Former NBA player turned right-wing media personality Royce White has won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, besting political newcomer and establishment favorite Joe Fraser.
With all 87 counties reporting late Tuesday, White had 37% of the vote versus Fraser’s 29%.
White is now the Republican nominee and will face third-term Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the Nov. 5 general election.
In an election night interview with the Pioneer Press, White, 33, said he hoped Republicans would put the contested primary behind them and pivot toward the general election with Klobuchar, who is seeking her fourth term.
“She has survived three election cycles with, with very little, let’s say with, with no brash opponents, with no opponents that bring the cultural background and the ability to articulate the issues at a fundamental level the way that I do,” he said.
Bring it on commies… The People Are Coming! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cnpdSuBx1a
— Royce White 🇺🇸 (@Highway_30) August 14, 2024
Party endorsement
White won the Minnesota Republican Party’s endorsement at the May state party convention in a move that surprised some political observers and dismayed traditional establishment Republicans. His introduction to the convention was an endorsement video from former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, whom White called a “dear friend.”
White, a one-time basketball star who got his start in Minnesota and made a name for himself advocating for mental health reforms in the NBA, emerged in recent years as a populist Republican with ties to the conspiracy right.
Fraser had initially said he would not run against the endorsed candidate but changed his mind after the GOP’s convention where White won the party’s backing.
Fraser, who has never run for office before, served 26 years in the U.S. Navy as an intelligence specialist and commissioned intelligence officer and now works in banking. He was endorsed by Republicans including former Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Minnesota U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Rudy Boschwitz.
“While I am disappointed that tonight’s results did not go our way, I am also saddened that our ability to compete in the general election and bring about real change to our state has been thwarted by our party’s embrace of an unelectable candidate,” Fraser said in a statement Tuesday night.
Fraser and White weren’t the only candidates vying for the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary. John Berman, Patrick D. Munro, Christopher Seymore Sr., Raymond D. Petersen, Alycia R. Gruenhagen and Loner Blue also appeared on the ballot.
Klobuchar wins primary
Klobuchar faced a minimal challenge in the Democratic primary. The Associated Press named her the winner soon after polls closed.
Thanks to everyone who turned out to vote for me in the Minnesota primary today. I’m honored to have your support. https://t.co/sylU9VoxuX
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) August 14, 2024
Steve Carlson, Ahmad R. Hassan, George H. Kalberer and perennial candidate Ole Savior also appeared on the Democratic ballot.
White faces a rough road ahead in the general election. Klobuchar, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, comfortably won reelection in 2012 and 2018. She also enjoys a significant cash advantage over her GOP challenger.
Klobuchar’s campaign had nearly $6.4 million at the end of June, versus White’s more than $47,600 and Fraser’s $17,400.
No Republican has won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006.
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin called GOP nominee White a “far-right extremist.”
“While Royce White’s language and policies seek to divide Minnesotans, Senator Amy Klobuchar is focused on bringing people together to get things done,” he said in a statement issued late Tuesday.
4th Congressional District
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, who has represented the Fourth Congressional District since 2001, faced no challengers in the Democratic primary.
Republican May Lor Xiong, who challenged McCollum in 2022 as a Democrat, faced off with Gene Rechtzigel in the GOP primary. As of late Tuesday, Xiong had 63% of the vote with all but a few precincts reporting.
