The facts
Republican Senate nominee Michele Tafoya trails Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan by four points in a recent Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll, prompting Fox News Power Rankings to shift the race to Lean Democrat less than three weeks before Election Day. Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, is seeking to flip the seat held by retiring Sen. Tina Smith, a seat Republicans have not won in Minnesota for nearly a quarter‑century. She has centered her campaign on the state’s massive welfare‑assistance fraud scandal, accusing Flanagan of being “second‑in‑charge” during the fraud. Flanagan has tied Tafoya to former President Donald Trump, while Tafoya highlighted her pro‑choice stance and said she will work with Trump when he is right and oppose him when he is wrong. Hours after the ad aired, Trump gave her a plug at an Ohio rally, telling the crowd, “You have to vote for Michele Tafoya, who’s a very respected person.”
Our take
Well, look at that. Michele Tafoya’s big play to become a Senator is going about as well as a Hail Mary tossed into a hurricane. She’s still four points behind, the race is now officially ‘Lean Democrat,’ and her entire strategy is built on a massive fraud scandal while shouting that Flanagan was “second‑in‑charge.” Congrats, Michele – you’ve discovered that being lieutenant governor is, in fact, a less powerful job than being governor. What a fucking revelation. Meanwhile, you brand yourself a “pro‑choice Republican not afraid to stand up to my party,” yet you just got a rally plug from Donald Trump, the same guy who stacked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe. So which is it, Michele? Are you standing up to him or sucking his dick for a campaign boost? You can’t have it both ways, you shameless grifter. You’re trying to sell Minnesota voters a used car with Trump’s face on the “Check Engine” light, and you’re shocked they’re not signing the paperwork. The only historic fraud here is the one you’re attempting on the entire state, pretending you’re a brave maverick instead of another cringing GOP asshole who’ll say anything to win a seat your party hasn’t touched in 25 years. Good luck with that. You’ll need a miracle bigger than any you ever saw on an NFL field, and all you’ve got in your playbook is weak bullshit and louder bullshit. Fucking clown.
