Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has officially announced her candidacy for the Minnesota Senate in 2026, throwing her hat into a competitive Republican primary.
At 61, Tafoya, who resides in Plymouth near Minneapolis, has attracted attention from the National Republican Senatorial Committee. In December, she met with Senate Leadership Fund and other officials in Washington, D.C.
Despite the announcement of her campaign, Tafoya has not publicly commented on the “Tafoya for the Senate” initiative since its introduction. Her official candidacy paperwork was filed with the FEC on Tuesday.
After four Emmy Awards in sports journalism, she decided to run following incumbent U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s announcement last February that she would not seek re-election.
Smith, who is 67, plans to retire in early 2027 to spend more time with family, emphasizing that this choice is personal rather than political.
Tafoya has been active on social media regarding local and national issues. For instance, she recently shared a report about 7,000 illegal immigrant gang members being arrested during President Trump’s first year in office, questioning why law enforcement would be obstructed from acting against them.
With Smith stepping down, Democrats are gearing up for a competitive primary featuring Rep. Angie Craig and progressive candidate Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, alongside outsider Billy Nord.
Other Republican challengers include former Senate Minority Leader David Hung, former NBA player Royce White, and Navy SEAL veteran Adam Schwartz.
Tafoya started her career at KFAN radio, covering the Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota, later joining CBS in 1994. Throughout her career, she transitioned through ABC and ESPN and became a familiar face on “Monday Night Football.” Her last sports assignment was covering the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, after which she joined Kendall Qualls’ campaign for the Minnesota governorship during the GOP primary.
In a conversation with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Tafoya dismissed the notion that her political ambitions were sudden, stating that she felt a consistent gut feeling that her centrist views weren’t being represented.
The upcoming Senate seat has traditionally leaned Democratic since Al Franken won it in 2008, defeating Republican Norm Coleman.
In Minnesota, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (Democrat) is reportedly contemplating a gubernatorial run. Meanwhile, there’s a chance that by 2027, the state’s Senate could have two new faces.
Klobuchar, in office since 2007, has been regarded as a potential successor to Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who announced recently that he wouldn’t seek a third term. This comes amid increasing scrutiny over welfare fraud and other controversies during his administration.
Walz met with Klobuchar privately before making his announcement.
