Michele Tafoya is ready to change the country.

Former NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya is ready for he next phase of her life.

Tafoya ended her career as a sideline reporter for “Sunday Night Football” after the 2021 season. She concluded her legendary career in sports media after Super Bowl LVI to focus on other pursuits. That included political commentary, and now the most recent update.

The retired sportscaster on Wednesday announced she will run for Minnesota’s soon-to-be-vacated U.S. Senate seat as a Republican. Tafoya is seeking the seat held by Sen. Tina Smith, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Michele Tafoya was a sports broadcaster for over 30 years, most notably with NBC Sunday Night Football. Following her retirement, she became the co-chair for Kendall Qualls’ unsuccessful 2022 Republican campaign for governor. She now has a Minnesota politics podcast.

In 2024, she ripped Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris for the condition of San Francisco. It came after a 17-year-old gunman shot San Francisco 49ers wideout Ricky Pearsall in the chest during a robbery attempt.

More On Retired Sportscaster Michele Tafoya Moving On To Politics

Nov 25, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; NBC Sports commentator Michele Tafoya (Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports)
Michele Tafoya, the former sideline reporter for “Sunday Night Football” turned conservative commentator, is getting political. Since leaving sports media, Tafoya has hosted her own podcast and increasingly appeared on conservative shows.

Tafoya had been considering a bid for months after national Republicans encouraged her to run.

“For too long, hardworking people have been ripped off by criminals, corporations, and career politicians, and the people doing everything right are the ones paying the biggest price,” Tafoya said in a video posted to X announcing her campaign. “Well, I’m not going to stay on the sidelines any longer.”

She will now join a large group of GOP candidates running for the Republican nomination. Michele Tafoya’s name recognition will likely help her in a primary contest. The vocal supporter of President Donald Trump has already made waves in the past few years.

Tafoya has already publicly criticized Gov. Tim Walz for the fraud in public programs that has occurred under his watch.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.