Young Republicans racist chat resign

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narcolepticnerd October 15, 2025 0 comments

Racist language allegedly used by leaders of Young Republican groups in leaked chats drew widespread condemnation from both sides of the political aisle and prompted the national youth organization to demand the resignations of those involved.

Key Details

  • Leaked Chats: Over seven months, Young Republican leaders exchanged more than 28,000 offensive messages containing racist, sexist, antisemitic, and violent language, including praise for Hitler, according to Politico.
  • National Response: The Young Republican National Federation stated on X that it is “appalled by the vile and inexcusable language revealed” and demanded immediate resignations from those involved.
  • Kansas Chapter Disbanded: The Kansas Young Republicans was disbanded by the state GOP after racist comments were linked to two members.
  • Individual Consequences:
    • New York State Assemblymember Mike Reilly fired Peter Giunta as chief of staff after he was accused of posting offensive messages, including “I love Hitler” and other violent remarks.
    • Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called for state Sen. Samuel Douglass to resign after being named in the chats.
  • Content of Chats: The chats allegedly included jokes about enslavement, disparaging comments about Jews, women, Black people, and other minorities, and discussions on raping enemies and “driving them to suicide.”
  • Apologies and Denials:
    • Some members apologized, while others claimed the messages may have been altered or taken out of context.
    • Giunta apologized but expressed concern that the logs may have been doctored.
    • Bobby Walker, current leader of NY State Young Republicans, also apologized but questioned the authenticity and intent behind the leaks.

Additional Web Search Details (October 2025)

  • Politico obtained and published thousands of leaked Telegram chat messages from Young Republican leaders in New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont. The chats contained racist, antisemitic, homophobic, sexist, and violent language, including praise for Hitler and slurs such as referring to Black people as “monkeys” and “the watermelon people.”
  • The group chat was titled “RESTOREYR WAR ROOM.”
  • The Young Republican National Federation called for immediate resignations of all leaders involved in the chats from their positions in state and local organizations.
  • The Kansas Young Republicans chapter was disbanded by the state GOP after racist comments were linked to two members.
  • New York State Assemblymember Mike Reilly fired Peter Giunta as chief of staff after Giunta was accused of posting offensive messages.
  • Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass faced calls to resign from his own party and Senate leadership after being named in the chats.
  • The scandal drew condemnation from both Republican and Democratic leaders, including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, and others.
  • The incident has been widely covered by outlets such as Politico, Axios, The Hill, CBS News, and Vermont Public.

Reactions

Who Was Asked to Step Down or Disciplined

  • The Young Republican National Federation demanded the resignation of all leaders involved in the racist chat from their positions within state and local Young Republican organizations.
  • The Kansas Young Republicans chapter was disbanded by the state GOP after racist comments were linked to two members.
  • New York State Assemblymember Mike Reilly fired Peter Giunta as his chief of staff after Giunta was accused of posting offensive messages.
  • Vermont Governor Phil Scott called on state Senator Samuel Douglass to resign after he was named as being involved in one of the chats.

Summary of Resignations, Firings, and Calls to Step Down (as of October 2025):

  • Peter Giunta (former chair of NY State Young Republicans, fired as chief of staff for NY Assemblymember Mike Reilly)
  • Samuel Douglass (Vermont State Senator, called on to resign)
  • Bobby Walker (current leader of NY State Young Republicans, apologized and lost a campaign manager job offer)
  • William Hendrix (Kansas Young Republicans’ vice chair, no longer employed in Kansas Attorney General’s office)
  • Alex Dwyer (chair of Kansas Young Republicans, involved in chat)
  • Annie Kaykaty (New York’s national committee member, involved in chat)
  • Joe Maligno (general counsel for NY State Young Republicans, involved in chat)
  • Rachel Hope (Arizona Young Republicans events chair, involved in chat)
  • Luke Mosiman (chair of Arizona Young Republicans, involved in chat)
  • Brianna Douglass (Vermont Young Republicans national committee member, involved in chat)
  • Michael Bartels (senior adviser, U.S. Small Business Administration, involved in chat)
  • Two additional unnamed members of the Young Republican group chat (stepped down from their jobs after the Politico report)
  • Kansas Young Republicans (chapter disbanded by the state GOP)
  • All involved leaders (demanded to resign by the Young Republican National Federation)

Condemnation and Calls for Resignation:

  • Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) condemned the comments and called for resignations
  • Vermont Gov. Phil Scott called the comments “disgusting and unacceptable” and urged those involved to leave the Republican party
  • Kansas GOP Chair Danedri Herbert condemned the comments
  • N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) described the chat as “vile”

Political Context:

  • Vice President JD Vance criticized Democratic Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones for past violent texts, arguing they were “far worse than anything said in a college group chat.”

Validated Sources

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