The Kansas political landscape has been rocked by revelations of racist, antisemitic, and violent rhetoric exchanged among the state’s Young Republican leaders, prompting swift and sweeping backlash from both sides of the political aisle. On October 14, 2025, Politico published a detailed exposé based on thousands of leaked Telegram chat messages, implicating Kansas Young Republicans chair Alex Dwyer and vice chair William Hendrix in a torrent of hate-fueled conversations. The fallout was immediate: the Kansas Republican Party announced the deactivation of the Kansas Young Republicans organization, and Hendrix was fired from his post in the office of Attorney General Kris Kobach.
According to Politico and corroborated by CBS News and local Kansas outlets, the encrypted Telegram chat—dubbed “RESTOREYR WAR ROOM”—spanned nearly 2,900 pages and included leaders from Kansas, New York, Arizona, and Vermont. The content was as disturbing as it was explicit. Hendrix repeatedly used racial slurs such as “n–ga” and “n–guh,” and made a racially charged joke about African-Americans ordering food with watermelon and Kool-Aid. Other participants, including Dwyer, discussed strategies to tarnish political opponents by linking them to white supremacists—an idea ultimately dismissed, with one member cynically noting that such a tactic could backfire in Kansas, where “Young Republicans could end up becoming attracted to that opponent.”
The chat’s participants were well aware of the potential consequences. As CBS News reported, one member ominously warned, “If we ever had a leak on this chat, we will be cooked.” Their fears materialized when Politico obtained and published the messages, shining a harsh spotlight on the inner workings of the Young Republicans’ leadership.
The symbolism of white supremacy was not lost on the chat’s participants. At one point, Dwyer responded to a question about a hotel room number with “1488”—a notorious code among white supremacists referencing both the 14-word slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” and “Heil Hitler” (with ‘H’ as the eighth letter of the alphabet). Dwyer also referenced President Donald Trump “burning the Epstein files,” alluding to the ongoing controversy over the release of government documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The repercussions were swift and public. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, upon learning of Hendrix’s involvement, terminated his employment, declaring, “The comments in the chat are inexcusable. As soon as the office learned of those messages, Will Hendrix’s employment was terminated.”
The Kansas Republican Party, led by chair Danedri Herbert—herself Black and elected to the post just months before—moved decisively. “Their comments do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not of Kansas Republicans at large,” Herbert said, as reported by KWCH and the Kansas News Service. “Republicans believe that all people are created in the image of God. In fact, our platform clearly states, ‘We welcome Kansans of every ethnicity into our party as we work together to preserve our heritage of political equality, religious freedom and strong moral values. We strive to eliminate racism and we condemn all racist acts and groups.’ As of today, the Kansas Young Republicans organization is inactive.” The organization’s website was also made private, signaling a complete shutdown.
The Young Republicans National Federation, the national umbrella for state chapters, issued an unequivocal statement: “Such behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents. Those involved must immediately resign from all positions within their state and local Young Republican organizations. We must hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity, respect, and professionalism.”
Political leaders from across the Kansas spectrum quickly weighed in. Senate President Ty Masterson, currently running for governor and photographed at a campaign event with Dwyer and Hendrix before the scandal broke, distanced himself from the pair. “I categorically deny any association with William Hendrix or Alex Dwyer, as neither is current, nor has ever been, on staff or volunteered for my campaign for governor,” Masterson said. He added, “I am personally disgusted by the comments attributed to individuals in the article, as such behavior is utterly counter to Christ’s message that life is valuable and we are all equal in God’s eyes, and my unwavering commitment to these values has not changed.”
Other Republican gubernatorial candidates echoed the condemnation. Former Governor Jeff Colyer stated, “Our state was founded on the belief that all of us are created equal under God—and anyone who mocks those principles dishonors the very spirit of Kansas.” Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, also running for governor, called for Dwyer and Hendrix to formally resign, stating, “Their actions are disgusting and disgraceful and they tarnish the reputation of Kansas nationally.”
From the Democratic side, gubernatorial candidate Sen. Cindy Holscher did not mince words: “I am utterly disgusted by the messages sent and received by Kansas Republican political operatives in a group that promoted overt racism, antisemitism, extremism, and even rape and violence. Let’s be clear: these aren’t kids joking around. 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.”
Michael Austin, chief executive of the Kansas Black Republican Council, also spoke out forcefully: “Such conduct is not merely offensive. It is a betrayal of the very principles upon which our party was founded: the defense of liberty, the abolition of slavery and the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. Let there be no confusion. These few individuals do not represent Kansas, nor do they reflect the values of Kansas Republicans. We call on all Republicans to uphold the standard of integrity, moral courage, and respect that has long defined our party’s proud history.”
Despite repeated attempts by media outlets, neither Dwyer nor Hendrix responded to requests for comment. The silence from the two central figures stands in stark contrast to the chorus of condemnation from Kansas’s political establishment. Hendrix, notably, previously ran for Topeka City Council in 2021, and Dwyer hails from Wichita.
The scandal has reignited broader debates about extremism, accountability, and the future direction of the Republican Party in Kansas and beyond. While party leaders and candidates have moved quickly to distance themselves from the hateful rhetoric, the episode has left many asking how such views gained a foothold in the first place—and what steps can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. As Kansas grapples with these questions, the swift disbanding of the Young Republicans chapter stands as a stark reminder of the consequences of hate speech in public life.
