Live updates and results from primary election night

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Former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya scored a decisive win Tuesday in her campaign to move from the NFL sidelines to the U.S. Senate, gaining the GOP nomination in an open-seat race.

Her DFL opponent was still to be decided as election officials counted votes in the primary between U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

Tafoya claims GOP nod in U.S. Senate race where DFL candidate duel was primary focus

Catch up on the latest news in the primary election

Tafoya cruised past Republican-endorsed candidate Adam Schwarze, former basketball player Royce White and others on her way to the fall ballot. She was the favored candidate of national Republicans who are aiming to put the Minnesota race on the map in a year when the party is playing defense elsewhere.

Republicans haven’t won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006, but Tafoya hopes to appeal to enough independents to lift her in November.

Correction (Aug. 11, 2026): An earlier headline on this story incorrectly referred to which race Tafoya won.

The latest: Minnesota primary election 

MPR News Staff

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She beat Republican-endorsed candidate Adam Schwarze by a wide margin. 

Michele Tafoya, candidate for U.S. Senate

Michele Tafoya wins Republican nomination for U.S. Senate

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