Kai Schwemmer, a 23-year-old rightwing influencer with a history of provocation, was recently appointed political director of the College Republicans of America (CRA), the fastest-growing national federation of college Republican groups. His hiring by the Utah county clerk's office to reach younger voters sparked an uproar, with over 80 prominent women in Utah signing a letter protesting against it.
Controversial Remarks and Ties to Extremists
Critics noted that Schwemmer made remarks suggesting women are unsuited for public office, criticized universal suffrage, and endorsed "family voting," a concept associated with Christian nationalists. In 2022, he attended a conference organized by Nick Fuentes, an antisemitic far-right pundit, and appeared in a supportive documentary about him. When concerns were raised, CRA President Martin Bertao responded: "I would like to apologize… to absolutely NOBODY," adding that the "CRA will never back down to the WOKE mob!"
Factional Fighting Among College Republicans
The controversies highlight how parts of the college Republican movement have been won over by a hard right that views moderates with scorn and has ties to extremists. Since its founding in 2023, the CRA has grown rapidly, outflanking two more moderate rivals: the National Federation of College Republicans (NFCR) and the College Republican National Committee (CRNC). None are officially recognized by the Republican National Committee. "It looks very childish," said Chaston Atkins, chair of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, which has chosen not to affiliate with any national group.
CRA's Radical Posture and Trump Alignment
The CRA leaped to endorse Trump soon after he announced his 2024 re-election campaign, contrasting with the NFCR, which initially favored Nikki Haley and waited until a month before the general election to endorse Trump. Bertao also criticized the CRNC for urging respect for Trump's fraud conviction verdict. The CRA now claims 350 college chapters nationwide and has cultivated ties with rightwing nationalist parties in Europe.
Incidents Involving CRA Clubs
In March, a CRA club at the University of Florida sparked outrage when someone allegedly tied to the club made a Hitler salute. The same month, a Georgetown University CRA club posted that Muslims "have no place in American society," later deleting the message after backlash. In April, a Salisbury University CRA club invited Jared Taylor, a self-described "white advocate," to speak. The CRA said it did not endorse these events but allows chapters to decide on speakers.
Future of the Movement
Recent polling shows younger Republican voters are less supportive of American intervention abroad and less in lockstep with Trump. The CRA's mission statement calls for "non-interventionist policies," potentially conflicting with Trump's current stance. Melissa Deckman of PRRI noted that the radical turn may reflect conservative elites' desire for influence. Matthew Dallek, a political historian, said insurgent factions periodically emerge to challenge establishments. Amy Binder, a sociologist, observed that provocative campus conservatism has become dominant, with civil discourse disparaged as "establishment." Atkins cautioned against extrapolating too much from the CRA's momentum, as "it can change in the blink of an eye."
