Trump backs Michele Tafoya in tight Minnesota Senate race
Former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Republican candidate Michele Tafoya on Monday, October 16, 2026, during a rally in Ohio, adding a high‑profile boost to the tightly contested Minnesota U.S. Senate race.
Trump told the crowd, “You have to vote for Michele Tafoya, who is a very respected person,” and added, “It’s hard to win because they cheat in their elections. I thought I won Minnesota three times.” The endorsement arrives less than three weeks before Election Day on October 18.
Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, responded by saying she “heard about that” and emphasized that her campaign is about “bringing all Minnesotans together whether they voted for President Trump or whether they voted for Kamala Harris.”
Democratic opponent Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan seized on the endorsement, describing Tafoya as “lockstep with Trump’s MAGA agenda.” Flanagan urged voters to choose “the future Minnesotans deserve—one without Trump’s chaos and cruelty.”
Latest polling shows Flanagan leading Tafoya 44.8% to 43.3%, a margin within typical error and reflecting a neck‑and‑neck race. The Cook Political Report classifies the contest as “likely Democrat,” noting the seat’s importance as a bellwether for the balance of power in the 120th Congress, where 33 of the 100 Senate seats are up for election.
A Republican has not won a Minnesota Senate seat since 2002. Tafoya, positioning herself as an outsider, highlighted perceived failures in Flanagan’s tenure as lieutenant governor, citing issues such as gang violence, alleged election fraud, and declining test scores.
Flanagan countered by questioning Tafoya’s alignment with Trump, asking voters whether they want a senator who will “lower costs, end the illegal war in Iran, and hold ICE accountable,” or one who would support another Trump‑aligned incumbent.
Early voting began on the day of the endorsement, and absentee ballots have already been sent statewide, underscoring the swift move toward the November ballot.
