Royce White, the conservative firebrand and former Iowa State basketball star, is facing mounting pressure to abandon his US Senate run in Minnesota after a judge ruled he abused his wife and teenage son. White has denied the allegations and is appealing the order, which forbids him from contacting his ex-wife for 50 years and his teenage son for two.
GOP Chair Calls for Suspension
Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash released a statement urging White to suspend his campaign immediately. 'Mr. White should immediately suspend his campaign, address the personal and legal matters before him, and stop putting Republican voters and activists in the position of defending the indefensible,' Plechash said.
White is currently competing in a GOP primary against former sideline reporter Michele Tafoya and ex-Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze. His campaign is now in jeopardy after Hennepin County Judge Kristen Marttila issued an order in February, writing that White's ex-wife is 'utterly at a loss for how else to gain peace from him.'
History of Allegations
This marks the third time White's ex-wife has obtained a protective order against him, and the first time his son has, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The couple also shares a daughter, whom White is allowed to continue seeing.
In her request for the order, White's ex-wife wrote in December that he regularly abused her and their son. '[The abuse] has been escalating towards me and our children, making me scared for all of our safety,' she stated. She alleged that White threatened her in public, grabbed her, slapped her, pulled her hair, and left her with bruises.
Judge Marttila found the testimony 'entirely credible,' including an allegation that White grabbed his son's neck and threw him into a ball rack during basketball practice.
Controversial Statements and Past
White has also faced accusations of misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Semitism during his brief political career. His failed US Senate bid in 2024 did not deter him from running again this year.
White was named Minnesota's 'Mr. Basketball' as a high school senior in 2009. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Minnesota but quickly dropped out after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct and theft for stealing $100 worth of clothes and allegedly pushing a mall security officer. He then transferred to Iowa State, where he became a standout player.
NBA Career Derailed by Fear of Flying
White was selected by the Houston Rockets with the 16th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. However, his intense fear of flying disrupted his career. The Rockets agreed to let him travel by bus, but he missed practices and refused a G-League assignment. Long-time NBA executive Daryl Morey, who drafted White, called him 'the worst first-round pick ever.' White played only three NBA games, scoring zero points.
Since then, he has played professionally in Canada and Ice Cube's Big3 league, where he recently appeared with Trump's name on his head. He has also flirted with an MMA career.
Focus on Conservative Politics
White's primary focus has become conservative politics and attracting more voters of color to the Republican party. However, his past statements have been an obstacle. He once told podcaster Steve Bannon, 'Women have become too mouthy. As the black man in the room, I'll say that.'
