Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Michele Tafoya, a former NFL reporter, launched her campaign as a Republican for Senate representing Minnesota Wednesday to replace the retiring Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat.

"For years, I covered the biggest football games in America. I walked the sidelines when the pressure was mounting and the stakes were the highest. That job taught me about more than football," Tafoya said in an ad posted on X.

"It taught me about how leadership really works. When leaders are prepared and accountable teams succeed," she said. "When they aren't, people pay the price."

Tafoya was a Sunday Night Football sideline reporter for NBC until 2022. She filed paperwork on Tuesday to run for the seat.

Related