Republican Senate candidate Michele Tafoya gave a muted response after President Donald Trump endorsed her on October 12, 2026, telling reporters only that she had "heard about" his comments. Tafoya faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota's November 3 election, a contest recent polling shows is close, and she has publicly broken with Trump on several policy points.
Michele Tafoya, the Republican nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota, did not embrace President Donald Trump's endorsement of her candidacy, instead keeping her distance from him in public remarks the day after he spoke in her support.
What Trump said
At a rally in Ohio on Monday, October 12, 2026, Trump told the crowd, "You have to vote for Michele Tafoya," and described her as "a very respected person." He also criticized Minnesota on issues including fraud and gang violence, according to Fox 9 and Inforum.
Tafoya's response
Tafoya addressed the endorsement at a news conference the following day, Tuesday, October 13. Asked whether she was surprised by Trump's comments, she said, "Most of the things that the president says are a surprise to somebody," according to Fox 9's reporting. Inforum reported her more directly as saying, "I heard about that."
Tafoya then pivoted to a broader message of unity rather than discussing Trump further. "This campaign is about bringing all Minnesotans together, whether they voted for President Trump or whether they voted for Kamala Harris or whether they didn't vote at all," she said, per Inforum.
Why she is keeping distance
Inforum reported that Tafoya has publicly split with Trump on specific issues during the campaign, including the administration's handling of an immigration enforcement operation known as Operation Metro Surge, which she called "abysmally" managed, and his rhetoric about Minnesota's Somali community, which she said was "not appropriate."
Fox 9 reported that Tafoya has also said she opposes giving any president a "blank check" for war powers.
MPR News described Tafoya's position as a "tough triangle": distancing herself from an unpopular president among swing voters, while still needing to energize the Republican base and secure national party funding. One of her campaign ads states, "When Trump is right, I'll work with him. When he's wrong I'll stand up for Minnesota," according to MPR News.
Her Democratic opponent, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, has made the Trump connection central to her own campaign messaging. "Voters just need to know that Michele Tafoya will be another vote for Donald Trump, and I will be a vote for Minnesotans," Flanagan said, as quoted by MPR News.
The race and the polling
Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster, is competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. Her opponent, Flanagan, is Minnesota's lieutenant governor. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
MPR News reported that the contest has drawn far less outside spending than other competitive Senate races this cycle — about $2 million after the primaries, down sharply from more than $20 million spent by outside groups during the primary — even as polling shows it remains tight.
Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll
Candidate
Party
Support
Peggy Flanagan
Democrat
47%
Michele Tafoya
Republican
43%
Undecided
—
9%
The poll, reported by MPR News, was conducted the week before the article's publication and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Most of the things that the president says are a surprise to somebody.
— Michele Tafoya, Senate candidate
Questions
What did Trump say about Michele Tafoya?
At an October 12, 2026 rally in Ohio, Trump told supporters, "You have to vote for Michele Tafoya," calling her "a very respected person," according to Fox 9 and Inforum.
How did Tafoya respond to Trump's endorsement?
At a news conference the next day, Tafoya gave a low-key reaction, saying either "I heard about that" (per Inforum) or that Trump's comments are "a surprise to somebody" (per Fox 9), and pivoted to talking about unifying Minnesota voters.
Who is Tafoya running against, and when is the election?
Tafoya, the Republican nominee, faces Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat in the general election on November 3, 2026.
Why is Tafoya distancing herself from Trump?
She has publicly criticized the administration's handling of an operation called Operation Metro Surge and Trump's rhetoric about Minnesota's Somali community, and has said she opposes giving any president a "blank check" for war, according to Inforum and Fox 9.
What do the polls show in the Minnesota Senate race?
A Star Tribune/KARE 11 poll showed Flanagan leading Tafoya 47% to 43%, with 9% undecided and a margin of error of ±3.5 points, according to MPR News.
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