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Kendall Qualls wins Clay County GOP gubernatorial straw poll
Former Republican candidate finishes ahead of House Speaker Lisa Demuth and My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell
Published on Feb. 4, 2026
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Delegates to the Clay County Republican Party precinct caucuses in Minnesota have selected former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls as the winner of the caucus night straw poll for the party's nomination for governor. Qualls finished ahead of House Speaker Lisa Demuth and My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell in the straw poll.
Why it matters
The Clay County straw poll is an early indicator of support among Republican activists for the party's gubernatorial nomination. The results could influence the broader race and shape the campaign narratives heading into the 2026 election cycle.
The details
According to Clay County GOP Chairman Rodney Johnson, Qualls garnered the most votes in Tuesday night's straw poll of delegates to the county convention. Johnson noted that turnout was much larger this year compared to two years ago, which he attributed to more Republicans being "fed up with (the) Democrat leadership and the immense fraud going on in our state."
- The Clay County Republican Party precinct caucuses were held on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
The players
Kendall Qualls
A former Republican candidate for Governor of Minnesota.
Lisa Demuth
The current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Mike Lindell
The inventor and CEO of My Pillow, and a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Rodney Johnson
The Chairman of the Clay County Republican Party.
What they’re saying
“Two years ago, we had bad weather. And there's a lot more people fed up with (the) Democrat leadership and the immense fraud going on in our state.”
— Rodney Johnson, Clay County GOP Chairman (am1100theflag.com)
The takeaway
The Clay County straw poll results suggest a shift in Republican enthusiasm and priorities, with voters seemingly focused on perceived issues with Democratic leadership and election integrity. The strong showing by Qualls, a former candidate, also indicates the party base may be looking for a familiar face to lead the ticket in 2026.
