What started as a toxic, racist chat among college Republicans at Florida International University — with hundreds of racial slurs, antisemitic comments, misogyny, calls for violence and the kind of language that makes even seasoned political operatives wince — has escalated into a full-blown political test for Miami-Dade’s GOP leadership. And one of its own is now on the chopping block.
The Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee is preparing for a public showdown this week that could end with the ouster of its own secretary, Abel Alexander Carvajal — a central figure in the WhatsApp group chat where the ugliness festered.
And here’s the kicker: it’s not just the racism that might get him kicked out. It’s the politics.
When the first group chat surfaced — with the N-word reportedly used more than 200 times and antisemitic comments sprinkled in — party officials condemned it. Hard. Lots of prominent and not-so-prominent Republicans and Democrats rebuked the statements that were published. But behind the scenes? Apparently, it’s not actionable.
Read related: Miami GOP’s recurring bigotry problem raises ugly head in FIU group chat
That’s right. All that language, all that outrage, and still not enough under party rules to formally remove Carvajal. Welcome to the technicalities of internal party governance, where morality and procedure don’t always line up. The committee took a vote where “most” of them asked for his resignation. Ladra still has not gotten on answer on who voted to keep Carvajal around.
But then people apparently discovered a second WhatsApp group chat. And this one didn’t target minorities — it targeted fellow 
Republicans. These messages allegedly showed Carvajal going after party leadership, including Chairman Kevin Cooper and State Rep. Juan Carlos Porras. So, it went from embarrassing to insubordinate.
And that’s something parties can actually act on.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, at the Renaissance Ballroom, 5910 SW 8th St. Expect speeches. Expect protests. Expect a room full of Republicans trying to prove — very publicly — where they stand.
Chairman Cooper says the goal is to show the party rejects racism and antisemitism and is focused on electing Republicans.
But he also said told Florida’s Voice that the primary reasons for the ouster include Carvajal’s role in tearing the party apart, disrupting meetings, expressing desires to undermine the Republican Party and hoping for Republican electoral losses. Additionally, Cooper cited reputational harm stemming from Carvajal’s use of racist language has made the party look bad and hurt its fundraising efforts.
A two-thirds vote of the membership present is required to remove Carvajal from his position.
Read related: Coral Gables tied to scandalous, hateful, racist, antisemitic FIU chat group
Carvajal’s fate now hinges on whether enough members of the executive committee decide that the damage — political, reputational, and moral — outweighs loyalty, alliances, or internal divisions.
Because in Miami politics, plenty of things get said behind closed doors. They just don’t usually get screenshotted, like they did this time.
Carvajal has apologized. Sort of. He admitted to using altered versions of racial slurs — swapping the Ns with Ms, like that somehow makes it better — while stopping short of stepping down. Instead, he’s reportedly been working the phones, trying to shore up support to survive the vote. Like there’s any universe in which that can happen.
Because this isn’t just a local dust-up. It’s a branding crisis. If Carvajal survives, Democrats will have a ready-made talking point: that even explicit, repeated hate speech isn’t disqualifying inside the GOP. If he’s removed, Republicans get to say they policed their own.
Either way, this vote is less about one man and more about what message the party wants to send heading into the 2026 elections.
This kind of independent, government watchdog reporting is crucial to transparency and democracy. And more so every day. Help shine a light on the darker corners of our community with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
Miami-Dade GOP to vote on removal of secretary in racist FIU group chat added by Ladra on
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How dare Secretary Abel have differing opinions! Shame! He should be in lock step with the rest of the party. Who does he think he is to have his own opinions!
Shame on Kevin cooper. Abel has every right to dislike Congresswoman Salazar. She has been HORRID. Heaven forbid a man isn’t a blind stooge to that piece of garbage Kevin Cooper.
The Miami-Dade Grand Old Party needs to have the Grand Old Plug pulled.
FIU President is a Ron DeSantis MAGA placement. The hire has no educational experience.
P.S. this is a free country. If someone wants to criticize a member of Congress or the party leadership, they should not be reprimanded for this. It is up to those people to earn our trust, not demand it and threaten defamation. If Salazar were to actually do something about the immigration and affordability crisis rather than take pictures with Kevin Cooper, maybe she would have more support. All these people are postalitas. They care more about being social media influencers rather than working hard. Shame on Kevin Cooper and his lapdogs. It is time to REMOVE KEVIN COOPER! SAVE THE PARTY OR LOSE THE MIDTERMS!
Kevin Cooper has destroyed the image of the Republican Party of Miami Dade County! He is the one who leaked this to his close friend and former convict Javier Manjares to get back at a successful figure of the executive board. Since the day he got elected, Kevin Cooper has gone back on his promises of more involvement in local elections and the establishment of committees in order to have the membership of the REC more engaged. REC members, local candidates, and even donors have noticed his weak leadership in campaign outreach and financial management.
Last year’s Lincoln Day Diner flopped and received minimal donations for party activities. These donations are to last for the entire year and are to cover promotional material, campaign outreach, and office rent. Cooper has not been able to cover any of these bases as he continues to fight with the office landlord and does not even bother to engage in GOTV efforts for local Republicans. The most he does is attend Super Saturday coffee meet-ups to take pictures and leaves. The membership has noticed.
The REC Treasury Report to the FEC included many irregularities which included the signature of the former REC Treasurer on reports for reporting quarters way after she stepped down from the post. That is FRAUD. The local party has not been able to fundraise under Kevin Cooper’s leadership and is starving for funds. I cant imagine how he will be able to canvass and promote Republicans across the county on a low budget. Then again, Kevin Cooper does not campaign for Republicans or provides statistical support so it is clear that this issue does not concern him.
The culture of the Miami Dade REC has become one of division and controversy. There is a culture of factionalism within the committee which has formed under the weak leadership of Kevin Cooper where he has created the idea of “us” against “the crazies”. Cooper results to not only slander those who disagree with him but also goes out of his way to affect their personal lives. The members (including myself) have been foolish enough to drink the Kool-Aid of a Kevin Cooper administration back in December of 2024. We did not anticipate such hatred and rivalry within the GOP. We are supposed to be on the same team.
One such person who drank the Kool-Aid but realized the damage being done was the party Secretary. He realized that by respectfully disagreeing with Cooper he has painted a target on his back. Our Executive Board members are supposed to be independent minded, not lackeys who will do the Chair’s bidding without question. Kevin Cooper is a psychopath who cannot understand the fundamental principal of free will. Everyone must agree with the party chairman or risk being sent to the gulags.
I will agree that the Secretary was reckless in creating a chat with horrid people, but this should have been handled within the party executive board, not blown into a media circus. Cooper tried to send this story of the chat to other media outlets but turned him down because this is ridiculous. He resorted to sending this article to the Floridian Press. Javier Manjares is a criminal with a mugshot who writes for a failing blog with declining readership and nonsensical articles (nothing compared to my favorite local blog, Political Cortadito).
Kevin Cooper does not care about the image of the party, only himself. By gossiping to his close friend Manjares, he has tainted the party. He threw this crap to the fan and stained everyone. He will try to sink the ship as much as he can without realizing he’s going down with it. The Cult of Kevin Cooper has been a toxic faction of the party which continues to fracture. Kevin Cooper does not have the votes to remain as Chairman in the December Organizational Meeting, if he’s even planning on having another meeting after next weeks vote of confidence. If he had his way, he would proclaim himself supreme leader of the party.
Anyone who enables his personal attacks onto those who disagree with him will be held accountable. He does not have the votes and will certainly have Monday’s vote go against his wishes. Under his leadership we have lost major electoral contests in: Miami Beach, Florida City, and the nationally observed City of Miami mayoral race. He did nothing to support the eventual GOP nominee for mayor and just took photos to present the illusion of on the ground canvassing. Weak leadership, sanctioned defamation, and factional infighting is the result of the Cooper leadership. The Cult of Kevin Cooper is coming to an end. An embarrassing legacy to leave behind.