Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. Every point on this page links to its source. We don't grade candidates or tell you how to vote. As of 2026-09-28.
In their own words, from their campaign website, summarised in plain English.
Economy and cost of living
Tafoya says she wants Congress to spend less, borrow less and tax less, and to invest in American workers rather than raising taxes and spending that she says caused inflation.
“We need outsiders who will make Congress spend less, borrow less and tax less — and invest in American workers instead of selling them out.”
Tafoya says she will oppose any tax increase on the middle class, protect existing tax cuts for working families, and cut costs and taxes for the middle class.
Tafoya says she will fight against insurance bureaucrats and government bureaucrats alike, cut prescription drug costs, and keep healthcare decisions in the hands of patients.
“As our Senator, Michele will fight ALL the bureaucrats, middlemen and price-gougers, cut prescription drug costs and keep power in the hands of patients.”
Tafoya says she supports deporting immigrants convicted of fraud or crimes, securing the border, enforcing immigration laws, and opposing efforts to abolish ICE, while working with federal, state and local law enforcement together.
“Any immigrant who is a guest in our country and gets convicted of fraud must be deported.”
Tafoya says she supports an all-of-the-above approach to American energy sources to lower utility bills and gas prices while protecting the environment.
“As our Senator, Michele will support all U.S. energy sources so Minnesotans can see lower utility bills and gas prices while continuing to protect our environment.”
Tafoya says she supports requiring voter photo ID and paper ballots, and backs the SAVE Act to protect elections; she also says she will use Senate investigatory and oversight powers to fight fraud and corruption in government.
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
Michele Tafoya (REP)
Raised
$5.3M through 2026-07-22individuals $4.7M · PACs $167K · party $62K · candidate's own money, incl. loans $7,878 · from the candidate's other committees $375K · cash on hand $1.4M
What named supporters and critics say, as reported. Shown in equal numbers.
Praise
Tony Dungy: Says Tafoya is 'the real deal,' cares about families, and is a common-sense conservative ready to represent Minnesota. foxnews.com
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Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.): Praises Tafoya as the only candidate with the common-sense leadership Minnesotans need and blames Walz-Flanagan administration for failures. thehill.com
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Jack Brewer: Praised Tafoya as a credible, grounded conservative voice capable of winning over independents. foxnews.com
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U.S. Rep. Angie Craig: Said Flanagan had never won a competitive election on her own, implicitly contrasting with her own record against Republicans. thehill.com
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Criticism
David Hann: Criticized Tafoya's past criticism of Trump and questioned her stance on abortion. mprnews.org
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Republican strategist Gregg Peppin: Noted Tafoya's hesitancy to commit to running despite Republican urging. startribune.com
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Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Maeve Coyle: Warned Tafoya's candidacy would be plagued by far-right positions out of step with Minnesotans. startribune.com
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Adam Schwarze: Suggested Tafoya was elevated by the Washington establishment rather than the party faithful. mprnews.org
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Controversies
Stated as reported. Most are reported by at least two independent news outlets or found in an official record; any with only one source so far is marked Single source.
Other
Deleted tweet calling Minnesota embarrassing, later denied Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
CNN's KFile reported that in a since-deleted 2023 tweet, Tafoya wrote she was 'embarrassed' to live in Minnesota and said she planned to leave, and that she made similar comments about leaving the state on multiple other occasions; when asked about this in a radio interview during her Senate campaign, Tafoya denied ever having said she was embarrassed to be from Minnesota.
Past criticism of Donald Trump resurfaces in Senate campaign Single source
Only one source found so far. We keep looking for a second, independent report.
The Washington Examiner reported that during the 2016 primary Tafoya donated to Marco Rubio and gave nothing to Trump, and that in a 2022 Substack open letter she urged Trump not to run for president again, calling him divisive; the newspaper reported this record drew renewed scrutiny as she entered the 2026 Minnesota Senate race, and Tafoya has since said she was wrong to have urged him not to run.
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