Kansas Young Republicans shut down after Politico report on racist, violent encrypted chat

[Zorro]

Source: Kansas Reflector

Senate president disavows both activists, attorney general fires Hendrix

The chairman and vice chairman of the Kansas Young Republicans took part in encrypted chats with political peers that were laced with violent, racist and antisemitic rhetoric and blended with references to white supremacy and suppression of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

On Tuesday, the chairman of the Kansas Republican Party said the Politico article disclosing the commentary prompted immediate deactivation of the Kansas Young Republicans organization.

Politico, a digital news company specializing in coverage of U.S. politics, reported Kansas Young Republicans chair Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix took part in the Telegram group chat.

In 2,900 pages of chat text, Hendrix praised the Missouri Young Republicans because leaders in that state didn’t like LGBTQ+ people. He repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to Black people, including words such as “n–ga” and “n–guh.” In a July conversation in the thread about African-Americans, he said, “Bro is at a chicken restaurant ordering his food. Would he like some watermelon and Kool-Aid with that?”

Read more: https://kansasreflector.com/2025/10/14/kansas-young-republicans-shut-down-after-politico-report-on-racist-violent-encrypted-chat/

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Kansas?

[Diraven]

1. Honestly I'm surprised they're taking action

A lot of the right wing media is trying spin the whole thing as just kids making harmless jokes.

[markodochartaigh]

3. Fortunately the local Democratic politicians

are fighting back. And the chair of the Young Republicans is almost 30.


Sen. Cindy Holscher, a Johnson County Democrat also running for governor, said she was disgusted by messages shared by Kansas GOP political operatives that promoted overt racism, extremism, antisemitism and sexual violence. She said the extremist language was encouraged from the top down by politicians who seek to divide voters rather than bring them together.

“Let’s be clear: These aren’t kids joking around,” Holscher said. “These are 20- and 30-something adults with leadership roles in the Republican Party. The chair of the Kansas Young Republicans, who participated in these messages, is nearly 30 years old. Unfortunately, this type of rhetoric is not isolated. For too long in Kansas, the Republican Party has been dominated by extremists who see no room for moderation or bipartisanship, let alone unity or mutual respect.”

[tblue37]

10. Well, I am not surprised at the Young Republicans, because we are all too aware that Republicans will be Republicans.

It is who they are when they think no one is looking, and nowadays, even when they know everyone is looking!

[travelingthrulife]

15. Yeah. Young Republicans in their mid 30s probably like that slimeball Kirk.

[Phoenix61]

30. The cutoff age for that group is 30. Happy to see them shut down anywhere. nt

[RVN VET71]

40. Because Nazis be naziing

It's what they do, these racist, fascist (nazi) creeps. So when we speak of "right wing media" we really should consider just calling it "Fascist media" or "Neo-nazi media" because that's what so much of it is.

I'm talking about extreme right-wing media, of course, which is what most of it is -- but there may be some that are just old school conservative, Barry Goldwater conservative, one might say. I recall, and still have a copy somewhere, of an issue of The National Review which headlined its call for the legalization of marijuana, for instance, for example. (I haven't read an issue in decades so it may have lost its often-infuriatingly misguided integrity over time, but at least in the old days . . . .)

[Deuxcents]

2. Lawrence O had a segment about this tonight..the bottom has no bottom 😡

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

4. 'Disgusted': Kris Kobach staffer fired after report showing participation in racist group chats

https://www.ksnt.com/capitol-bureau/disgusted-kris-kobach-staffer-fired-after-report-showing-participation-in-racist-group-chats/

Republican Kansas lawmakers and political figures are releasing statements condemning the messages sent back and forth between members of some different Young Republican organizations across the nation brought to light on Oct. 14 by Politico. The report named William Hendrix, vice chair of the Kansas Young Republicans, as one of those who was allegedly sharing racist messages through the Telegram app.

Hendrix was also an employee working in the office of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. Kobach issued the following statement in response to the Politico report.


“The comments in the chat are inexcusable,” Kobach said. “As soon as the office learned of those message Will Hendrix’s employment was terminated.”

Another leader of the Kansas Young Republicans group, Alex Dwyer, is also named as participating in the exposed Telegram chats. Hendrix did not return a request for comment made by Politico and Dwyer declined to say anything about the messages to Politico. We are working to contact both Dwyer and Hendrix for comment on this situation.

[travelingthrulife]

16. Kris Kobach has a problem with this? Because he didn't do it first?

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

20. His only problem is that they got caught red-handed.

Kobach is a slime ball, also.

[RVN VET71]

41. Let me correct what Kolbach said and change it to what he actually meant

"The fact that these comments were so easily discovered and publicized is inexcusable. If you cannot keep your racism and sadism quiet and out of the public ear, I cannot afford to keep you on my staff."

The real crime of these douche bags, from the Republican perspective, is not that they are Nazi-light lynch fantasizers. Let's clear that up. The fact that they got caught with their hands on the rope slung over the tree bough is what is what infuriates the more savvy Republican operatives.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

5. Republican state senator faces calls to resign after posting racist messages in group chat

Republican state senator faces calls to resign after posting racist messages in group chat | Vermont Public https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-10-14/republican-state-senator-faces-calls-to-resign-after-posting-racist-messages-in-group-chat

A first-term Republican state senator from Orleans County is facing pressure from members of his own party to resign after a story published by Politico Tuesday detailed his involvement in a racist text chat between members of Young Republican chapters in four states, including Vermont.

Samuel Douglass, 27, was part of a historic red wave last November that saw the GOP pick up six seats in the Vermont Senate and reconfigure the balance of power in the Legislature.

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On Tuesday evening, Republican Gov. Phil Scott called on Douglass to resign after a leaked group chat showed Douglass and his wife using racist and antisemitic language with fellow young Republicans from across the country.

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That group chat included a message from Douglass mocking the bathing habits of people from India, and an exchange in which Douglass’ wife, Brianna, wrote of “expecting the Jew to be honest.”

Those revelations have cost Douglass the faith and support of top Republican leaders in the Vermont Statehouse. House Republican Leader Pattie McCoy and Senate Republican Leader Scott Beck, along with their deputies, also called on Douglass to resign Tuesday.

[BidenRocks]

6. Teach, your children well!

They are a reflection of you.

What do you finally see?

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

7. JD Vance defends the racists..of course

Vice President JD Vance had a different view and broke with Republicans who broadly condemned the comments within the chat.

On X Tuesday night, Vance drew attention to Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general Jay Jones, who texted a colleague about shooting the then-Republican House speaker and wishing harm on his children.

“This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia,” Vance wrote with a screenshot of the text exchange. “I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence.”

‘It’s revolting’: More Young Republican chat members out of jobs as condemnation intensifies - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/its-revolting-more-young-republican-chat-members-out-of-jobs-as-condemnation-intensifies-00608791

[Skittles]

11. a repuke talking about PEARL CLUTCHING

[usonian]

8. Imagine a Republican party without racism.

NOPE, Can't imagine it.

[JoseBalow]

9. For posterity

Kansas Young Republicans chair Alex Dwyer...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. He's a body double for a dictator: Kim Jong Un, haircut and all. . . . nt

[William Seger]

26. Yeah, maybe North Korea will hire him as a stunt man

... for movies portraying Kim as a superhero.

[kimbutgar]

23. I bet he's a virgin!

[rurallib]

34. talk about a sure bet

[louis-t]

28. And his mommy dresses him funny.

[tanyev]

13. Every time a Young Republican gets fired, an ICE agent gets his balaclava.

[Bengus81]

14. Shut them down?? Hell,I'm surprised Trump didn't have them at a WH medal ceremony

[Clouds Passing]

17. Young GOPedos are the ones drinking the Kool-Aid.

[moniss]

18. They may call it

"deactivation" but it is likely every one of those jerks is going to land a job with some MAGA politician or lobbyist.

[Fil1957]

19. I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't think there was any bottom to their dapravity. Apparently there is, and that's

good news for everyone.

[LeftinOH]

21. The only thing surprising about this is that *anyone* is surprised.

[William Seger]

25. Kinda silly for Republicans to act shocked after making Charlie Kirk a hero

... especially after _rump gave him a Medal of Freedom for being a such a prominent racist, misogynist, and antisemite.

[kimbutgar]

22. Those young guys look like such losers !

🤢🤮💩

[Historic NY]

24. Young facists club

[louis-t]

27. Is anyone surprised?

Who is supercharging the racism, radicalism, and violent rhetoric? Turning Point, USA, that's who. They seem to 'teach' young kids that you solve problems by shooting someone in the face.

[SpankMe]

31. Don't forget - young/college Republicans were Charlie Kirk's target audience

They're also his largest base of disciples. I can't escape the possibility that Kirk's spirit flows through these texts.

Does anyone believe that this kind of behavior is limited to this one group of young 'Pubs in Kansas? I'd like to see text exchanges from college/young Republicans in Idaho, Mississippi and Texas.

[Initech]

32. Well it's on brand for them.

[Zorro]

33. The Young Republicans were a bunch of fascists when I was in college over 50 years ago

Same as their even more extreme YAF brothers and sisters.

[ShadesOfBlue]

37. This!

The Young Republicans have always been proud racist and sexiest douchebags.

[Beartracks]

35. I guess that's just how young Republicans are groomed these days. n/t

[Sessuch]

36. Young Republicans taught by the Racist-in-Chief

[cstanleytech]

38. They'll just rebrand it under another name but with the same assholes as members.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. This will be fun to watch

Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).

In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.

— Tom Joscelyn (@tomjoscelyn.bsky.social) 2025-10-15T19:31:16.042Z