Former NBA player Royce White is making waves with his unconventional entry into Minnesota politics. The one-time first round draft pick recently took the court at the Big 3 basketball tournament with "Free Trump" written on his head, a bold statement aligning with his "America First" Republican platform.
White's basketball career was derailed by his struggles with anxiety, particularly a fear of flying. He transitioned to politics in 2022 with an unsuccessful run for U.S. House before setting his sights on the Senate race in Minnesota.
Despite being an outsider candidate with modest funding of $10,000 raised so far, White has gained the endorsement of the state Republican party as he mounts a challenge against incumbent Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and her $5.7 million war chest.
At the state GOP convention in May, White criticized the political establishment's high financial barriers to entry. "The reality is we need people now more than ever that can't be bought," he stated.
The 31-year-old acknowledged his personal debt issues but deflected questions about past legal troubles, instead drawing comparisons to Donald Trump's own controversies as a non-traditional candidate.
Whether White's anti-establishment, pro-Trump message can resonate enough with Minnesota voters to pull off an upset remains to be seen. But the former athlete has certainly grabbed attention with his outspoken comments and campaign antics.
Senate Ballot Box Scores
Comments