Royce White vows to 'unseat' Amy Klobuchar after winning GOP Sen primary in Minnesota

MINNESOTA: Royce White, the former NBA player who has become a prominent MAGA political figure, has secured the GOP nomination for Minnesota’s Senate seat.

With a decisive victory in the Republican primary, White is now poised to bring a high-stakes "battle to unseat" Democratic incumbent Sen Amy Klobuchar.

Royce White thanks Minnesotans for the primary victory

Royce White, who has dramatically shifted from sports to far-right politics, secured over 75% of the votes counted on Tuesday night, August 13, leading with 38% compared to Joe Fraser's 29%, according to The New York Times.

“I thank every Minnesotan who voted in tonight’s primary election,” White declared on X, formerly Twitter, after his win was confirmed. “I’m deeply honored to have your support during this critical time in our nation’s history."

White, who has transitioned from a career focused on mental health in sports and his outspoken stance during the Black Lives Matter protests following the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis to becoming a staunch supporter of Trump’s populism, is now setting his sights on challenging Democratic incumbent Sen Amy Klobuchar.

“For many years, Republicans have talked about expanding our tent and focusing on the Twin Cities Metro,” White stated.

“I am committed to growing the base, bringing disenfranchised Democrats into the tent, and unifying all conservatives in Minnesota. By doing this, we will deliver a victory for President Trump this November. Together we will bring the battle to unseat Amy Klobuchar,” he added.

University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs characterizes White’s primary win as a “shocking example” of the impact of low voter turnout.

“Royce is clearly unprepared to be a US senator and a candidate,” Jacobs warned. “His record in the past is shameful and will be easy pickings for Amy Klobuchar.”

Royce White’s 2022 defeat to Davis followed by overdue child support claims

Tuesday’s victory represents a dramatic turnaround from his 2022 campaign, during which Royce White lost the Republican primary for Rep Ilhan Omar’s 5th Congressional District to Cicely Davis.

Following that loss, White faced scrutiny over a $1,200 expenditure at the Miami strip club 'Gold Rush Cabaret,' which prompted the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) to file a complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

“This takes us well outside the realm of FEC fines,” said campaign finance expert Brendan Fischer. “This looks a lot like the kind of thing that people go to jail for.”

White defended the expense, asserting it was linked to a campaign podcast and claiming he reimbursed the campaign for “non-authorized expenses.”

He also contends with significant legal and financial issues, including over $100,000 in overdue child support payments, which he disputes, insisting “I’m current on child support payments,” per Daily Beast.

Further, White recently proclaimed himself “the new gold standard of American bad**s, smash-mouth, nationalist populism.”

However, a video of him referring to women as “mouthy” has sparked significant backlash online. “Well look, let's just be frank, women have become too mouthy. As the black man in the room, I'll say that," he stated.

He also aligns himself with a roster of far-right figures, including conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and former Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon. 

Netizens roast Royce White’s Senate primary win

Royce White's unexpected victory in the GOP Senate primary has ignited a storm of social media reactions, ranging from biting sarcasm to outright disdain.

"He's going to lose, but given that he spent $1200 at a Miami strip club celebrating his defeat in the 2022 primary, he's probably going to spend even more celebrating his primary win. Donate to give lapdances for Royce!" tweeted a social media user.

"So it's this guy vs Klobuchar??" said a second.

"What an embarrassment to the GOP," added another.

"Is this the guy that 'dines' in strip clubs?" commented a user. "This guy is so obnoxious," stated a user.

"Whoa… Minnesota. Your mistake. Your loss. You’ll have to deal with that pig," chimed another.

"Royce White being on the ballot removes whatever sliver of a chance Trump had of winning Minnesota," read a tweet.

"Well if Trump drops out or Vance gets kicked off the ticket this Royce White guy already has all the talking points and seems super charming," mocked a user.

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