Conservative U.S. Senate nominee and former NBA player Royce White defeated Navy veteran Joe Fraser in Minnesotaโs primary election for the Republican nomination on Tuesday and will challenge Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.
Primary Election Results
Royce White, a former Sacramento Kings forward, received 38% of the votes compared to Fraser’s 29%, with more than three-quarters of the votes counted by Tuesday night, according to The New York Times via the Associated Press.
โI thank every Minnesotan who voted in tonightโs primary election,โ White wrote on X. โIโm deeply honored to have your support during this critical time in our nationโs history. For many years, Republicans have talked about expanding our tent and focusing on the Twin Cities Metro.”
I thank every Minnesotan who voted in tonightโs primary election. Iโm deeply honored to have your support during this critical time in our nationโs history.
For many years, Republicans have talked about expanding our tent and focusing on the Twin Cities Metro. I am committed toโฆ
— Royce White ๐บ๐ธ (@Highway_30)
White expressed his commitment to growing the base, bringing disenfranchised Democrats into the fold, and unifying all conservatives in Minnesota. He believes this strategy will help deliver a victory for President Trump this November and aims to unseat Amy Klobuchar.
White’s Basketball Career
At 33 years old, Royce White was a first-round pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2012 NBA draft. Standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 260 pounds, he played power forward out of Iowa State but never suited up for Houston due to mental health issues that prevented him from flying with the team.
During his rookie season, White disclosed his Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is mainly triggered by a fear of flying. He signed multiple short-term contracts with Sacramento Kings in 2013 but only played three games before being released and eventually playing overseas for several years.
Fans think it would be interesting if he pursued mixed martial arts again despite his previous loss.
White also had stints with Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Reno Bighorns of the NBA G League. From 2016 to 2018, he played for London Lightning of NBL Canada where he won a championship and an MVP award.
Political Aspirations
As an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness in sports, White has always been vocal about important issues. After considering mixed martial arts as a career optionโlosing his only professional fight in 2021โhe turned towards politics.
In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully in the GOP primary for a U.S. House seat but now believes that as a Black candidate he can broaden his partyโs appeal among voters of color in Minneapolis-St.Paul area.
Despite facing long odds against Klobuchar who has been serving since 2007 and won her last general election by a wide margin (24 percentage points), White remains determined to bring change
