Minnesota
Support from DC for Michele Tafoya’s Senate run splits Minnesota GOP
The former sportscaster is expected to struggle to win the endorsement over her GOP rivals.
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A dream candidate for the national Republican Party, former sportscaster Michele Tafoya is finding support from Washington to be a double-edged sword as she seeks to win retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s seat.
Tafoya, 61, is a skilled and media-savvy communicator whose name recognition and political smarts prompted the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to call her “the only candidate with the common-sense leadership Minnesotans are desperately craving.”
Tafoya gets endorsement from Sen. Tim Scott
The endorsement by NRSC Chairman Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., made just after Tafoya announced her candidacy in January, has rankled some Minnesota Republicans.
Why? Because there were other Republicans vying for Smith’s seat, including Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze, former NBA player Royce White and Navy veteran Tom Weiler.
Another GOP candidate, former Minnesota Republican Party candidate David Hann, was also in the race at that time but dropped out last month. And Mark York, a seven-generation farmer from Lake Wilson is also running.
Yet the national Republican Party, which is battling to prevent a Democratic takeover of the U.S. Senate in November’s midterm election, placed its bet on Tafoya.
That has disgruntled some of the 2,500 Republican delegates who will vote to endorse the GOP Senate candidates in Duluth at the end of the month.
“You have people who would see (support from the national party) as a plus, and there also are people who would see it as meddling from Washington,” said Frank Long, a delegate and longtime party activist from Watertown Township who supports Schwarze.
Long said the state’s Republicans “are not a monolithic organization.” He said some delegates are concerned about Tafoya’s support for abortion – which she says now is limited to procedures in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Tafoya has also expressed support for “red flag” laws — which allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons to individuals a court has assessed might be a danger to themselves or others — that are opposed by many gun-rights delegates.
Remarks Tafoya made about President Donald Trump in 2022 are another turnoff for some GOP delegates. She wrote an open letter to Trump in a now deleted post on Substack that said she hoped he would not run again, and even as she praised his accomplishments, she called his politics “messy.”
While Tafoya may not be the first choice of some delegates, “she has the right to run,” Long said.
Tafoya has since aligned herself closely with Trump’s platform and embroiled herself in the culture wars with her fierce opposition to transgender women in female sports.
But if she makes it to the general election, running against either Rep. Angie Craig, D-2nd District, or Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who are locked in battle for the Democratic nomination, Tafoya will likely revert to the more moderate candidate she once considered herself to be.
“I think Minnesota is starving for a moderate Republican who doesn’t tell them that they’re going to ban abortion who is the antithesis of the Tim Walz regime,” Tafoya told WDAY Radio when Smith announced her retirement early last year.
After the February 2022 Super Bowl, Tafoya quit her broadcasting career, launched a political podcast and spent several years weighing whether to run for political office. She met with the NRSC in December and declared her candidacy about a month later.
Weiler, who ran unsuccessfully for the 3rd Congressional District seat in 2022, said he contacted the NRSC last fall seeking support. But he said the people he spoke with seemed uninterested in him because he was “not rich or famous.”
He said he was surprised and disappointed that the NRSC backed Tafoya.
“It was clearly a decision made in Washington, D.C., without any input from Minnesotans,” Weiler said.
Tafoya raised more than $2 million in the two months after she announced her candidacy, with the help of the national GOP. That’s more money than all of her GOP rivals combined.
According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, the NRSC gave Tafoya’s campaign $62,000 and Senate Republican Leader John Thune’s leadership political action committee has held joint fundraisers with Tafoya’s campaign.
The national party’s endorsement also brings help in recruiting campaign staff and campaign consulting, a must-have for a candidate who has never before run for political office.
Minnesota is ‘a grass-roots state’
Tim Lindberg, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota-Morris, said the national Republican Party had to step into the race for Smith’s seat “to some extent because the state party has been in disarray.”
Shut out of holding a statewide seat for 20 years, the state party is low on cash and divided between the establishment Republicans, like Tafoya, and more conservative MAGA activists.
So, while Tafoya’s campaign has had a boost from the NRSC and other GOP national organizations it is not guaranteed that she will win the votes of 60% of the GOP delegates needed to win an endorsement.
Tafoya’s campaign did not respond to requests for an interview and information. But the former sportscaster has said she will continue to run for the U.S. Senate and participate in the Aug. 11 primary even without an endorsement.
Historically, not all of Minnesota’s GOP candidates have abided by the endorsement. But the state’s political history also shows that Republican voters don’t reward non-endorsed candidates very often, especially in statewide elections, when the primary comes around.
Schwarze, another rival for the GOP endorsement, said Republicans “don’t reward people who take shortcuts.”
He called Tafoya a “D.C. out-of -the -box candidate” and is confident he will earn the endorsement, even if it takes several rounds of balloting.
“Minnesotans are not for sale,” Schwarze said. “This is a grass-roots state.”
The former Navy SEAL speaks in military terms about the U.S. Senate race.
“I’ve been preparing for this campaign run as if it were a ‘no-fail’ mission,” he said. After Tafoya, Schwarze, who reported raising more than $1 million as of March 31, has amassed the largest campaign chest among the GOP Senate candidates. Yet Democrats Craig and Flanagan have much larger war chests than Tafoya and Schwarze.
Both Schwarze and White — who won the GOP endorsement to run against Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2024 — have vowed to abide by the endorsement and support the delegates’ candidate of choice.
“The mission is going to get a Republican U.S. Senator,” Schwarze said.
But Weiler has a different attitude. He said he would continue his campaign unless he’s convinced the delegates have chosen a candidate “who can win and be an effective senator for Minnesota.”
Tafoya is a high profile Minnesota senate candidate
Lindberg said Tafoya is well liked for her high profile in the world of sports.
She spent three decades covering the NBA, NFL, Olympics and college football. A Californian by birth, many Minnesotans got to know Tafoya when she worked as a sportscaster and reporter for sports radio KFAN in Minneapolis — covering the Vikings — the Midwest Sports Channel and WCCO-TV.
Lindberg said the NRSC is “banking” on her popularity and name recognition. But he said that strategy could “backfire” in an endorsement process that is dominated by party activists in both the Democratic and Republican state conventions.
“It’s not clear that the people at these conventions really care about electability,” he said.
Minnesota
Minnesota conviction review unit demise dashes hopes of some incarcerated people, their families
At a press conference at the state Capitol Tuesday, Mary Riley holds up a photo of her son, Adrian Riley, whose case was being looked at by the state’s conviction review unit before the unit shut down earlier this month. Riley and other families are calling for the full funding and reopening of the unit.
Cait Kelley | MPR News
CDC warns of rise in cyclosporiasis cases. Here’s what to know.
Cyclosporiasis cases are rising across the U.S. as officials warn about contaminated produce and symptoms.
After an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal disease, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is speaking up.
The Minnesota senator is urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate funding and staffing for federal and state food safety programs to fight the current cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water and can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration, fatigue and other health issues. So far across the country, Klobuchar states, nearly 2,800 cases and 87 hospitalizations linked to this outbreak have been confirmed.
“I write to urge the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restore funding and staffing cuts made by the administration to federal and state food safety programs,” wrote Klobuchar. “As a currently uncontrolled large foodborne outbreak across the country continues, cuts to these programs are impacting our nation’s ability to prevent, detect, and contain foodborne illnesses and protect public health.”
Klobuchar said last year the administration made reporting of foodborne illnesses caused by the parasite cyclospora optional when it cut the CDC FoodNet program’s tracking of 10 pathogens, refering to the administration’s layoffs of federal public health employees.
“More recently,” the senator wrote, “the administration terminated Congressionally-appropriated Public Health Infrastructure Grants and Preventive Services Block Grants, which pay for state health department staff, laboratory capacity, diagnostics, tracking, and surveillance.”
What is cyclosporiasis?
The outbreak of cyclospora is putting health officials on alert as cases of the foodborne illness continue to be investigated across the United States. The illness is caused by the microscopic parasite, which can contaminate fresh produce and cause days, or even weeks, of severe gastrointestinal illness.
Unlike many foodborne illnesses, cyclospora is most often linked to fresh fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw, including leafy greens, herbs and berries. Investigators are working to determine the exact source of the current outbreak while tracing where contaminated food may have been distributed.
The CDC states on its website that local, state and federal public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases in more than one state.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a tiny, single-celled parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
It is a protozoan parasite that is so small, it can only be seen with a microscope. It can infect humans when they eat food or drink water that’s been contaminated with fecal matter.
How many cyclosporiasis cases in Minnesota?
Although several states have reported illnesses tied to the current outbreak, Minnesota is one of the states that was identified in 2019 and 2020 with an outbreak; however, there is not a significant number of outbreak-related cases as of now.
As of July 9, according to CDC data, Minnesota has recorded fewer than 10 cases. The largest outbreaks have been reported in states such as Michigan, New York, Texas, Louisiana and Connecticut.
The CDC website states as of July 13, 1,645 cases were reported in people who acquired cyclosporiasis in the U.S. There were 141 hospitalizations, with 34 states reporting. These people became sick after eating food in the U.S. and had not traveled outside the country within two weeks of becoming ill.
What foods can carry cyclosporiasis?
Fresh produce is the food most commonly linked to cyclosporiasis outbreaks. Foods associated with infections include bagged salad mixes, romaine lettuce, spinach, basil, cilantro, parsley, raspberries, blackberries, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and other fresh fruits and vegetables eaten raw. Contaminated water used to irrigate crops or wash produce is often the source of contamination, according to the FDA.
How to prepare food to avoid cyclosporiasis
The safest option is to cook leafy greens, cilantro, basil, green onions, snow peas and raspberries after carefully washing them under clean, running water. Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
If you must eat raw, fresh produce, the Centers for Disease Control suggests:
- Washing hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing food.
- Avoiding prewashed bagged lettuce or salad mixes. Instead, buy a whole head of lettuce. Throw away the outer two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water.
- Thoroughly washing herbs, such as cilantro and basil, under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
- Trimming the root end and removing the outer layer of green onions, which also are known as scallions. Once that’s done, wash them thoroughly under running water.
- Considering using frozen raspberries, rather than fresh, to reduce risk. The fruit’s bumpy surface makes raspberries especially difficult to clean. The parasite can hide in its tiny crevices. Freezing may reduce the risk, but the health department warns it does not guarantee the fruit won’t be contaminated.
- Rubbing the surface of snow peas while washing them under running water.
- Washing all fresh produce under clean running water, even if you plan to peel it. Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush and cut away any damaged or bruised areas before preparing and eating.
- Refrigerating cut, peeled or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible.
- Washing and sanitizing utensils and surfaces before and after handling food. Wash and sanitize display cases and refrigerators where fresh produce is stored along with cutting boards, surfaces and utensils used to prepare, serve or store fresh produce.
What caused previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks?
In the past, outbreaks in the United States and Canada have been tied to bagged salad mixes and kits, such as pre-cut lettuce blends with romaine, iceberg, red cabbage and carrots; fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas and green onions.
Among them were outbreaks identified:
- In 1997, when more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and Canada were sickened by contaminated raspberries imported from Guatemala.
- In 2005, when people got sick after eating basil imported from Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Costa Rica.
- In 2018, when lettuce served at McDonald’s restaurants was the source of a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis infections.
- In 2019, when more than 2,400 people in 37 states and the District of Columbia became ill after eating imported basil from Mexico.
Klobuchar leads efforts on food safety
Klobuchar has led other efforts to improve food safety, particularly by reducing harmful heavy metals in baby food and children’s products. In 2024, Klobuchar introduced the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024 to limit the levels of harmful heavy metals allowed in commercial food for infants and toddlers. In 2009, Klobuchar led the bipartisan Food Safety Rapid Response Act to help agencies detect and investigate food safety outbreaks, which was signed into law as part of the Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2012. Her legislation also established eight food safety centers of excellence, including the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence.
The Portland Trail Blazers tamed the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, 111-84, in NBA Summer League action. Center Yang Hansen made a heroic return after missing the last game due to an illness, while two-way guard Chris Youngblood turned in a much needed all-around performance to pace Portland. With the Blazers 0-2 in summer league, the team came out with a sense of urgency to put a complete game together and grab their first win in Las Vegas.
After a slow start against Minnesota, Yang really took command in the second half, imposing his will on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 18 points on 7-8 shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 turnovers (3 in the first half). He still has a ways to go, but when he gets into a comfortable rhythm, good things happen. Youngblood poured in 20 points on an efficient 5-11 shooting, to go with 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Donovan Williams led Minnesota with 21 points. Center Rocco Zikarsky finished with 18 and 6 rebounds. G league point guard Zyon Pullin scored 16 and dished out 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was the only Minnesota starter with a positive plus/minus.
Yang got off to both a good and bad start, recording 2 points, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, a rebound, and an assist in the first 3 minutes of the game. That sent him to the bench early. His center counterpart for the T-Wolves, 7’3”, 20-year-old Australian Rocco Zikarsky came out on fire. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, including two shots behind the arc. Youngblood provided a much needed good shooting start, while newly signed former lottery pick point guard Kira Lewis Jr. came off the bench with instant offense – 5 points in 4 minutes. The Blazers ended the first quarter up 24-17.
Youngblood, one of the Blazers on a two-way contract, has a reputation as a sharpshooter. However, coming into tonight’s game he was 1/13 from three through the first two games. He put together another solid run in the second quarter to lead Portland with 17 points, while helping double their lead at the half, 58-44.
The Blazers continued to dominate the third quarter. Yang punished Minnesota when they went to a smaller lineup. When Yang gets comfortable in the flow of a game, his confidence level rises. You can see the wheels turning in real time when he makes plays. He tries to parlay that into as much production as possible. He even impressed with his ability to bring the ball across half court a few times. He feasted in the paint and on the boards, registering 10 points in the third quarter alone. Blazers guard Quincy Olivari heated up with 9 points in the quarter.
The fourth quarter started with the Yang Hansen Show. He made a couple of impressive passes and drove the lane for a rim-rocking dunk! He was gassed after stuffing the stat sheet in the second half. He was subbed out with 6 minutes left and began pounding the Gatorade on the bench. After a tough start, Yang regrouped to play a very disciplined game.
The Blazers (1-2) get a couple days off, then return to action on Thursday when they take on the Denver Nuggets at 7 p.m. PDT. That game will be available Prime Video, BlazerVision and KUNP.
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