MINNEAPOLIS — In a highly anticipated election, Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar appeared to be the frontrunner for a fourth term as she faced off against anti-establishment Republican candidate Royce White, a former NBA player, in what was considered the most significant electoral contest in Minnesota.
Klobuchar entered the race with an impressive track record of past victories and a notable financial edge. She garnered 58% of the vote in 2006, 65% in 2012, and 60% in 2018. By the end of September, her campaign had raised nearly $21 million, significantly outpacing her opponent. In contrast, White managed to raise just under $449,000. White expressed surprise at receiving the endorsement from the state Republican Party in May, later securing a plurality in the August primary against a more traditional Republican candidate, Navy veteran Joe Fraser.
Despite his strong support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, White did not receive an endorsement from the former president, and many high-profile Minnesota Republicans kept their distance from his campaign. Nonetheless, his bid was backed by Trump strategist Steve Bannon and he has connections with controversial figures such as Alex Jones, the founder of Infowars.
White’s professional basketball career ended prematurely due to mental health challenges, particularly his aversion to flying. He runs a podcast entitled “Please, Call Me Crazy.” Critics have often condemned White for his remarks on social media platforms, which they label as misogynistic, homophobic, and antisemitic. For instance, during an interview with Bannon, he made a contentious remark about women being “too mouthy.”
Securing a win in this election would allow Klobuchar to set the record for the highest number of consecutive victories by a Democratic senator since Minnesota started electing its senators directly in 1918. Currently, she is tied with Henrik Shipstead, who served four terms across two different party affiliations. The only two Minnesota senators to achieve five terms were Republican Knute Nelson and Democrat Hubert Humphrey, although their terms were not consecutive.
Klobuchar previously announced her presidential campaign in 2019 amid a snowstorm and began her political career as the chief prosecutor in Minnesota’s largest county before winning her Senate seat in 2006.
As the chair of the influential Senate Rules Committee, she examined the security breakdowns related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Additionally, her role on the Judiciary Committee garnered attention during her pointed questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
Klobuchar’s family background includes a significant lineage, as her father, Jim Klobuchar, was a prominent journalist in Minneapolis who passed away in 2022, while her mother, Rose Klobuchar, worked as a schoolteacher and died in 2010. Her grandfather worked in the iron mines, showcasing a humble roots story that resonates with many constituents.