Tafoya Wins Minnesota GOP Senate Primary
Tafoya Wins Minnesota GOP Senate Primary
The News
Former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya won the Minnesota Republican Senate primary Tuesday night, setting up a high-stakes November race for an open seat.
NBC News and The New York Times called the contest for Tafoya, a four-time Emmy Award-winning sports journalist who has aligned herself with President Trump.
She beat former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, who had won the state party endorsement at a convention earlier this year, and MAGA influencer Royce White.
Timeline
In February, incumbent Democratic Sen. Tina Smith announced she would not seek a second term, opening the seat.
Tafoya entered the Republican primary in the wake of that announcement.
Earlier this year, Schwarze secured the state party endorsement at the GOP convention.
On Tuesday, August 11, Minnesota Republicans voted, and Tafoya was projected the winner that night.
Reactions
Republicans see Tafoya as their best chance to end a statewide losing streak that stretches back two decades, according to the Washington Examiner.
Her win came despite Schwarze holding the official party endorsement, a sign of Tafoya's appeal to the GOP base.
What's Next
Tafoya now advances to the November general election to fill the seat being vacated by Smith.
The race is expected to be closely watched as Republicans test whether they can break their long drought in statewide Minnesota contests.
More
Tafoya built her national profile as a sideline reporter covering the NFL before moving into politics.
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