Tafoya Wins Minnesota GOP Senate Primary

Michele Tafoya, the former NFL sideline reporter and four-time Emmy Award winner, won the Republican nomination for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The Associated Press called the race at 9:50 p.m. EDT. With approximately one-fifth of ballots counted, Tafoya led with 51 percent of the vote, defeating her closest rival, former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, who received 22 percent. Former NBA player Royce White finished with 9 percent, and retired Navy officer Tom Weiler received 6 percent.

Tafoya's victory sets up a high-profile general election campaign in November as she seeks to flip a seat held by Democrats. The seat is being vacated by retiring Senator Tina Smith. The race is a key opportunity for national Republicans, who have not won a statewide contest in Minnesota since 2006 and last won a U.S. Senate seat in the state in 2002.

The former broadcaster entered the primary as the clear frontrunner, leading in polling, fundraising, and name recognition. She also had the backing of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which recruited her to make the state competitive. Tafoya dominated the field financially, raising $5.3 million through July...