Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya officially kicked off her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, targeting the Republican nomination for the Minnesota seat currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
In a video shared on social media, Tafoya reflected on her experiences, stating, “For years, I covered the biggest football games in America. I walked the sidelines when the pressure was mounting and the stakes were the highest.” She emphasized that her time in sports journalism taught her valuable lessons about leadership. “When leaders are prepared and accountable, teams succeed. When they aren”t, people pay the price,” she added.
Tafoya has been involved in Minnesota”s Republican politics for a significant time and is renowned for her role as a sideline reporter for NBC“s Sunday Night Football from 2011 to 2022. Her campaign enters a competitive field that includes other Republican candidates like former NBA player Royce White, who previously lost to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in 2024, along with military veterans Adam Schwarze and Tom Weiler.
On the Democratic side, the race for the nomination to succeed Smith is heating up, with U.S. Representative Angie Craig and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan vying for their party”s nomination after Smith announced in February that she would not seek another term.
Tafoya”s transition from the football field to politics marks a significant shift in her career, as she seeks to leverage her experience in a new arena.
