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EXCLUSIVE – MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – Saying that she desires to carry “sanity” and “normalcy” again to her dwelling state of Minnesota, former longtime TV sports activities reporter turned political activist and conservative commentator Michele Tafoya on Wednesday formally launched a marketing campaign for the Senate in a bid to flip a Democrat-held open seat.
“We’re struggling a disaster right here in Minnesota, and actually, it is a disaster of management. We’ve profession politicians who’ve introduced us to this place, they usually’re not coming to save lots of us. So, a few of us are going to should step up and clear up the mess ourselves,” Tafoya stated in an unique interview with Fox Information Digital, as she defined why she is working within the blue-leaning state.
Tafoya is bidding to win the seat presently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, which nationwide Republicans are eyeing as they goal to not solely defend however develop their present 53-47 majority within the chamber on this 12 months’s midterm elections.
The announcement by Tafoya got here as Minnesota is floor zero within the nationwide battle over President Donald Trump’s unlawful immigration crackdown, with an enormous deployment of brokers by the Division of Homeland Safety and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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Members of legislation enforcement work the scene following the taking pictures of Reene Good by an ICE agent throughout a federal immigration enforcement operation on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Photos)
The arrest of 1000’s of migrants and the deadly taking pictures by an ICE agent of Renee Good, a Minnesota girl demonstrating towards the immigration crackdown, has fueled anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis and throughout the nation.
And Minnesota can be reeling from a sweeping fraud scandal that at first of the month compelled Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Get together’s 2024 vice presidential nominee, to drop his bid for re-election.
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“We have to resolve not between proper versus left, however proper versus flawed, and we have got to resolve, are we going to construct up with the widespread sense that made this nation nice, or are we going to tear us aside with the corruption and the loopy that we’re seeing?” Tafoya emphasised. “I believe folks know the reply to that, and that is why I am working.”
Tafoya referred to as the taking pictures of Good, a 37-year-old mom of three, “completely tragic.”
“My coronary heart sincerely goes out to her household and all of those that cherished her. It shouldn’t have occurred,” Tafoya stated.
However Tafoya added, “How did we get to this place? How did this setting get created the place folks really feel it is their obligation to go put their vehicles or their our bodies in entrance of federal legislation enforcement? And I might contend that Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis have ginned this up.”
And she or he charged that Walz and Frey “are fanning the flames. We have to have a change in management. We have to have people who find themselves keen to assuage the state of affairs, to calm it down, to not stir it up, and do away with the hate for legislation enforcement.”
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Tafoya spoke because the Justice Division despatched subpoenas to Walz, Frey and different state leaders, in what sources advised Fox Information was an escalation of the federal investigation into whether or not state officers conspired to impede legislation enforcement amid the immigration operations.
Individuals march throughout a protest after the killing of Renee Nicole Good, on January 8, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Getty Photos)
Walz, in a press release, referred to as the Justice Division investigation “a partisan distraction,” and that his “focus has all the time been defending the folks of this state.”
“Minnesota is not going to be intimidated into silence and neither will I,” the governor added.
Frey has additionally sharply criticized the Trump administration and accused the Justice Division of misusing its energy.
The Justice Division stated they’re additionally investigating an anti-ICE protest that disrupted a service on Sunday at a Minnesota church the place one of many pastors is an ICE performing discipline director within the St. Paul workplace.
“I believe that incident within the church was horrific, terrible, disgusting,” Tafoya argued. “To see that image of that small little one scared being hugged by a mum or dad as a result of in a spot of worship, these folks thought they had been protected, after which they discovered in any other case.”
And she or he argued that the continued demonstrations are “making the entire setting not solely harmful for legislation enforcement, however for residents.”
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Turning to Minnesota’s different disaster, Tafoya stated, “This fraud scandal is epic, and it is large, and I do not assume we have seen the tip of it.”
Greater than 90 folks — most from Minnesota’s giant Somali neighborhood — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described because the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How a lot cash has been stolen by means of alleged cash laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing packages, daycare facilities and Medicaid providers remains to be being tabulated. However prosecutors say it might whole as a lot as $9 billion.
A few of the dozens who’ve already pleaded responsible within the case used the cash to purchase luxurious vehicles, actual property, jewellery and worldwide holidays, in keeping with prosecutors, with a number of the funds additionally despatched abroad and probably into the fingers of Islamic terrorists.
“I believe if Minnesotans aren’t offended already, they want to take a look at their pay stubs, have a look at how a lot will get taken out in taxes, and ask themselves, what did that get me? Did that get me something? Did that fill a pothole, or did I purchase somebody a Rolex?” Tafoya stated. “I imply, that is what, actually what we’re speaking about right here.”
“This fraud is huge. We have to resolve it. We have to ask onerous questions, get to the details, make it cease, maintain folks accountable, and that is why I am working,” she added.
In a press release and marketing campaign launch video shared nationally first with Fox Information, Tafoya stated, “I’m not keen to face on the sidelines whereas Minnesotans are let down by leaders who refuse to take accountability. This marketing campaign is about placing folks first — not politics as regular.”
Former sportscaster turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya is seen on the Fox Information Channel studios on April 18, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Photos)
Tafoya grabbed nationwide consideration when she met final month with members of the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP’s marketing campaign arm, which had been recruiting her to launch a marketing campaign.
Republicans are hoping to interrupt their practically quarter-century-long shedding streak in Senate elections in Minnesota.
Requested how she might break the shedding streak, Tafoya advised Fox Information Digital, “I believe persons are actually hungry for that change, and I believe that is what I symbolize. We’ll exit, and we will struggle for each vote, each Republican vote. We’ll struggle for Democrat votes, and we will actually struggle for the independents.”
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Tafoya joins a crowded GOP Senate major discipline that already contains 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball participant; retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler, a 2022 GOP congressional nominee; former state Senator David Hann and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.
Minnesota’s major is not till August, and Trump has remained impartial to this point within the race.
Tafoya stated she “can be honored to have the endorsement of the President, for certain, however that is going to take me successful over Minnesotans, before everything.”
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive, is dealing with off towards extra reasonable Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who seems to have the backing of Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, within the race for his or her celebration’s nomination.
Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and announcer, gave up her profession at NBC Sports activities in 2022 as she turned extra politically lively, saying on the time that she wished to pursue different alternatives. She served as co-chair of 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Kendall Qualls’ unsuccessful marketing campaign towards Walz.
Pointing to her profitable profession in TV sports activities, Tafoya stated, “I gave that each one up as a result of I really like this nation, and I am involved about it, and it is a nation that I am leaving to my two youngsters, and I felt that it was extra necessary for me to be concerned one way or the other in making this place higher.”
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“I actually plan to let folks know that my intentions are true, that I am doing this for love of nation and love of Minnesota,” Tafoya added. “I am grateful for the profession that I had, however this seems like a way of obligation to me. I simply can’t flip my again on this state.”
And the first-time candidate stated, “I am leaping in with each ft, and I am able to go.”
