Former NBA star Royce White is running for the U.S. Senate, but a judge’s ruling on his credible history has led to calls for him to quit

Royce White is currently facing intense pressure to drop his bid for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota after a judge issued a ruling regarding a history of abuse involving his family. The former Iowa State basketball star, who is running for office as a conservative, has been urged by Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash to exit the race immediately.

Plechash stated, “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.” This situation stems from a February ruling by Hennepin County Judge Kristen Marttila, who found that White abused his wife and teenage son. The court order, which White is currently appealing, prohibits him from contacting his ex-wife for 50 years and his teenage son for two years.

According to Daily Mail, in her written order, Judge Marttila noted that White’s ex-wife is “utterly at a loss for how else to gain peace from him.” The testimony provided during the proceedings was described by the judge as “entirely credible.” This included a disturbing allegation that White grabbed his son’s neck during a basketball practice and threw him into a ball rack.

A 50-year restraining order is a pretty clear signal to exit

White has denied these allegations, but the documentation paints a difficult picture for his political aspirations. His ex-wife stated in a December filing that the abuse had been escalating, leaving her fearful for the safety of herself and their children. She detailed incidents where White allegedly slapped her, pulled her hair, and left her with visible bruises.

This marks the third time his ex-wife has obtained a protective order against him and the first time such an order has been issued for his teenage son. This situation reflects a troubling trend of leadership figures facing domestic violence, similar to a former Virginia Lt. Gov. who killed his wife before himself. While White maintains his innocence, the legal fallout has cast a shadow over his primary campaign, where he is running against former sideline reporter Michele Tafoya and ex-Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze.

Before his transition into politics, White was a well-known name in the basketball world. As a high school senior in 2009, he was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball. His path to the professional leagues was not straightforward. Early in his career, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and theft after taking $100 worth of clothes and allegedly pushing a security officer at a mall.

Despite these early setbacks, he eventually transferred to Iowa State, where his skills as a point-forward made him one of the most dynamic players in the country. His physical profile was impressive, as he measured 6’8″ at the 2012 NBA Draft Combine and boasted 11.5-inch hands. The Houston Rockets selected White with the 16th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but his tenure in the league was short-lived and marked by conflict.

White was open about his anxiety disorder and a severe fear of flying, which led to a contentious agreement with the Rockets regarding travel by bus. His refusal to report to the team’s G-League affiliate in 2012 eventually led to a suspension without pay. Long-time NBA executive Daryl Morey, who was responsible for drafting him, later described White as “the worst first-round pick ever.”

After stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings, White appeared in only three NBA games and failed to record a single point. Following his departure from the NBA, White played professionally in Canada, where he was named the 2017 NBL Canada regular season MVP and led the London Lightning to a championship. However, his time in Canada also saw controversy, including an 11-game suspension during the 2018 playoffs for a verbal altercation with an official and the league’s deputy commissioner.

He later joined Ice Cube’s Big3 league, where his presence was often marked by volatility, such as being ejected from his first game after a fight with Josh Smith. Throughout his political career, White has faced recurring accusations of misogyny, homophobia, and anti-Semitism. He has made his goal of drawing more voters of color to the Republican party a central part of his platform, yet his own rhetoric continues to create friction.

During an appearance with podcaster Steve Bannon, White remarked, “Look, let’s just be frank. Women have become too mouthy. As the black man in the room, I’ll say that.”