Midterms Appear Grim For GOP — But Michele Tafoya Within Striking Distance In Minnesota

Republican Minnesota Senate nominee and former NBC Sports reporter Michele Tafoya is polling well in her Senate race in the blue state of Minnesota, while many Republican candidates struggle in traditionally red states.

While Republican candidates in red states struggle to fend off their Democratic opponents, Tafoya’s opponent, Democratic Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, leads by an average of 1.6 points in a state that has not had a Republican senator since 2009, when former Republican Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman left office. The Minnesota Republican centered her campaign around her state’s fraud scandals throughout Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s administration, of which Flanagan is a part.

Tafoya’s campaign told the Daily Caller News Foundation that she is performing well compared to other Republican candidates because of her message to hold “fraudsters accountable,” which they argued has resonated with Minnesota voters.

“Michele’s common sense message of ending fraud and holding fraudsters accountable is resonating with Minnesotans,” the Tafoya campaign told the DCNF. “During Peggy Flanagan’s eight years as lieutenant governor, billions of our tax dollars were stolen, violent gang activity increased, and test scores declined. Peggy Flanagan has already shown Minnesotans she is incapable of leadership. Next month, Minnesota voters will send her a pink slip.”

Flanagan’s campaign did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment on whether they are concerned that the fraud scandal could cost Flanagan the election.

RealClearPolling rated the race a “Toss Up” in September after multiple polls showed either a tie or Tafoya within the margin of error.

Cook Political Report rated the Minnesota Senate race as “likely Democrat.” The forecaster remained skeptical that Tafoya could flip the Senate seat due to the economy and the raids conducted by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

“We’re skeptical of some public polling that has shown the race close, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has only just now started spending after a brutal Democratic primary. Former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya has an interesting profile, and national GOP sources maintain that voters’ anger over the state’s widespread fraud scandal will stick to Flanagan. But given the economy and the state’s ICE raids, this is a difficult climate to try to make a major play in a state Kamala Harris won,” Cook Political Report wrote.

Riots and protests broke out in Minnesota over Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) raids. Tensions escalated when two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by immigration agents.