A new poll shows former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya has a 30-point lead in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
“I am proud that the people of Minnesota are coalescing behind my campaign,” Tafoya said in a statement. “Minnesotans are tired of rampant fraud and corruption, tired of feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods, and tired of being stretched too thin.”
Conducted by a polling firm called Peak Insights, the survey asked 500 likely GOP primary voters who they would support in the GOP primary election for U.S. Senate if that election were held today. The poll, taken between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, had a 4% margin of error.
According to the results, 41% of respondents said they would support Tafoya in the GOP primary election. Meanwhile, 11% said they would vote for retired NBA player Royce White, and 4% said they would vote for retired U.S. Navy Seal Adam Schwarze.
Additionally, 3% of respondents selected former Minnesota Senate Minority Leader David Hann, 1% chose Navy veteran Tom Weiler, and 6% chose “Someone else.” However, 34% of respondents said they were undecided in the primary race.
In addition to Tafoya’s wide lead in the poll, respondents gave her a +49 favorability rating (57% described Tafoya as very or somewhat favorable, and 8% described her as very or somewhat unfavorable).
A spokesperson for Tafoya’s campaign did not respond to a media inquiry which asked if the Peak Insights poll was commissioned by the Tafoya campaign. That media inquiry also asked if the campaign could provide full crosstabs for the poll.
In a press release, Tafoya said “people are noticing that I am the most prepared to deliver real results in Washington to put an end to the fraud and corruption, bring safety back to our streets, and bolster working American families so that every Minnesotan can achieve the American Dream.”
A longtime presence on Minnesota airwaves, Tafoya previously worked for WCCO Radio and KFAN in Minnesota. However, she became most well-known as an NFL sideline reporter, having worked for ABC’s Monday Night Football and NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Since retiring from Sunday Night Football in 2022, Tafoya has stepped into the political arena with frequent criticism of Democrats. Now, Tafoya is seeking the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat left open by DFL Sen. Tina Smith’s retirement.
Tafoya has received the support of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the campaign arm of the Senate Republican Caucus.
“Minnesota Republicans are fired up to vote for Michele Tafoya and send her to the U.S. Senate,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement. “Tafoya is the only candidate who puts Minnesota in play for Republicans in 2026.”
While the bulk of the Peak Insights poll focused on the Republican race for U.S. Senate, the poll also asked respondents who they would vote for if the Republican primary election for Minnesota governor were held today.
For that question, 18% said they would vote for MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, 17% said they would vote for House Speaker Lisa Demuth, 12% said they would vote for ex-State Sen. Scott Jensen, and 11% said they would vote for businessman Kendall Qualls.
The rest of the Republican gubernatorial candidates received 3% or less. However, 32% of respondents said they were undecided in the GOP primary election for governor.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
