Michele Tafoya, former television sports reporter and local radio host including on WCCO, is throwing her hat into the race for U.S. Senate.
According to federal filings submitted on Tuesday, Tafoya will run in the Republican primary to fill the seat that is being left open by Democratic Senator Tina Smith, who has decided not to run for re-election.
She has also posted to social media Wednesday morning that she intends to run.
"For years, I walked the sidelines when the stakes were the highest, and that job taught me how leadership really works," Tafoya said in a video. "I’m running for U.S. Senate to bring that experience to Washington and deliver the real results Minnesota deserves."
The 61-year old Tafoya is originally from California, and graduated from Cal-Berkley. She's called the Twin Cities home since 1993 when she started working in local radio. Despite getting national gigs with CBS Sports, ESPN, ABC and eventually NBC.
Tafoya is entering a packed Republican primary that already has four candidates. That includes former Republican Chair David Hann, former NBA player and Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2024 Royce White, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.
There are currently two candidates running on the DFL side of the ticket. That includes current Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, and 2nd District Congresswoman Angie Craig.
Tafoya has so far only been involved in politics behind the scenes. She was co-chair of GOP gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls in 2022 before he dropped out of the race. This would be her first time seeking political office.
Tafoya left NBC sports in 2022 where she was the sideline reporter for Sunday Night Football. She also worked for the network covering the Olympic Games. Since 2022, she has dabbled in podcasting, hosting her own politically tinged "The Michele Tafoya Podcast."
She brings a bigger, well-known name to the race against two significant DFL candidates, especially in Craig who has easily won four terms representing Minnesota's 2nd, which is historically a swing district, showcasing her appeal to the middle.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican in a statewide race since 2006.