The head of the Minnesota Republican Party is calling on U.S. Senate candidate Royce White to suspend his campaign over allegations of domestic abuse.
In February, a Hennepin County judge ordered White to stay away from his ex-wife and their son.
Judge Kristen Marttila found that White's ex-wife "is plainly in fear of him" after he allegedly appeared at her workplace unexpectedly and shoved their teenage son into a metal basketball rack. MPR News learned of the allegations from an April 16 filing with the Minnesota Court of Appeals in which White challenges the judge’s order.
In a statement, Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash says that the party can't force anyone out of the races, but candidates "must demonstrate sound judgment, behavioral discipline, and respect for the law. These reports raise serious questions about all three.”
“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 added.
On the social media site X, White called Plechash a "fruitcake" and "clown," writing "The only person in the Minnesota Republican Party who should step aside is you."
White is seeking the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that Sen. Tina Smith is vacating at the end of her term. White was the party’s nominee in 2024 and lost to Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar by a wide margin.
