota.
Lindell isn't leaving entirely. He'll stay on as a shareholder and a member of the board of directors. Taking over the CEO role is James "Jim" Furlong, who previously served as MyPillow's president from 2004 to 2019. So it's a bit of a homecoming for the company's leadership.
In a post on X, Lindell shared the news with his followers: "Today, I've made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I'm stepping down as CEO of MyPillow so I can devote 100% of my time and energy to my campaign for Governor of Minnesota."
He added, "Minnesota deserves my full attention, and that's exactly what I'm giving it. I'm all in."
In the official news release, Lindell was even more direct: "Minnesota comes first. This is the time to serve." He elaborated, "This decision is not about walking away. It is about stepping forward to serve. I am putting Minnesota above myself, my title, and my business interests so I can give this campaign and the people of our state my full time, energy, and attention."
Lindell also expressed confidence in his successor, saying he trusts Furlong and the board "to protect our employees, our customers, and our Minnesota roots."
This move comes on the heels of a significant political boost. Last month, President Donald Trump endorsed Lindell for Minnesota governor, throwing his support behind the longtime ally and promoter of 2020 election conspiracy theories in what's shaping up to be a crowded Republican primary.
Trump praised Lindell as one of America's "greatest and most hard-working Patriots" and suggested he could help "bring" Minnesota "back from oblivion and embarrassment." Lindell, in turn, thanked Trump and rallied with a familiar refrain: "Let's Make Minnesota Great Again!"
The endorsement has the potential to shake up the Republican contest ahead of Minnesota's Aug. 11 primary. The field includes Lindell, state House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Minn.), and businessman Kendall Qualls, who is the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsed candidate.
So, as Lindell pivots from pillows to politics, the question is whether his full-time commitment will pay off at the ballot box. For now, he's all in on Minnesota.
