At a Glance
- Michele Tafoya filed FEC paperwork Tuesday to run for Senate in Minnesota as a Republican.
- The former NBC Sports reporter is expected to formally announce her campaign on Wednesday.
- Tafoya describes herself as a “pro-choice” Republican and could appeal to moderates.
Why it matters: Tafoya’s high-profile candidacy could make Minnesota competitive in a cycle where Republicans aim to expand their four-seat Senate majority.
Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is entering Minnesota’s 2026 Senate race, giving Republicans a nationally recognized recruit in a state they have not carried statewide since 2006.
Tafoya submitted paperwork on Tuesday to create a Senate campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission. Three sources with knowledge of her plans confirmed she is running, and two of those sources said she will launch her campaign publicly on Wednesday.
The move comes as Republicans target states President Donald Trump won in 2024-such as Michigan and Georgia-and see opportunity in Minnesota with Democratic Sen. Tina Smith retiring. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig are already competing for the Democratic nomination.
Tafoya, who spent years on NBC Sports sidelines and now hosts a podcast, has toyed with the idea for months. She met with the National Republican Senatorial Committee in December, according to one person familiar with the session. She also told WDAY Radio in February 2025 that she had spoken with NRSC Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., and was weighing family considerations and how long she would stay in Minnesota.
Republicans hope a well-known figure can break their statewide losing streak. Last year’s nominee, former professional basketball player Royce White, lost to Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar by 16 points even as Trump narrowed the presidential margin to 4 points, a 3-point improvement over 2020. White, who has drawn criticism for inflammatory online remarks, is running again and already holds the state GOP endorsement. He will face Tafoya, former state GOP chairman David Hann, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze in the primary.
Tafoya’s profile as a political outsider could energize donors and voters. She brands herself a “pro-choice” Republican, potentially drawing moderates dissatisfied with progressive policies. In her February radio interview she argued Minnesota “is starving for a moderate Republican who doesn’t tell them that they’re going to ban abortion, but who also is the antithesis of the Tim Walz regime.”
Yet the path through a Republican primary is tricky. The state party endorses a candidate at its convention, and that endorsement historically provides momentum. White captured the endorsement last cycle but still faced a contested primary, winning the nomination with only 39 percent of the vote. It remains unknown whether Tafoya will pursue the endorsement or run regardless of the outcome.
Tafoya is no stranger to Minnesota politics. She entered the arena in 2022, co-chairing Republican Kendall Quall’s gubernatorial bid while covering her final Super Bowl. Qualls is again seeking the governorship in a crowded GOP primary this year.
Republicans have not won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006, and the party has struggled to field contenders who keep races close. White’s double-digit loss last fall highlighted those challenges, even as Trump improved his showing. With Smith’s seat open, national Republicans see a rare pickup opportunity if they can unite behind a competitive nominee.
Tafoya’s candidacy will test whether a media personality with moderate social views can energize a conservative base while attracting independents. Her decision to step away from sports journalism for a Senate bid injects a fresh dynamic into a race that could decide control of the chamber.
