Michele Tafoya tells voters “it’s embarrassing” to be from Minnesota as GOP Senate bid lags in polling

Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, a former sportscaster, addressed polling in Minnesota on Fox News Wednesday, telling viewers that some voters have expressed discomfort about where she and the campaign are based. The exchange came during an appearance on “America Reports” with host John Roberts, where Roberts raised survey findings that Tafoya said she has been working to counter.

According to The Hill, Roberts asked Tafoya about polling showing her trailing opponent Peggy Flanagan, the state’s lieutenant governor, who is running as a progressive candidate. Tafoya responded by describing conversations she said she has had with voters, including a remark that she described as “embarrassing” for voters to hear themselves associated with Minnesota.

Tafoya’s comments were framed by the network interview as part of the broader context of the Minnesota political landscape heading into the Senate race. The Hill reported that Tafoya made the remarks while discussing her effort to compete against Flanagan, who has a statewide office as lieutenant governor.

The interview also highlighted the political momentum surrounding Flanagan and other progressive candidates in Minnesota. The Hill said the discussion pointed to recent progressive wins across the state, setting a backdrop for the polling question and Tafoya’s explanation of her support base.

Tafoya’s campaign background, as described by The Hill, centers on her work in broadcasting before entering electoral politics. In the Fox News conversation, the focus remained on how the race is shaping up in voter surveys and what Tafoya said voters tell her directly.

Flanagan, as lieutenant governor, brings the advantages and visibility of a statewide executive role to the contest, a point that was directly tied to the polling question during the interview. The Hill’s account indicated that Tafoya’s remarks were intended to respond to that headwind by emphasizing what she says voters are communicating to her in real time.

No additional official election administration data, campaign filings, or results were included in The Hill’s report. Tafoya and Flanagan will continue competing through the remainder of the campaign period, with the next major benchmarks expected to be updated public polling, additional campaign appearances, and Minnesota election proceedings as they move toward voting.