{"id":2521718,"date":"2025-12-16T12:11:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-nfl-reporter-close-to-deciding-on-minnesota-senate-bid\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T12:12:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:12:29","slug":"ex-nfl-reporter-close-to-deciding-on-minnesota-senate-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-nfl-reporter-close-to-deciding-on-minnesota-senate-bid\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-NFL reporter close to deciding on Minnesota Senate bid"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fex-nfl-reporter-close-to-deciding-on-minnesota-senate-bid%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2521718&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter who left sports broadcasting in 2022, is nearing a decision on whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota, a state that leans Democratic. The national Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has been encouraging her to challenge retiring Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in the 2026 election. Tafoya recently met with Republican leaders in Washington, D.C.,and is leaning towards entering the race. <\/p>\n<p>Although Minnesota has not elected a Republican senator since 2002 and Republicans are mainly focusing their resources on other states, Tafoya&#8217;s high profile as a former ESPN and NBC sports reporter could make her a strong candidate and force Democrats to invest more in defending the seat. The state has also become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/foreign-oil-and-the-global-scramble-to-secure-energy\/\" title=\"Securing Energy: The Global Race for Foreign Oil\">focal point due<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >welfare fraud scandal involving<\/a> its Somali community,which Republicans have criticized as mismanagement by Governor Tim Walz (D).<\/p>\n<p>On the Democratic side, the primary is shaping up as a contest between establishment candidate Rep. Angie Craig, viewed as more electable, and Lt.Gov. Peggy Flanagan, supported by progressive senators. Tafoya&#8217;s potential candidacy is already being used by Craig to highlight her own electability for the general election.If Tafoya runs, she will bring political consulting experience to the campaign, having transitioned from sports broadcasting to politics. An official declaration from Tafoya is expected early next year.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ex-NFL reporter Michele Tafoya close to deciding on Minnesota Senate bid<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2446777\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Michele Tafoya, a former sideline reporter for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nfl\/\">NFL<\/a>, will soon decide whether to run for the Senate in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\">Minnesota<\/a>, a blue-leaning state that Republicans are freshly contesting amid a sprawling fraud scandal.<\/p>\n<p>The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been recruiting Tafoya, who left sports broadcasting in 2022 for a career in politics, to run for the seat of retiring Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) next year. She met with Republicans in&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington<\/a>&nbsp;last week to discuss a campaign, according to a source familiar with the matter, and is leaning toward a run.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3918074\/josh-shapiro-endorses-firefighter-union-boss-primary-race-congress-pickup\/\">Josh Shapiro backs firefighter union boss in primary seen as key congressional pickup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3916552\/graham-platner-senate-race-tightens-janet-mills-susan-collins\/\">Platner courts progressives as Maine Senate race with Mills and Collins tightens<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3915750\/aaf-trump-heritage-pressure-campaign-indiana\/\">Conservative advocacy group slams Trump and Heritage pressure campaign over Indiana redistricting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The state is considered a Democratic stronghold, and a Republican has not won a Senate race there since 2002. However, Tafoya would be a high-profile candidate for the GOP, owing to her decades of experience as a sports reporter for ESPN and NBC. While in Washington last week, she sat down with the NRSC and Senate Leadership Fund, which together will try to preserve Republicans&rsquo; Senate majority in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>They are more focused on protecting GOP-held seats in Maine and North Carolina, while Georgia and Michigan represent some of their best pickup opportunities. Yet the recruitment of Tafoya suggests Republicans will still contest Minnesota next year, forcing Democrats to divert resources to defend an open seat. Tafoya is expected to make an announcement early next year.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sportscaster Michele Tafoya reports during the first half of an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Derik Hamilton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The state has come under scrutiny over reports of widespread fraud that Republicans have blamed on Gov. Tim Walz&rsquo;s (D-MN) management of a pandemic-era welfare program. Dozens of people have been convicted so far in the scheme, which is believed to be centered on Minnesota&rsquo;s Somali community.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3916713\/roger-wicker-trump-growing-pentagon-criticism\/\"><strong>ROGER WICKER ESCAPES TRUMP BLOWBACK DESPITE GROWING PENTAGON CRITICISM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Democratic primary has become a proxy battle between the establishment and progressive wings of the party, with Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) regarded as more electable and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan endorsed by a slate of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-prepares-for-fight-against-bipartisan-push-to-end-covid-emergency\/\" title=\"Biden Prepares for Fight Against Bipartisan Push to End COVID Emergency\">left-leaning senators<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Craig has used Tafoya&rsquo;s possible entry into the race to argue that she is better-suited for the general election next November. Since leaving sports broadcasting, Tafoya has been a political consultant and commentator.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-NFL reporter Michele Tafoya nearing Minnesota Senate run decision<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2521719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP21004055843280.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34059,68902,54274,68903,63659],"class_list":["post-2521718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-2024","tag-ex-nfl-reporter","tag-minnesota-senate","tag-political-bid","tag-sports-to-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP21004055843280.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2521718"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2521722,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2521718\/revisions\/2521722"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2521719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2521718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2521718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2521718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}