Former NBA player Royce White won Minnesota’s GOP Senate primary Tuesday night and will face Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in November’s election.

White defeated Navy veteran Joe Fraser in the Republican primary.

“I thank every Minnesotan who voted in tonight’s primary election. I’m deeply honored to have your support during this critical time in our nation’s history,” White said.

“For many years, Republicans have talked about expanding our tent and focusing on the Twin Cities Metro. 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. Again, thank you Minnesota. My heart is warmed by your patriotism and support,” he added.

Per ESPN:

White was a first-round pick by the Houston Rockets in 2012 but never played for the team after disclosing mental health issues and saying he did not want to fly to road games with the team. He signed multiple 10-day contacts with the Sacramento Kings in 2013, playing in three games, but was eventually let go before playing overseas for several years.

The 33-year-old White, who was an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness in sports, also considered a future in mixed martial arts but lost his only professional fight in 2021.

“Bring it on commies… The People Are Coming!” White said.

White won the primary with 38 percent of the vote, while Fraser tallied 29 percent.

CBS News reports:

White says he can steer younger voters and voters of color to the GOP. On his campaign website, he says he will be a leader who won’t “sell out.”

“We face an enemy that intends to bastardize our citizenship through an idea called globalism. We must begin to understand how the global affects the local and take a stand for God, Family, and Country,” White said. “I have fought against the corporate community responsible for this globalist agenda. Send me to Washington so I can continue that fight on the Senate floor in the swamp.”

His opponent told WCCO’s Esme Murphy in July that White is far from a good fit for the party.

“It just became evident that (White) is not somebody that I view embodies the spirit of the Republican Party,” Fraser said. “This is a man who in his own Twitter feed had said that he voted for Joe Biden four years ago and then this last week denied that.”

Democratic strategist Abou Amara told Murphy in June that White “presents deeper problems for the Republican ticket,” and holds political views that most Minnesotans “would reject.”

 

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