Members of law enforcement work the scene following the shooting of Reene Good by an ICE agent during federal immigration enforcement operation, on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The arrest of thousands of migrants and the fatal shooting by an ICE agent of Renee Good, a Minnesota woman demonstrating against the immigration crackdown, has fueled anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis and across the country.
And Minnesota is also reeling from a sweeping fraud scandal that at the beginning of the month forced Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party's 2024 vice presidential nominee, to drop his bid for re-election.
WHAT TRUMP SAID ABOUT MINNESOTA AS HE LEADS WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING
"We've got to decide not between right versus left, but right versus wrong, and we've got to decide, are we going to build up with the common sense that made this country great, or are we going to tear us apart with the corruption and the crazy that we're seeing?" Tafoya emphasized. "I think people know the answer to that, and that's why I'm running."
Tafoya called the shooting of Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, "absolutely tragic."
"My heart sincerely goes out to her family and all of those who loved her. It should not have happened," Tafoya said.
But Tafoya added, "How did we get to this place? How did this environment get created where people feel it's their duty to go put their cars or their bodies in front of federal law enforcement? And I would contend that Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis have ginned this up."
And she charged that Walz and Frey "are fanning the flames. We've got to have a change in leadership. We've got to have people who are willing to assuage the situation, to calm it down, not to stir it up, and get rid of the hate for law enforcement."
SCATHING AUDIT REVEALS MORE MINNESOTA FRAUD
Tafoya spoke as the Justice Department sent subpoenas to Walz, Frey and other state leaders, in what sources told Fox News was an escalation of the federal investigation into whether state officials conspired to impede law enforcement amid the immigration operations.
Former sportscaster turned political activist and commentator Michele Tafoya is seen at the Fox News Channel studios on April 18, 2024, in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Tafoya grabbed national attention when she met last month with members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, which had been recruiting her to launch a campaign.
Republicans are hoping to break their nearly quarter-century-long losing streak in Senate elections in Minnesota.
Asked how she could break the losing streak, Tafoya told Fox News Digital, "I think people are really hungry for that change, and I think that's what I represent. We're going to go out and we're going to fight for every vote, every Republican vote. We're going to fight for Democrat votes, and we're going to certainly fight for the independents."
DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW PATH TO SENATE MAJORITY, BUT ONE WRONG MOVE COULD SINK THEM
Tafoya joins a crowded GOP Senate primary field that already includes 2024 Senate nominee Royce White, a former NBA basketball player; retired U.S. Navy officer Tom Weiler, a 2022 GOP congressional nominee; former state senator David Hann, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.
Minnesota's primary isn't until August, and Trump has remained neutral to date in the race.
Tafoya said she "would be honored to have the endorsement of the President, for sure, but this is going to take me winning over Minnesotans, first and foremost."
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flannagan, a progressive, is facing off against more moderate Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, who appears to have the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in the race for their party’s nomination.
Tafoya, a longtime NFL sideline reporter and announcer, gave up her career at NBC Sports in 2022 as she became more politically active, saying at the time that she wanted to pursue other opportunities. She served as co-chair of 2022 Republican gubernatorial nominee Kendall Qualls' unsuccessful campaign against Walz.
Pointing to her successful career in TV sports, Tafoya said, "I gave that all up because I love this country, and I'm concerned about it, and it's a country that I'm leaving to my two kids, and I felt that it was more important for me to be involved somehow in making this place better."
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"I certainly plan to let people know that my intentions are true, that I'm doing this for love of country and love of Minnesota," Tafoya added. "I'm grateful for the career that I had, but this feels like a sense of duty to me. I just can't turn my back on this state."
And the first-time candidate said, "I'm jumping in with both feet, and I'm ready to go."
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-nfl-reporter-launches-gop-senate-bid-reveals-how-she-will-flip-script-crisis-leadership