Bobby Walker (political operative)

Main article: Young Republican group chat leaks

On October 14, 2025, Politico reported on 2,900 pages of leaked Telegram chats, spanning over a seven-month period, from leaders of the Young Republicans in several U.S. states. ^{[4] [8]} The Politico article argued that "the messages reveal a culture where racist, antisemitic and violent rhetoric circulate freely — and where the Trump-era loosening of political norms has made such talk feel less taboo among those positioning themselves as the party's next leaders". ^[9]

The chat discussed votes, social media strategies, and logistics. It also included racist and antisemitic slurs, white supremacist slogans and symbols, comments encouraging rape of political opponents to drive them to suicide, praise for Adolf Hitler, promotion of gas chambers, and enthusiasm for Republicans believed to support slavery. ^{[9] [10]} Giunta and its members referred to Black people as monkeys and "the watermelon people". One member stated "I'd go to the zoo if I wanted to watch monkey play ball" about an invitation to an NBA game. The slurs faggot , retard , and nigger appeared over 251 times. ^{[11] [12]} In discussing Giunta's defeat in an election for chair of the Young Republicans National Federation, Walker called for the winner to be raped. ^[13] When referring to a colleague's girlfriend, Walker stated she was a "stinky, obese Indian woman". He said would "love to see" an opponent get raped, and described the colonial sexual violence perpetrated by Spanish explorers in the 1700s as "epic". ^{[14] [15]}

On October 17, 2025, New York Republican State Committee executive board officials voted unanimously to suspend the Young Republicans' New York chapter. Party chair Ed Cox stated that "vile language of the sort made in the group chat has no place in our party or its subsidiary organizations". ^{[16] [17] [18]} A New York state Republican official, speaking anonymously to The New York Times , said disbanding would allow a fresh start by eliminating the group's charter to reconstitute it with new leadership. ^[19]

Personal life

Walker is a native of Cooperstown, New York. ^[20]

References

1. Liotta, Paul (August 17, 2021). "Staten Islander to chair statewide GOP club for only second time in history". Staten Island Advance .
2. Sager, Stacey (October 18, 2025). "NY's Young Republican chapter disbanded after racist messages exposed in group chat". KABC-TV .
3. Ngo, Emily (October 17, 2025). "New York State Young Republicans disbanded after racist group chat" . Politico . Archived from the original on October 17, 2025.
4. Fortinsky, Sarah (October 15, 2025). "Who are the Young Republicans in explosive group chat?". The Hill . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
5. Heaney, Jim (October 20, 2025). "Young Republican caught in scandal worked for Sen. Rob Ortt". Investigative Post.
6. New York Federation of College Republicans
7. New York Federation of College Republicans
8. Chen, David W.; Mineiro, Megan (October 15, 2025). "Racist and Homophobic Texts From Young Republican Officials Prompt Backlash". The New York Times . Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
9. Beeferman, Jason; Ngo, Emily (October 14, 2025). "'I love Hitler': Leaked messages expose Young Republicans' racist chat" . Politico . Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
10. Ngo, Emily; Beeferman, Jason (October 14, 2025). "'It's revolting': More Young Republican chat members out of jobs as condemnation intensifies" . Politico . Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
11. Lee, Chantelle (October 15, 2025). "White House Shrugs Off Young Republicans Praising Hitler". Time . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
12. Shamim, Sarah (October 17, 2025). "'Gas them': How a leaked pro-Nazi young Republicans chat sparked GOP storm". Al Jazeera . Archived from the original on October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
13. Sanchez, Camryn (October 15, 2025). "Arizona Young Republicans' leaked group chat included comments using racial slurs, calls for rape". KJZZ (FM) . Retrieved October 16, 2025.
14. King, Jordan (October 16, 2025) [October 15, 2025]. "Full list of Young Republicans involved in offensive chats". Newsweek .
15. Dee, Katherine (October 19, 2025). "Why the Young Republicans Felt Comfortable Saying Such Vile Stuff" . Politico . Archived from the original on October 19, 2025.
16. Marquez, Alexandra (October 17, 2025). "New York GOP suspends state Young Republicans chapter over 'vile' group chat messages". NBC News . Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
17. Vazquez, Maegan; Tucker, Brianna (October 17, 2025). "New York GOP suspends Young Republicans chapter after racist chat messages". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
18. Empson, Olivia (October 17, 2025). "Young Republicans New York chapter suspended after racist chats leaked". The Guardian . Archived from the original on October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
19. Oreskes, Benjamin; Fandos, Nicholas (October 16, 2025). "After Racist Texts, New York G.O.P. Is Set to Disband Young Republicans". The New York Times . Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
20. https://www.allotsego.com/cooperstown-native-bobby-walker-elected-nysyr-chair/

Bobby Walker
Chair of the Association of New York State Young Republican Clubs
In office September 2025 –October 2025