Ex-NFL reporter launches GOP Senate run amid Minnesota ICE protests

Published January 21, 2026 7:00am ET



Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sideline reporter for the NFL, is launching her campaign for Senate on Wednesday with a message squarely focused on what she calls a “crisis of leadership” in Minnesota.

In an interview marking the kickoff of her campaign, Tafoya accused Democrats of ginning up weeks of ICE protests in Minneapolis and faulted Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) over his handling of a fraud scandal that led him to drop his bid for reelection as governor.

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