Conservative Media Figure Michele Tafoya Seeks to Flip Minnesota Senate Seat
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Michele Tafoya, a former sports reporter with a history of right-wing activism, has filed to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota as a Republican, targeting the seat left by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.
Michele Tafoya, whose career as a sports reporter has recently shifted toward conservative political activism, has filed to run for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota as a Republican, according to federal filings submitted Tuesday afternoon. Tafoya is aiming to seize the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith, threatening to shift Minnesota’s representation further to the right.
Tafoya’s entry intensifies a Republican primary already crowded with figures such as former NBA player Royce White, ex-Minnesota GOP chair David Hann, U.S. Navy veteran Tom Weiler, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze—candidates often aligned with hardline conservative agendas.
Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing for a primary between Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Representative Angie Craig, both of whom have championed progressive policies and social justice causes.
Tafoya’s background includes a decade as a sideline reporter for NBC Sports’ “Sunday Night Football,” ending in 2021. She has also worked with ABC Sports, ESPN, and CBS Sports. In 2022, she further entrenched herself in partisan politics by co-chairing the gubernatorial campaign of Republican Kendall Qualls, known for his opposition to progressive reforms.
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