At a Glance
- Michele Tafoya, former NBC Sunday Night Football sideline reporter, filed for U.S. Senate in Minnesota on Jan. 20.
- The Republican is seeking the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith.
- Her launch video highlights her sports broadcasting career as proof she can handle high-pressure leadership.
- Why it matters: A competitive GOP primary and a rare open seat could help determine Senate control.
Former NBC Sunday Night Football sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has officially entered Minnesota’s 2026 U.S. Senate race, filing federal paperwork on Tuesday and releasing a campaign video the next morning.
Tafoya, 61, spent more than a decade on the network’s marquee NFL broadcast from 2011 through early 2022. She now hosts a podcast and is making her first run for public office.
From Sidelines to Senate Bid
In the video posted to social media, Tafoya leans heavily on her broadcasting résumé to argue she is ready for Washington.
“For years, I covered the biggest football games in America,” she says. “I walked the sidelines when the pressure was mounting and the stakes were highest.”
She claims those experiences “taught me about how leadership really works.”
- Prepared and accountable leaders help teams succeed.
- Unprepared leaders make citizens pay the price.
Policy Platform
Tafoya is positioning herself as an anti-establishment conservative, targeting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and pledging to:
- Fight corruption and fraud.
- Protect taxpayers’ money.
- Stand with law enforcement.
- Deport dangerous criminals.
- Keep female sports for female athletes.
“As Minnesota’s senator, I will clean up the system,” she vows in the video.
Early Backing
U.S. Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., quickly endorsed her candidacy, writing on social media that Tafoya offers “the common-sense leadership Minnesotans are desperately craving.”
According to News Of Los Angeles, Republicans began recruiting Tafoya as early as December 2025 after she co-chaired a Minnesota GOP gubernatorial campaign in February 2022.
Crowded Primary Field
Tafoya will compete for the Republican nomination against:
- Former NBA player Royce White, who lost to Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2024.
- Ex-Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann.
- Military veterans Adam Schwarze and Tom Weiler.
On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are already campaigning for the open seat.
Craig responded to Tafoya’s entry Wednesday by labeling her “Trump’s hand-picked candidate” and saying “Minnesota needs a Senator who will stand up and fight for our state – and we know it won’t be MAGA Michele.”
What Happens Next
The 2026 race is one of only a handful of Senate contests featuring an open seat, raising the stakes for both parties. Minnesota last elected a Republican senator in 2002, but GOP strategists hope a competitive primary and national attention could put the state in play.
Key Takeaways
- Tafoya’s campaign launch blends sports-world bravado with hard-line conservative themes.
- Her entry adds national name recognition to a GOP primary that already includes several experienced candidates.
- Democrats are aiming to retain the seat in a state that has trended blue in recent cycles.
