Tafoya Wins GOP Senate Nomination in Minnesota Primary

Michele Tafoya, a former television sports reporter, has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota's primary election, CBS News projects.

She will face Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who won the Democratic nomination, in the November general election.

Tafoya announced her candidacy in January, saying at the time that Minnesota was "in a crisis." Her campaign website emphasizes stopping fraud, supporting law enforcement, cutting "costs and taxes" for the middle class, and bringing back "courage and common sense."

"Minnesotans are beaten down by this fraud," Tafoya said Monday night after CBS News projected her win. "Nine billion dollars was stolen from all of us taxpayers. We're seeing test scores go down while crime goes up; we are seeing businesses flee and our kids are unable to afford to stay. This needs to change."

Speaking as she voted Tuesday afternoon, Tafoya said, "I'm here to represent all Minnesotans. We're going to do that; we're going to fight for them."

Tafoya defeated a large Republican field that included Adam Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL and Marine who was endorsed by the Republican Party of Minnesota at its state convention in Duluth in May.

No Republican has been elected to the U.S. Senate from Minnesota since Norm Coleman in 2002, underscoring the challenge Tafoya faces heading into the fall campaign against Flanagan.