Why Does Minnesota Keep Electing Entertainers?

Hollywood Reporter: “When Michele Tafoya became the Republican nominee for Senate from Minnesota Tuesday night, the longtime Sunday Night Football reporter made a resounding entrance onto the political stage. Tafoya collected more than twice as many votes as her nearest opponent, a former Navy SEAL…”

“But Tafoya also sent a different signal with her win: the tradition of television entertainers diving into Minnesota politics is alive and well.”

“Former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura did it, winning an election for governor in 1998 in a shocking upset. Comedian and SNL veteran Al Franken did it, winning an election for senator in 2008 in a shocking drama (a recount and a few hundred votes). A pair of local TV fixtures, news anchor Rod Grams and entrepreneur and TV-commercial mainstay Rudy Boschwitz, did it, each serving as senators in the last few decades of the 20th century.”

“And now Tafoya is looking to do it too.”