Democratic Patriots Respond to Vile Republican Nazi Thread

GOSHEN, N.Y. — Zak Constantine, Chair of the Orange County Democratic Committee, released the following statement in response to a Politico investigation revealing a violent private chat among New York Young Republican leaders that included racist, antisemitic, misogynistic, and homophobic content, as well as praise for the Orange County Teen Republicans’ disturbing “support [for] slavery.”

“This isn’t just a national scandal, it’s a disturbing revelation about the values behind local Republican campaigns and the rhetoric they’ve irresponsibly implanted among Republican teenagers. The same leaders glamorized in Orange County GOP circles for being the ‘next generation’ are revealed to be cheering rape, praising Hitler and joking about gas chambers. Our local Teen Republicans were lauded by this group for supporting slavery. If Orange County Republican leaders won’t sever ties, disclose involvement, and bar the subjects of this scandal from their operations, then they are normalizing it. If New York State Republicans won’t take a stand, they are endorsing it.

Leadership is about who you platform, and who you place in front of voters. Orange County families deserve to know that the people knocking their doors and managing their local campaigns are not celebrating slavery or swapping violent fantasies. Parents also need to know their Republican teens are not being radicalized by darkly extremist adults.

This goes beyond partisan politics—it’s about the basic character of those seeking power in our communities. For too long, local Republican leaders have looked the other way as extremism festered within their own ranks. It’s time for them to draw a clear line, take responsibility, and prove that there’s no place for hate in Orange County.”

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“This bullshit has to stop!” Kathy Hochul Blasts Republicans’ Nazi Chat Threads

The Hill: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) weighed in Wednesday on controversial remarks made by young Republicans in a Telegram group chat tied to the Young Republican National Federation, a 15,000-member political group for GOP voters between the ages of 18 and 40 years old.

“This is not one person saying they love Hitler. This is a whole lot of people saying things that are so disgusting and so abhorrent that everybody from the president on down should condemn them. And there’s got to be consequences,” Hochul said during a press conference…read the rest

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

It is happening here.

Orange County Republicans are among those implicated in a vile, racist, hate-filled, violent, and nihilistic chat thread among Young Republicans from several states. This is the mentality that has taken over the party through Trump’s leadership and the rest of the cowardly collaborators who celebrate or tolerate this filth.

What will you do, Orange County? Read it, then decide. There’s an election in about 20 days.


What's My Legislative District? Who's My Candidate?

Tautel, Scott, Powell: three amazing candidates for County Legislature. Which one is running in your district?

This year it’s not just Town elections. In 2024, the republican County Legislature created new legislative districts, handing an amazing opportunity to patriotic Democrats to end a half-century of one-party rule. And we’re taking it. For the first time in most folks’ memory, the Democratic Party is running candidates in ALL of Orange County’s 21 legislative districts.

Cornwall used to be one district, but the republicans decided to punish one of their own for occasionally refusing to bend the knee (good for him, we say!), and split the town into three. He declined to run again. Now Cornwall is lucky to have three amazing candidates running to represent us—but we know it can be confusing. We’re here to help you learn which one is running where, and which district you live in.

District 14—Cornwall-on-Hudson: Laurie Tautel

This is the eastern part of town, encompassing election districts 1, 2, and 3. (Note the difference: election districts are the local boundaries that determine our voting location; county legislative districts are the areas our representatives serve once elected.) Laurie is the incumbent legislator currently representing Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery, and she’s excited to start working for her neighbors in the Village.

DISTRICT 14 MAP | About Laurie Tautel

District 12—NORTHWEST CORNWALL: Virginia Scott

This district covers the main part of town, Canterbury, Firthcliffe and Cornwall along Route 94 before leading to parts of New Windsor and the Town of Newburgh (thanks, republican gerrymander). That’s local election districts 4-10 plus 12. Fortunately Virginia Scott, a retired Washingtonville teacher who ably represents the Town of Cornwall on our Town Council, is working hard to ensure Democratic representation for us and our neighbors in new towns.

DISTRICT 12 MAP | About Virginia Scott

District 5—Southwest Cornwall: Stephanie Powell

If you live in Cornwall on and off Angola Road south of Route 9W, or along Route 32, Taylor, and Pleasant Hill to the west side of town, you can vote for Stephanie Powell in County Legislative District 5. (Local election districts 11, 13, 14.) Stephanie is one of the SIX TEACHERS running for County Legislature, and we’re lucky that a chunk of our school district will have her advocacy in Goshen…if we all help get her elected!

DISTRICT 5 MAP | About Stephanie Powell

Now you know. And now, click here to get all the information you need to vote.

The Roast with the Most!

Yesterday the Cornwall Democratic Committee hosted our annual fundraising extravaganza…this year it was a pig roast (with plenty of veggie options) to Fire Up! supporters and volunteers. And what a day!

Thanks to generous donors we are well on our way to building a campaign worthy of our incredible local candidates…but we can always use your help. If you couldn’t make it yesterday, please consider a donation today in support of the team that’s going to take Cornwall forward:


Josh Wojehowski, Town Supervisor

Rokhsha Michael-Razi, Town Council

Mary Heed, Town Council

Michael Sussman, County Executive

Virginia Scott, County Legislature District 12

Stephanie Powell, County Legislature District 5

Laurie Tautel, County Legislature District 14

The Emoluments Clause

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

— Article 1, Section 9, United States Constitution

If the Emoluments Clause was worth putting in the Constitution, it’s worth republishing here.

Of course, soliciting and accepting gifts is only the latest impeachable offense by the Kennedy Center chairman. It’s blatant, but it’s not the first—and not even necessarily the worst. It’s just the most in-your-face.

However, even though it’s so obvious and disgusting to any moral observer, the most relevant point for readers of The Cornwall Democrat is not what happens in Doha and Washington. It’s how so many of our neighbors, some quite proudly, still support this criminal regime. They still fly the flags. They still watch the mouthpieces on TV. They still argue the arguments or try the “both sides” rhetoric.

It’s disappointing. Infuriating even, if you go that way.

And it’s why their local candidates are unfit for office. Not because they’re necessarily guilty of the same corruption. Not because they are also convicted felons. Not because they defy court orders or solicit bribes. But because they’re still on the same side. Still defending. Still cheering on. Still willing to run on the same corrupted ballot line. How can any of us trust them?

Enough. Orange County is where it stops.

Most readers know that a lot of their neighbors care about the country, about democracy, and about actual freedom (not the brass-plated kind). But those folks don’t always know how to leave, how to shake it off and break the fever. Part of our job is to make it clear that Orange County, New York State, and America want them back.

If we do it right, maybe some more of our neighbors will join us.

Change your registration here.

Take action here.

Speaking on Trump, Musk, and America’s Moral Moment on the Senate Floor | Senator Cory Booker

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker delivered an historic speech in the Senate over the past two days, calling out the Musk/Trump regime’s criminality, venality, disregard for the rule of law, and deliberate abandonment of American leadership and honor. He also evoked the better angels of our nature, calling for nonviolent resistance, exhorting patriots to risk good trouble, and reminding us of the sources and heights of American greatness and how we can rebuild.

In its duration, his speech was also a symbolic victory over hate — the previous record for a Senate speech was a filibuster by the triple-threat racist-rapist-segregationist Strom Thurmond, who took the floor for more than 24 hours to fight against the Civil Rights Bill of 1957. Senator Booker’s speech lasted 25 hours and five minutes. Of Thurmond, he noted:

“'To hate him is wrong, and maybe my ego got too caught up that if I stood here, maybe, maybe, just maybe, I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand,” Mr. Booker said. “I’m not here though because of his speech. I’m here despite his speech. I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.”

https://www.youtube.com/@senbooker/videos

[From Democracy Docket] Rage Against the Obscene: The Totally Organic Movement Confronting Trump

“You’ve seen the posts. Vast expressions of support for Ukraine. Friends you didn’t think were particularly political suddenly railing against Elon Musk and swearing to dump their Teslas. Ordinary people worrying about Republican cuts to Medicaid. Fear of flying under the DOGE-reduced Federal Aviation Administration. The stock market posts. The Putin memes. Hockey fans rooting for Canada. That arch #FAFO hashtag. Slogans scribbled on the dusty hoods of pre-scrapyard Cybertrucks.”

Read the whole article.

People Are Stepping Up

As President Musk continues his onslaught against the US Government and its people, backed by the new chairman of the Kennedy Center, patriots across the country are organizing to protect democracy and their neighbors. One brave Congressman notified the president during the State of the Union that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid. Protestors gathered in Peekskill to demand action from Chuck Schumer. Scientists and their supporters gathered on March 7 to halt funding cuts for medicine, the environment, and countless other critical missions. Courts are pumping the brakes on reckless firings.

Peekskill rally on 2/17 demanding action.

The crowd gathered at Chuck Schumer’s office.

More people are starting to understand the stakes. Your local and county Democratic Committees are feeling the energy, too. Our invitations to join have yielded real results. Local activists are spontaneously organizing rallies and walks to call attention to Musk’s ongoing attacks and the lawlessness and corruption he’s bringing to Washington. And we’ve got candidates stepping up for November to secure the blessings of liberty right here in Orange County.

What can you do?

CORNWALL DEMS ENDORSE DYNAMIC TEAM
 FOR TOWN ELECTIONS IN 2025

Your amazing Town Board candidates: Council Member Rokhsha Michael-Razi, Supervisor Josh Wojehowski, and next Council Member Mary Heed.

The Cornwall Democratic Committee is pleased to announce the unanimous endorsement of a dynamic team of candidates for office in the November 2025 Town elections.

In the committee’s endorsement meeting last month, Josh Wojehowski was nominated for re-election to the office of Supervisor, a position he has held since winning his first term in 2021. Also endorsed for re-election to another term as Council Member was Rokhsha Michael-Razi.  Long-time Cornwall resident, Mary Heed, was tapped to run for the other open Town Council seat. This will be Heed’s first run for office.

"Our 2025 slate of candidates represents a seasoned, energetic team that will build on the considerable achievements made on behalf of Cornwall residents by Town government under the leadership of Supervisor Wojehowski,” said Cornwall Democratic Committee Chair Barbara Smith. “In these uncertain times, we need a steady, reliable hand in local government. Josh, Rokhsha and Mary have the experience and the vision needed to keep Cornwall moving forward,” Smith said.

Since taking office, Wojehowski, a lifelong Cornwall resident and former small business owner, has focused on smart economic development, Main Street revitalization, affordability, and addressing critical infrastructure issues. Under his leadership, the Town has improved emergency services and public safety, and secured funding for projects that enhance our community’s resilience to severe weather. During her term in the Town government, Michael-Razi, a USPTA tennis instructor and former pre-school teacher, has expanded recreational opportunities for families and children, fostered volunteerism, and focused on making Cornwall’s public spaces more inviting to residents and visitors alike. Heed, a member of the Town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, runs an active real estate business in Cornwall after a successful career in media strategy and planning.

The Town Democratic slate joins an experienced group of candidates for Cornwall’s three new Orange County Legislative Districts. Laurie Tautel of neighboring Highlands is seeking re-election to represent the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson in the newly created Legislative District 14; Cornwall Council Member Virginia Scott is running for the new Legislative District 12 in the central part of Cornwall, and Stephanie Powell, an educator from Woodbury, is running to represent the southwestern portion of Cornwall in new Legislative District 5. Each was unanimously endorsed by the full Orange County Democratic Committee at its convention in February.

This month volunteers will collect signatures to enable these and other energetic and highly qualified candidates to appear on the November ballot in Cornwall. The general election is November 4, 2025.