Democrats are seizing on a statement made by a Minnesota GOP Senate Candidate who said it’s become “embarrassing” to admit you’re from the North Star State.

Former ESPN sportscaster and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Michele Tafoya made the statement while discussing her uphill battle to win the U.S. Senate seat on Fox News’ America Reports.

“The reality, politically, is that there has not been a Republican senator in that state since Norm Coleman lost reelection back in 2008,” Fox host John Roberts began. “The cards are stacked against you, it would seem. Flanagan, in early polling, is up about six or seven points. No question, you’ve got a big hill to climb there.”

Tafoya replied by claiming things have gotten so bad that her fellow Minnesotans have told her they don’t admit where they’re from while travelling.

“We think all those Angie Craig voters who feel that the Democrat Party has left them, that the Democrat Party has lurched away to the left, way toward socialism, they know where it’s headed,” Tafoya said.

“Minnesotans are exhausted, and John, quite frankly, they’re embarrassed. I have talked to hundreds of voters in Minnesota who have told me, ‘Gosh, come I went on vacation this summer. I didn’t want to tell people where I was from because it’s embarrassing.’ And it’s true! We have people leaving. Just like everyone else talks about these people leaving, businesses are fleeing. You’re talking about philanthropy, innovation. All kinds of taxpayer-funded things leaving because taxpayers are leaving. This is untenable. We’re gonna save Minnesota.”

Tafoya: I have talked to hundreds of voters in Minnesota who have told me: gosh come I went on vacation this summer. I didn’t want to tell people where I was from because it’s embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/DzyZYtXl5I

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 12, 2026

While Democrats attempt to make hay out of her comments, Tafoya appears to be moving on in her battle against Tim Walz “mini-me” Peggy Flanagan:

Minnesotans cannot afford to have Tim Walz’s mini-me, Peggy Flanagan, in the Senate.

You deserve better than the same failures, same fraud, and same ultra-partisan politics that got us here.

Minnesota deserves a fresh start, not more of the same.

The best is yet to come for… pic.twitter.com/SK7qR4nBSq

— Michele Tafoya (@Michele_Tafoya) August 12, 2026

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.