It appears the top brass at Turning Point USA (TPUSA) post-Charlie Kirk are targeting conservative lawmakers for not being white enough.
The COO of TPUSA’s advocacy arm, Tyler Bowyer, mocked Arizona State Rep. Quang Nguyen (LD-01) for being a Vietnamese refugee. Nguyen is an American citizen who has lived in America for over 50 years.
The exchange was prompted by some questioning TPUSA’s animus toward Nguyen, despite the lawmaker having a similar or better legislative track record than TPUSA-endorsed candidates.
Bowyer implied their decision was based on the circumstances of Nguyen’s birth.
“Can you speak English?” wrote Bowyer.
Bowyer then promised to oust Nguyen in the primary, calling him “terrible.”
Can you speak English
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) July 7, 2026
Aside from Nguyen, the only other Republicans in the race are fellow incumbent Rep. Selena Bliss (LD-01), and another Republican candidate, Shawn Dell Wildman. Primary Election Day is July 21, and early voting is already underway.
Nguyen indicated that he had suspected TPUSA’s dissatisfaction with him as a lawmaker had more to do with his race than his legislative track record. He said Bowyer’s social media remarks on Monday confirmed his suspicions.
“I spent my entire life fighting uphill and for everything I achieved. This one is no different,” said Nguyen. “When they run out of arguments, they resort to the lowest form of life. I always knew why they don’t like me. Yup, I’m always right.”
I spent my entire life fighting uphill and for everything I achieved. This one is no different. When they run out of arguments, they resort to the lowest form of life. I always knew why they don’t like me. Yup, I’m always right. pic.twitter.com/fxplWGfMXS
— Quang Nguyen (@QuangNguyenAZ) July 7, 2026
TPUSA often warns against the woes of communism. Nguyen lived it as a survivor of the communist regime of Vietnam. Nguyen escaped on a plane at 12 years old during the Vietnam War, less than a week before the Fall of Saigon.
Nguyen speaks often about his immigration to America, and how his gratitude for American governance shaped him into the conservative lawmaker defending constitutional rights and free markets.
With the aid of a fellow survivor of communism, former lawmaker Ben Toma, the Arizona legislature passed Nguyen’s bill in 2022 which requires high schools to teach how America’s founding principles yield freedom and democracy while communism and other deadly forms of governance do not.
Those who dared to come to Nguyen’s defense publicly were exiled from the inner sanctum of TPUSA endorsees.
TPUSA revoked its endorsement of State Rep. Nick Kupper (LD-25) for pointing out that he and Nguyen had nearly identical TPUSA lifetime voting scores in response to Bowyer claiming Nguyen had one of the “worst” TPUSA scores in the state legislature. Nguyen scored a 78, and Kupper scored a 79.3.
“To be fair, my [TPUSA] scorecard score isn’t much different than [Nguyen’s] yet I’m endorsed by [Turning Point Action],” said Kupper. “Not trying to create waves, but there does appear to be an inconsistency here.”
In response, Bowyer told his followers that Kupper should never be voted for again come 2028 and beyond.
“There will be a better, smarter candidate,” said Bowyer.
To be fair, my TP scorecard score isn’t much different than @QuangNguyenAZ’s yet I’m endorsed by TP Action. Not trying to create waves, but there does appear to be an inconsistency here. https://t.co/vZog0yELCe pic.twitter.com/qYZOvvJDPM
— Nick Kupper (@realnickkupper) July 6, 2026
TPUSA also endorsed candidates with lifetime scores lower than Nguyen.
State Reps. Chris Lopez (LD-16) scored 75.48, Matt Gress (LD-04) scored 74.33, and James Taylor (LD-29) scored 73.08.
The average lifetime score for Republican state representatives was 81.4. Eight of the 35 total Republican state representatives had lower scores than Nguyen — some, as mentioned, who earned the endorsements of TPUSA.
As the former Sergeant-At-Arms for the AZGOP who spent time around Bowyer. If you aren’t an established politicians, or “famous” he will absolutely look right past you like you aren’t even there. As a former student at Glendale Community College, I asked him how I could start a TPUSA chapter at the school, he told me to fill out the application. No follow up, no advice, no help, no nothing. Tyler’s ego is twice as big as President Trump’s and thats not a good thing. He thinks that TPUSA is the end all be all for Republican politics in Arizona. I know they are close, but I hope Erika takes a long hard look if she wants him to be a large face of TP. This is something that he can’t and won’t even try to walk back, and that is damaging to TP.
Bowyer is a follower of Joseph smith. There is your problem
Quang Nguyen has been speaking English and contributing to this country before this moron, Tyler Bowyer, was even a twinkle in his parents’ eyes. Nice going TP with burning bridges and slashing relations among conservative Reps. With so–called representatives like these, TP needs to do some serious soul searching and house cleaning …. of all the trash.
No idea who this Bowyer loser is, but Nguyen is solid. TPUSA leadership seems to be determined to sink Charlie’s legacy; Erika needs to start serving up heads.
just goes to show that rinos are the same as the democraps on some issues
This pretty much ends my support of TP/USA.
Nice going, Bowyer. How about apologizing? Or perhaps it’s too late. The backlash has begun. Turning Point – Who is this guy? Is this what you want for your organization? Turning Point, get your SH_T Together before you lose more people. Bowyer, you insulted many immigrants, including me, a naturalized US Citizen for the last 70 years. Just so you know, I am a Caucasian (that’s White to you, Bowyer). My parents, who were Displaced Persons (that’s refugees) after WWII, came here with me as a baby in tow with them. Bowyer, you are a stupid, stupid man.
TPUSA needs to give Bowyer and all the other verbose grifters there…the boot out the door. Otherwise, this becomes an unaddressed data-point as the tide gets stronger & stronger aganist them. Classic organizational dynamics upon the quick loss of the charismatic leader; suddenly, everyone’s an effin’ Indian Chief.
This is shocking to me. Quang Nguyen was my rep before boundaries were changed. He is a fighter against communism and loves this country. Ignorance on the part of TPUSA is disgusting.
Bowyer is going to turn off lots of people. TPUSA you better distance yourself.
Bowyer pissed in TPUSA’s cheerios, me thinks.
It’s very true that many AZ so-called “conservatives” are McCain and Ducey loser types. AZ Establishment hates TPUSA and MAGA because they show how crooked and ineffective the good old boys are. Does Arizona State Rep. Quang Nguyen believe McCain was a scumbag traitor or not?
When our government decided to bring over Viet Nam refugees in 1975, I was completely against it. That was an embarrassing mistake on my part and I regret my previous sentiments. I’ve known and been friends with several that escaped. Most are very good people that work hard and have melded into the fabric of our nation. They are fiercely capitalists. Turning Point was founded on bringing people together, not dividing us. Tyler Bower’s racism against Nguyen is no different than the left’s racism against white people.
I’m not sure what turning point’s problem is, but Quang Nguyen is my congressman and he’s excellent. Perhaps Mr. Bowyer needs to go away.
If true then I no longer want to be a part of Turning Piunt. A good friend of mine was one of the Vietnamese boat people from the 70’s and 80’s and made his escape after being turned in by his best friend for not joining he Communist Party am had gotten on the boat before he could have been arrested.
Bowyer whats the problem with your brain boy… and your a bad news bear to Clark ; go back under the rock you came out of moron.