AP: Tafoya Wins Republican Senate Primary in Minnesota

Originally published 8:50 p.m. August 11th, 2026

Updated 11:20 p.m. August 11th, 2026

(KNSI) – Michele Tafoya has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

The Associated Press called the race for the former NBC “Sunday Night Football” sideline reporter at 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, August 11th.

With 89.99% of precincts reporting, 3,694 of 4,105, Tafoya had 195,192 votes, or 52.61%, according to unofficial returns from the Secretary of State’s office. Former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze was second with 88,466 votes, or 23.85%, followed by former NBA player Royce White with 40,651 votes, or 10.96%. Six other candidates split the remainder.

Schwarze won the Republican Party of Minnesota’s endorsement at the party’s convention in Duluth in May. White was the GOP’s Senate nominee in 2024.

Tafoya joined the KNSI election coverage team Tuesday night and reflected on the stretch between the endorsing convention and the primary.

“My team and I are here celebrating because that message that I sent, while it may not have helped us in Duluth, it helped us across the state and it resonated.”

The DFL primary had not been called when Tafoya spoke. She said her approach in the general election does not depend on which Democrat advances.

“In either case, we’ll be running against a career politician who yes, was in power, was in charge, and didn’t do a thing about the fraud.”

Tafoya entered the race in January with backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, whose chair endorsed her before the primary field was set. She told KNSI she intends to campaign for Republicans up and down the ticket heading into November.

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