Minnesota Senate Republican candidate Royce White, who is accused of misusing campaign funds, has won the GOP primary.
Royce, a former NBA player who is closely aligned with Steve Bannon and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, prevailed in the crowded GOP primary field in Tuesday’s contest, receiving 38% of the vote.
In June, the Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against White alleging that he misappropriated more than $157,000 from his failed House campaign in 2022 to pay for personal expenses.
The illegal expenses included $1,200 spent at a Florida strip club and to make payments for fitness clubs, cosmetics, clothing, entertainment among others.
White also made headlines for controversial comments targeting women, the LGBTQ and Jewish communities.
While speaking to Bannon on his podcast last year, White said: “Look, let’s just be frank. Women have become too mouthy. As the Black man in the room, I’ll say that.”
He also referred to several women, including politicians and journalists, as “cunt,” used anti-gay slurs to refer to other men and spread the anti-Semitic theory that Jewish elites secretly run the country.
White was also criticised for saying the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) deserved to be attacked in 2022. He also promoted conspiracy theories about the origins of the coronavirus and the 2020 election.
Earlier this year, White was ridiculed online after posting a map of “out of control” crime in Minneapolis. It was actually a map of the city’s public water fountains.
White deleted the post after he was called out, but later referred to the journalist who pointed out his mistake as a “cuck.”
White will face incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar who is seeking a fourth term in office. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as ‘solid Democratic.’
