Michele Tafoya, who covered the Super Bowl on Sunday as a reporter for NBC Sports, will co-chair a campaign for a Minnesota governor candidate.
She is joining the team of Kendall Qualls, a businessman and veteran who is running for governor as a Republican, and will co-chair alongside real estate developer David Frauenshuh, the campaign announced Monday.
“After taking a step back from the sports broadcasting world, I’m honored that my next phase involves supporting Kendall in his run for Governor of Minnesota,” Tafoya said in a statement. “Kendall has a clear message that resonates with the issues Minnesotans are facing under the current administration. He’s smart and with his background and work ethic, I’m positive that he’s exactly what Minnesota needs in its next governor.”
In an interview with the Athletic, Tafoya said she was planning to leave NBC in 2019 but that a friend convinced her to stay. She covered more than 327 NFL games, five Super Bowls, and other major sports events such as the Olympics during her time at the network. She said she got to a point in her life where she “wanted to try other things” and suggested she would be interested in appearing on TV shows to discuss politics and culture. NBC announced last month that Tafoya was leaving the company.
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She is also planning on attending the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference and had expected to speak with NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom at the event. That interview has run into scheduling conflicts, and she said she plans on participating in a panel discussion if it falls through completely.
Tafoya describes herself as a “pro-choice conservative” and a libertarian. Last November, she appeared on ABC’s The View and discussed COVID-19 vaccines and former NFL player Colin Kaepernick.
Tafoya said she considers Qualls a strong candidate for governor, saying, “Everything that I know about him screams integrity, smarts, leadership, an understanding and an ability to bridge a gap.”
Qualls announced his campaign for governor last month. If he wins the Republican primary, he will likely face incumbent Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat who was first elected to office in 2018 and has made clear he is running for reelection. Walz beat his Republican challenger in 2018 53.8% to 42.4%. Qualls ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 3rd District, which he lost 55.6% to 44.4% to Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips. In a Monday press release, Qualls praised Tafoya and said he is excited to work with her.
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“I have been fortunate to get to know Michele on a deeper level and appreciate her taking time from her busy schedule to help our campaign lead Minnesota in the right direction,” he said. “I’m confident with her reach we’ll be able to connect with people across the state to ensure that all Minnesotans feel as if their needs are being heard. Together, we’re going to win, and then we’re going to tackle the war on crime, improve test scores and address the racial disparities in our schools, and lower taxes.”
