Former NBC Sports sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has been defeated in her bid for a Minnesota Senate seat, according to results reported Wednesday. Meanwhile, former NFL kicker Jay Feely was trailing in his own political race as vote counting continued.
Tafoya, who spent over a decade covering NFL games for NBC, ran as a Republican candidate in the 2026 Minnesota Senate election. Feely, a 14-year NFL veteran who played for teams including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals, also sought office in the same election cycle.
The results mark a notable moment for sports figures transitioning into politics. Tafoya's high-profile broadcasting career made her campaign one of the most watched among athlete-turned-candidates this cycle.
