Royce White, a former professional basketball player who played for the Sacramento Kings in 2014, has secured victory in the Minnesota Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. This win sets him up to face off against three-term incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar in the upcoming general election. White, who has identified himself as a ‘MAGA extremist,’ garnered significant support from figures within former President Trump’s circle, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. He also received backing from the state GOP.
His victory is seen as a challenge to the established Minnesota Republican party. Despite facing a well-funded opponent in Klobuchar, White managed to outmaneuver his top rival, retired Navy officer Joe Fraser, who had endorsements from two former GOP senators and a former governor.
While White’s campaign fundraising efforts, totaling just over $125,000 in individual contributions, pale in comparison to Klobuchar’s impressive $12 million, he enters the general election with nearly $53,000 in cash on hand. However, Klobuchar’s war chest is significantly larger, as she started the race with $6.5 million in cash reserves.
Despite his underdog status, White’s victory reflects a shift within the Minnesota GOP, where he has garnered support from the party’s base. The upcoming election will test whether he can maintain this momentum and appeal to a broader electorate in a state that has historically leaned Democratic in recent years.
Klobuchar, a moderate Democrat, has a strong track record in the state, having won re-election twice after her initial victory in 2006. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to represent Minnesota in the Senate.
The race is expected to be closely watched, as it offers insights into the current political landscape in Minnesota and the national trends influencing the 2024 election cycle.
