Although Young Republican organizations existed as early as 1856 with the founding of the
New York Young Republican Club, the Young Republican National Federation was formed by
George H. Olmsted at the urging of
Herbert Hoover. The YRNF was officially founded in 1931.
1965 California Young Republicans leadership scandal The California Young Republicans became embroiled in a scandal in 1965 when George King Jr. and Ray Drake, who had been elected president and corresponding secretary, respectively, of the
Long Beach, California chapter of the group, were discovered to have an affiliation with far-right groups, particularly the
American Nazi Party (ANP). This affiliation was revealed when
Steven Dale Ahern, who claimed to be a former member of the ANP, testified that there was a plan by
Ralph Perry Forbes, the head of the California ANP, to seize control of several California Young Republicans branches. He claimed that both Drake and King, both members of the ANP, had been elected based on funds and on Forbes's order. Forbes denied this and said that Ahern was untrustworthy. Both King and Drake had been members of several other far-right groups and King had been previously arrested for owning a
machine gun. Drake said he had supported the ANP ideologically, had attended many of their meetings, and marched with them in Nazi uniform, but denied being a member officially. This resulted in widespread criticism from state GOP politicians and internal debate; concerned about an infiltration of the YNRF by the ANP, King and Drake were investigated by the board of directors of the state-level California Young Republicans organization, who aimed to purge the organization of Nazi and ANP influences. State Assemblyman
George Deukmejian heavily campaigned for their expulsion. It was debated whether the entire Long Beach chapter be ousted, Senator
Barry Goldwater praised the YRNF for expelling the pair.
2025 Telegram chat leaks In October 2025,
Politico reported on 2,900 pages of leaked
Telegram chats from high-ranking Young Republicans leaders nationwide. The chats spanned more than seven months. Many participants work in government or party politics, including Vermont state senator
Samuel Douglass and
U.S. Small Business Administration adviser Michael Bartels. The chats caused bipartisan controversy and condemnation due to
racist and
antisemitic slurs,
white supremacist slogans and symbols, comments encouraging rape of political opponents to cause suicide, praise for
Adolf Hitler, promotion of
gas chambers, and enthusiasm for Republicans who they believed
supported slavery. == See also ==