GOTV Intel

Michele Tafoya

Candidate for Minnesota U.S. Senate · Republican

On the 2026 ballotCandidate · Minnesota U.S. Senate · Nov 3 General

Ballot status source: Minnesota Secretary of State — November 3, 2026 State General Election candidate file: U.S. Senator — 'Michele Tafoya', R · read Sep 24, 2026

Order a GOTV Intel ReportGet Alerts on MicheleWho Is Running for This Seat

Running for Minnesota U.S. Senate, Class 2, Nov 3 General. The race page has 3 other candidates, 4 public polls, 1 certified result. See the race

Roles on File

Seats held and sought, elections and committees, newest first.

Key Votes

The record

  • No public voting record

    Holds no elected public office. Checked 2026-09-24.

    Sep 24, 2026 · Official · GOTV Intel review of official candidate lists

Newest first. A close vote was decided by 5% of the votes cast or less (or 10 votes or fewer, under a fifth of the votes). Broke with party: voted against most of their party, where the record gives the party split.

Their Money

Campaign finance

Last Change
Profile updated · Sep 24
Raised
$5,292,553cycle to date through Jul 22
Cash on Hand
$1,333,066cycle to date through Jul 22
Spent
$3,959,487cycle to date through Jul 22
Debts Owed
$294,847cycle to date through Jul 22
Next Report Due
Q3 Report · Oct 15

View on FEC.govFEC, cycle to date through Jul 22, 2026

Top Payees

Who the campaign paid most, as its filing reports it.

Campaign finance · Tafoya For Senate: Pre-Primary 2026, through Jul 22, 2026

Jul 22, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission

Finance Reports

  • Campaign finance · Tafoya For Senate: Pre-Primary 2026, through Jul 22, 2026

    Raised $5,292,552.78 this election cycle (as reported) · spent $3,959,487.11 · cash on hand $1,333,065.67 · debts owed by the committee $294,847.11 — through Jul 22, 2026. Where the money came from (cycle to date, as reported): Individuals $4,691,013.04 (89%); PACs and other political committees $167,000.00 (3%); Party committees $62,000.00 (1%); Candidate contributions $7,878.48 (0%); Transfers from authorized committees $361,360.66 (7%); Other receipts (refunds, offsets, other) $3,300.60 (0%). Where it went (itemized operating expenditures this cycle, FEC-processed through Sep 20, 2026): digital $1,876,518.61; direct mail $1,022,213.16; media and advertising $456,611.50; fundraising $69,694.56; staff, contractors and reimbursements $66,260.25; other $43,251.63.

    Jul 22, 2026 · Official · Federal Election Commission

Filings

Money shows as the filings named here report it. Payees are who the campaign paid; individual contributors are not shown.

Advertising

Who is advertising for and against Michele

  • Advertising summary · for and against (2026 cycle)

    For: own campaign on Google $35,100–$41,700 (ad ranges); outside Google ads $0–$0; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $0. Against: outside Google ads $0–$0; opponent campaign ads $0–$0; Snap $0; broadcast TV not searched; FEC independent expenditures $0. 2026 cycle. Broadcast TV: not yet searched. Meta not included.

    Aug 12, 2026 · Official · Ads summary (2026 cycle)

  • Google/YouTube ads · Tafoya For Senate (supporting)

    The candidate's own campaign (Tafoya For Senate). 4 ads since Nov 2024; $35,100–$41,700 (Google creative spend ranges).

    Aug 12, 2026 · Official · Google Political Ads Transparency Report (bundle updated 2026-09-23 21:37 PT) · source

Independent Expenditures

FEC independent expenditures on file: $0 supporting, $392,809 opposing, across 12 reports.

  • SHEEPDOG PACOpposing · $392,809

    12 reports, newest Aug 4, 2026 · Federal Election Commission — electronic filing · newest filing

Spend as each platform or filing reports it. Each line is a separate measure, and they are not added together.

In Their Words

What they have said, on the record

“And I would contend that Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis have ginned this up.”
Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya enters Minnesota U.S. Senate raceJan 21, 2026 · Press · MPR News · source
“How did we get to this place? How did this environment get created where people feel it's their duty to go put their cars or their bodies in front of federal law enforcement?”
Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya enters Minnesota U.S. Senate raceJan 21, 2026 · Press · MPR News · source
“Our campaign is bigger than right versus left. It's about confidence over corruption,”
Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya enters Minnesota U.S. Senate raceJan 21, 2026 · Press · MPR News · source
“But I couldn't ignore that little voice anymore after what we've all endured over the last few years.”
Meet Michele - Michele Tafoya for U.S. SenateJan 20, 2026 · Self-published · Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate · source
“Some may consider me crazy to walk away from one of the most coveted roles in sports television,”
Meet Michele - Michele Tafoya for U.S. SenateJan 20, 2026 · Self-published · Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate · source

In the News

Press coverage

Headlines link to the original reporting, captured on the date shown.

Reach Them

Websites and accounts

  • Campaign website capture

    Campaign website https://micheletafoya.com captured 2026-09-24T21:32:25Z (1280x900 viewport, logged-out).

    Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Campaign website · source

  • Campaign website: https://micheletafoya.com

    Source: micheletafoya.com (active; $2.04M raised per FEC; GOP primary winner Aug 11 2026)

    Sep 24, 2026 · Self-published · Campaign website · source

The Paper Trail

Filings, results and exhibits

  • On the ballot: U.S. Senate, Minnesota · November 3, 2026 general election

    Listed as "Michele Tafoya" (R) on the MN official election authority certified candidate list for the 2026 General Election (as of read 2026-09-24). Checked 2026-09-24.

    Sep 24, 2026 · Official · MN official election authority · source

  • U.S. Senator · MN-SEN

    Republican · Candidate · On the 2026 ballot

    Sep 19, 2026 · OSINT

File read Sep 25, 2026. Each item names its source. Record ID p_pg04sb2pp.

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