(The Center Square) -Longtime former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya secured the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, multiple media organizations reported less than an hour after the polls closed. With 15% of the vote counted, Tafoya held 50.6% as of 8:50 p.m. Central Time. Tafoya leads Flanagan with more than $1.3 million in cash on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission. Tafoya has received $10,000 from the Jobs Opportunity Now PAC and $2,500 from the Salem Media Group PAC. Flanagan received $2,500 from the Dirt Road Democrats PAC; $4,000 from Shannon Finley, a lobbyist at Capitol Counsel LLC; and $3,500 from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in California.