MAGA Senate candidate ruled a domestic abuser by judge — and cut off from his family

Minnesota Republican Senate candidate Royce White was found liable by a judge for abusing his ex-wife and their son and ordered to have no contact with them.

According to The Minnesota Star Tribune, "Judge Kristen Marttila issued the order in February and wrote that White’s ex-wife — who divorced him in 2015 and lived with him from 2022 until August of last year — is 'utterly at a loss for how else to gain peace from him.' This is the third order for protection that White’s ex-wife has obtained against him, but the first time he has been ordered to stay away from his son. They also share a daughter together, who he is allowed to continue seeing."

The no-contact order is in effect for two years, and White, a former basketball star turned Republican political personality, could face criminal sanctions if he violates it.

"The petition was filed last December by White’s ex-wife and alleged that he had routinely abused her and their son and that it 'has been escalating towards me and our children, making me scared for all of our safety,'" said the report. "She said White threatened her in public, hit her in private and traumatized their children with his behavior. Marttila found that several of the allegations were true, including incidents where White abused his son at high school basketball practice."

White also ran, and received the Senate nomination, in 2024, where he challenged Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar. That campaign was marred with a number of bizarre controversies, including an incident in which he posted a map of Minneapolis drinking fountains under the mistaken belief it was a map of crime hot spots.

On the Democratic side in this cycle, Sen. Tina Smith is not seeking re-election, and the nomination has largely been a contest between Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig.