Michele Tafoya, who worked her final game for NBC on the sidelines of Sunday’s Super Bowl Lvi, is leaving sports journalism altogether to join the campaign of Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Kendall Qualls.

Qualls said Monday that Tafoya has come aboard as co-chairman. Qualls is one of seven GOP candidates running against incumbent Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, a Democrat.

“I have been fortunate to get to know Michele on a deeper level and appreciate her taking time from her busy schedule to help our campaign lead Minnesota in the right direction,” Qualls said. “I’m confident with her reach we’ll be able to connect with people across the state to ensure that all Minnesotans feel as if their needs are being heard.”

As part of her new role, Tafoya told The Atlantic that she would appear on shows that discuss politics, cultural and social issues, as well as attend Cpac later this month,...