Former sportscaster Michele Tafoya runs for US Senate as Republican

Former sports reporter Michele Tafoya has announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, saying Minnesota needs an outsider “with the backbone to hold politicians accountable.”

Tafoya noted that Minnesota continues to “failure in leadership at almost every level,” accusing career politicians of allowing fraud to flourish and allowing the “far left” to turn the state into a “war zone.”

“This isn’t actually right versus left. This is right versus wrong. And I want to get us back to the common sense, the normalcy, instead of the insanity and corruption that built Minnesota and really built this country,” Tafoya said on the “Brian Kilmeade Show” Wednesday.

He said witnessing fraud, riots and “the complete failure of the political elite” in Minnesota pushed him to abandon his career as a sportscaster and dive into politics.

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“These politicians are not doing their job,” he said. “I’m going to step up and try to do it. If not now, when?”

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

He argued that Minnesota’s problems were solvable, law and order could be restored and the middle class could flourish, but time was of the essence.

“I’m afraid if we don’t do it here in the midterms, it may not get done. So we’re going to need everyone’s help. We need everyone on board,” Tafoya said.

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Minnesota’s most recent Republican senator, Norm Coleman, served from 2003 to 2009.

When asked why he believes he could be elected as the state’s first Republican senator in more than 20 years, he responded with a dash of humor from the sports industry.

“Indiana University was never supposed to win a national championship in football, and they did. So I think the timing is ripe,” Tafoya said. “I think Minnesotans are tired of what’s going on. I talk to Minnesotans every day and they don’t want to leave this state, but a lot of them are considering it.”

Tafoya acknowledged he faced an “uphill climb.” Still, he said, things have changed in the North Star State.

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“There’s a large segment of Minnesotans who are unhappy with what’s going on in the cities … and an even larger segment of people who are really angry about fraud, about having billions of dollars stolen – dollars that are supposed to help kids end up going to criminals,” he said.

“I think people are a little shocked to find out. They see Tim Walz resigning. They know he’s toxic. So a change is about to happen in Minnesota, and I want to be a part of that change.”