Conservative populist and former NBA player Royce White emerged victorious in Minnesota’s Republican primary on Tuesday, defeating Navy veteran Joe Fraser to secure the party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate.
White will now face off against incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in the upcoming November election.
Royce White, who was a first-round draft pick by the Houston Rockets in 2012, garnered attention early in his professional basketball career after revealing his struggles with mental health and expressing concerns about flying to away games.
This disclosure led to a contentious relationship with the Rockets, and despite being a promising talent, White never suited up for the team. His NBA career saw brief stints, including a few games with the Sacramento Kings in 2013, before he transitioned to playing basketball overseas.
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Now 33, White has since become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, particularly in sports. His journey has also included a foray into mixed martial arts, though his professional career in that arena was short-lived, culminating in a loss in his only fight in 2021.
White’s political aspirations have been marked by his controversial presence on social media, where he has made comments that have drawn criticism for being derogatory.
Despite this, White has positioned himself as a candidate who can expand the Republican Party’s appeal, particularly among voters of color in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region and others who are dissatisfied with the political establishment.
White previously ran for a U.S. House seat in 2022 but was unsuccessful in the GOP primary. His current bid for the Senate is seen as an uphill battle, as he is expected to be a significant underdog against Klobuchar, who has held her Senate seat since 2007 and is a well-established figure in Minnesota politics.
