Gov. Kathy Hochul seized on an explosive report Tuesday that young Republican leaders in New York traded racist, misogynistic and antisemitic texts, arguing that her chief political rival had helped normalize extreme rhetoric.
Politico reported that at least four members of New York’s Young Republican Club participated in a group chat on Telegram with peers in three other states where they made offensive jokes invoking rape, slavery, Adolf Hitler and gas chambers.
Hochul lashed out at U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who accepted an award from the New York State Young Republicans earlier this year. Stefanik has said she’s weighing a challenge to Hochul re-election bid.
“ We have a leader from the Republican Party in this state — the highest ranking individual — who in the backdrop of all this calls our candidate for mayor, one of our candidates for mayor a ‘jihadist’ and a ‘terrorist’, and then somehow says, ‘oh, what they said these young Republicans was was wrong,” said Hochul. “ Look at what you say yourself. Look at your inflammatory words, and maybe they have an effect on these young people, many of whom you support and have supported you.”
Hochul made her remarks shortly after appearing with Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in Queens. It was their first formal joint appearance since the governor endorsed Mamdani for mayor.
Her attacks on Stefanik offered an early hint at what will likely be a bitter governor’s race if Stefanik runs on the Republican ticket as expected.
Hochul said everyone in the chat should face consequences.
“This is not one person saying they love Hitler. There’s a whole lot people saying things that are so disgusting and abhorrent that everyone from the president on down should condemn them,” said Hochul, later adding, “this bullsh-t has to stop.”
Stefanik described the language in the texts as “heinous, antisemitic, racist and unacceptable.” But her senior advisor Alex deGrasse reiterated the congressmember’s opposition to Mamdani’s candidacy, calling him an “Antisemite Defund the Police Communist,” among other insults.
“Kathy Hochul not only supports him, she endorsed him,” he said.
Mamdani’s campaign declined to comment on the Politico report and Stefanik’s comments on Tuesday.
Peter Giunta, the former chair of New York State Young Republicans, said in a statement that he apologized for his “insensitive and inexcusable language,” but also said he could not verify the accuracy of all the messages Politico reviewed.
The Young Republican National Federation also condemned the chats in a statement to Politico.
Brigid Bergin
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