Michele
Tafoya

1. Economy & jobs Opposes middle-class tax hikes; wants lower energy costs and less spending +

2. Health care Opposes government-run healthcare; wants lower drug costs and patient control +

3. Immigration Supports secure borders, deportations, and limited ag-worker visas +

4. Abortion & reproductive rights Pro-choice Republican; supports access up to 12 weeks, opposes outright ban +

5. Education Supports education reform, parental rights, and reversing declining test scores +

6. Climate & energy Supports all-of-the-above energy; prioritizes affordability over climate mandates +

7. Crime & public safety Supports tougher penalties, more law enforcement funding, and deportation of criminal immigrants +

8. Taxes & budget Opposes middle-class tax increases; supports preserving working family tax cuts +

9. Guns Supports Second Amendment; opposes further restrictions on legal gun owners +

10. Democracy & elections Supports voter ID, paper ballots, and the SAVE Act +

11. Foreign policy & defense Supports ending Iran war quickly; opposes indefinite war without congressional consent +

1. Oct 11
   news

   Daily Caller reports Tafoya within striking distance; total race spending reaches ~$11.4M

   The Daily Caller reported that Tafoya is within striking distance of Flanagan. A compilation of campaign and outside-group spending data showed total spending in the race had reached approximately $11.4 million, including roughly $2 million in independent expenditures after the August primary.

   ↳ But Michele Tafoya Within Striking Distance In Minnesota · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
2. Oct 10
   endorsement

   Duluth News Tribune endorses Tafoya, calling her 'independent-minded'

   The Duluth News Tribune editorial board endorsed Michele Tafoya for U.S. Senate, describing her as 'independent-minded' and ready for the Senate.

   ↳ Endorsement: Independent-minded Michele Tafoya ready for US Senate · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
3. Oct 9
   poll

   Rasmussen poll: Flanagan leads Tafoya 48%–45% among likely voters

   A Rasmussen Reports survey conducted October 5–7 among 856 likely voters found Peggy Flanagan leading Michele Tafoya 48% to 45%, within the ±3-point margin of sampling error.

   ↳ Election 2026: Minnesota Senate · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
4. Oct 9
   poll

   Daily Agenda/Morning Consult poll: Flanagan leads Tafoya 45%–41%

   A Daily Agenda/Morning Consult poll conducted October 2–7 among registered voters found Flanagan ahead of Tafoya 45% to 41%, within the ±3.1-point margin of error.

   ↳ Flanagan Holds Narrow Lead Over Tafoya · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
5. Oct 6
   news

   Report: National Republicans see opening for Tafoya but money is going elsewhere

   The Star Tribune reported that while Republicans see a potential opportunity in Minnesota's Senate race, major national Republican spending has not followed. Tafoya had raised approximately $5.3 million through the latest reported FEC period ending July 22.

   ↳ Republicans see an opening for Tafoya, but their money is elsewhere · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
6. Oct 6
   endorsement

   Tafoya publicly thanks Minnesota Farm Bureau; police unions also listed as endorsers

   Tafoya thanked the Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC on X (formerly Twitter) on October 6. Her campaign endorsements page also lists the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association and the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis among her endorsers.

   ↳ Michele Tafoya on X · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
7. Oct 5
   endorsement

   Senate Majority Leader John Thune campaigns with Tafoya at Le Sueur farm

   Senate Majority Leader John Thune traveled to a farm in Le Sueur, Minnesota, to campaign with Tafoya and praise her candidacy. At the farm-policy event, Tafoya backed year-round E15 sales and the Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC endorsement was highlighted.

   ↳ Senate GOP leader joins Tafoya on farm as Flanagan ... - MPR News · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
8. Oct 2
   news

   The Hill opinion piece calls Minnesota a potential Republican November surprise

   An opinion piece in The Hill highlighted Tafoya's challenge to Flanagan and the welfare fraud issue as a potential path for Republicans to pick up the Minnesota Senate seat.

   ↳ Minnesota’s Senate race could be Republicans’ November surprise · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
9. Sep 30
   debate

   Tafoya-Flanagan debate scheduled for October 16 on MPR's Politics Friday

   MPR News reported that Tafoya and Flanagan are scheduled to debate on MPR's Politics Friday on October 16. The debate had not yet taken place as of October 11.

   ↳ MN statewide races: Who's debating and when? - Yahoo · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
10. Sep 23
    controversy

    Welfare fraud controversy becomes central Tafoya campaign theme

    Tafoya elevated criticism of fraud during the Walz administration as a key contrast with Flanagan. These are campaign arguments by Tafoya, not official findings about Flanagan's responsibility.

    ↳ Minnesota Senate Race Tightens as Welfare Fraud Becomes ... · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
11. Sep 21
    news

    Minnesota Senate candidates described as 'oddly quiet' ahead of fall campaign push

    MPR News reported that both Tafoya and Flanagan were harder to find on the campaign trail in mid-September. Flanagan pressed Tafoya over her support for Trump and the federal immigration crackdown, while Tafoya was making state-program fraud and oversight a campaign theme.

    ↳ Minnesota's U.S. Senate candidates are oddly quiet as ... · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
12. Sep 20
    controversy

    Tafoya criticizes ICE rollout and says Kristi Noem 'was fired appropriately'

    In an interview with The Hill Sunday, Tafoya said the federal immigration-enforcement operation in Minnesota was 'very poorly handled' and that former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem 'was fired appropriately.' She also faulted Minnesota leadership for not allowing local law enforcement to help protect people.

    ↳ Tafoya blames Kristi Noem, Minnesota leadership for ICE rollout · Sep 20, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
13. Aug 11
    filing

    Tafoya wins Republican primary with ~52% of the vote

    Michele Tafoya won the Republican primary for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat with approximately 52% of the vote, defeating Adam Schwarze and Royce White. Peggy Flanagan won the DFL primary, setting up the general-election matchup.

    ↳ Senate GOP leader joins Tafoya on farm as Flanagan ... - MPR News · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

• United Coalition of Public Safety (UCOPS) organization
  Listed as an endorser on Tafoya's campaign endorsement page; no endorsement date given. micheletafoya.com
• Forum Communications Editorial Advisory Board (Duluth News Tribune) newspaper
  Forum Communications' Editorial Advisory Board endorsed Tafoya in an editorial published October 10, 2026, appearing in the Duluth News Tribune and other Forum Communications outlets. duluthnewstribune.com · Oct 10, 2026
• Winning For Women Action Fund organization
  Announced its endorsement on September 17, 2026, per the WFW Action Fund press page. wfwactionfund.com · Sep 17, 2026
• Minnesota Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (MFB PAC) organization
  The Farm Bureau published its 2026 PAC endorsements on August 27 listing Tafoya for U.S. Senate; Tafoya also announced the endorsement that day. fbmn.org · Aug 27, 2026
• Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) organization
  Tafoya announced the endorsement on August 24, 2026. Also reported by Alpha News. alphanews.org · Aug 24, 2026
• Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis union
  Alpha News reported on August 24 that the endorsement had come the prior week. The Federation said she 'understands that public safety is a fundamental responsibility of government.' alphanews.org · Aug 24, 2026
• Tony Dungy other
  Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and former colleague endorsed Tafoya in a video shared by her campaign; reported by Fox News/OutKick on May 26, 2026. foxnews.com · May 26, 2026
• National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) / Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) organization
  Sen. Tim Scott, as NRSC chair, backed Tafoya when she announced her candidacy on January 21, 2026. politico.com · Jan 21, 2026

Raised

$5.34M

Spent

$3.97M

Cash on hand

$1.37M

As of Jul 22, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record S6MN00556(opens in a new tab)