Once a Super Bowl sideline star, Tafoya now at the center of GOP’s bold play for Minnesota Senate seat

close

Video

Senate GOP campaign chief Sen. Tim Scott looks to Minnesota as Republicans aim to expand 2026 map

National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Sen. Tim Scott eyes expanding the GOP's 2026 map as party plots midterm strategy.

The chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is eyeing blue-leaning Minnesota as he aims to not only defend but expand the GOP's current 53-47 Senate majority in next year's midterms — and the party is gearing up for a bold play with help from a former sports broadcaster.

"We're excited about expanding our map, and Minnesota is one of the target states that we're looking at," NRSC chair Sen. Tim Scott highlighted in a Fox News Digital interview this week.

Scott's comments come as former professional football sideline reporter turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya inches closer to launching a 2026 Republican Senate campaign.

DEMOCRATIC SEN. TINA SMITH ANNOUNCES SHE WON'T SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2026

Former sportscaster turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya is seen at the Fox News Channel studios on April 18, 2024, in New York City.  ( Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

It's been nearly a quarter-century since Republicans last won a Senate election in Minnesota. You've got to go back to then-GOP Sen. Norm Coleman’s 2002 re-election.

But President Donald Trump narrowed the margins in the state last year, losing Minnesota by less than four-and-a-half points in his White House re-election.

THE GOP'S TAKE ON HIGH-PROFILE SENATE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES: 'THEY'RE IN SHAMBLES'

"We see real reasons to be optimistic. President Trump was very close in Minnesota. It's a four-point race. We know with the right candidate, we will be successful," Scott emphasized.

Tafoya might be that candidate. She met last week with the NRSC, which has been recruiting her to jump into the race, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital.

And as first reported by OutKick, Tafoya is expected to make a final decision early next year on whether to launch a Senate campaign.

Former NFL sideline reporter turned political activist and commentator Michele Tefoya is seriously considering a Republican run for the Senate in Minnesota in 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Apparently pointing to Tafoya, Scott suggested Republicans are likely to land "a strong candidate in the race," and teased "wait and see" for "better news."

Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and announcer, gave up her career at NBC Sports in 2022 as she became more politically active, saying at the time that she wanted to pursue other opportunities. She served as co-chair of 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Kendall Qualls' unsuccessful campaign against Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.

Since then, Tafoya has become a vocal critic of Walz and far-left Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and has slammed both of them over Minnesota’s ongoing fraud scandal.

"Dear @Tim_Walz — please deal with the horrendous fraud you allowed in Minnesota before anything else. Please. Our money was stolen," Tafoya wrote last week in a social media post.

Video

If she announces her candidacy, Tafoya would join a crowded GOP Senate primary field that already includes 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball player; retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler, a 2022 GOP congressional nominee; and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive, is facing off against more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who appears to have the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the party's establishment, in the race for the Democrats' nomination.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Democrats remain optimistic they'll hold the seat in next year's midterms.

Lauren French, communications director at Senate Majority PAC, the top Senate Democrat-aligned outside group, told Fox News Digital that "Republicans have struggled for months to recruit a candidate in Minnesota, and they continue to come up short."

"Whatever individual they ultimately dredge up to run won't change the fundamental facts of the race: Minnesota is struggling because of the economic policies of Donald Trump and Republicans, and the state will elect a Democrat who will devote their time in office to lowering prices, creating affordable housing, and ensuring all Americans have quality health care," French emphasized.

Three top nonpartisan political handicappers, the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball, currently each rate the race in Minnesota as "Likely" Democrat.