[UPDATED] Missouri state Senate candidate Chuck Basye called out for aggressive, homophobic text messages

EDITOR’S NOTE (3/28): This article has been edited to include more screenshots and a comment from Steve Basye.

This story contains references to homophobic slurs and transphobic comments.

In an X post on Wednesday, Democratic Missouri state Senate candidate Stephen Webber circulated screenshots of aggressive text messages and social media posts people have received from his opponent, Republican Chuck Basye.

Both through emails and Facebook replies, Bayse has called the former Missouri Democratic Party chairman a “crybaby f—wad” and a “con-artist” who was “beat up in high school a lot,” according to screenshots shared by Webber. He also repeatedly asserted that Webber is gay and has a secret boyfriend (neither are true.)

“Tell Stephen’ [sic] boyfriend hello, yes, I know he likes boys,” Bayse wrote in one undated email.

Many screenshots could not be independently verified, but they appear to mainly be responses to Facebook messages and emails, and they fit Basye’s notoriously aggressive tone as a politician.

In multiple posts, Basye uses homophobic slurs and anti-LGBTQ hate speech, such as calling inclusivity “transgender bulls—.” In reply to one sarcastic comment saying, “Happy Flag Day!” with an animated GIF of a Progressive Pride Flag, Basye wrote, “Happy F– Day!!” and included an anti-trans meme.

“You and the f—– … obviously don’t know anything about me, but if I ever see either of you p—ies in public you’ll find out,” another Facebook message reads.

EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING

Over the last day people have been sending me screenshots of all the vile things @MoSenateGOP candidate Chuck Basye has said to them.
Please donate here to show Basye’s vulgar brand of hate has no place in Boone County ➡️ https://t.co/kx5pzLUQZh pic.twitter.com/uhZIEiS3JU

— Stephen Webber (@s_webber) March 27, 2024

On Wednesday morning, on a sparsely used X account connected to his campaign website, Basye called a former statehouse reporter a “fat b——.”

Basye declined to comment on the past messages, but he shared harsh words for Webber and the people that criticize him on X, including a former Democratic secretary of state.

“It appears that Stephen Webber is afraid of a challenge from a former legislator who actually accomplished many great legislative victories for Missouri, most notably substantive legislation benefiting families with disabled children and our military veterans. Webber didn’t accomplish anything during his eight-year tenure in the General Assembly except missing over 1,000 votes!” Basye wrote. “It appears the people spouting off on X are a bunch of losers, especially that p—- Jason Kander!”

“Vile comments from a deeply bigoted individual,” Webber said in response to Basye’s comments. “A stunningly vulgar way to treat people in a community that you’re running to represent.”

Basye’s confrontational demeanor on social media has been documented in the past, where he regularly refers to liberals as “snowflakes.” In his final days in the Missouri House of Representatives, Basye was confronted on the House floor by state Rep. Ian Mackey (D-St. Louis), who lambasted Basye for supporting an anti-trans piece of legislation.

Meanwhile, in Missouri, State Representative @IanMack03007724 gives one of the most powerful speeches I have ever heard.

Turn on the volume. You want this timeline cleanse.pic.twitter.com/IPaxHtEJyH

— Lindsey Simmons (@Lynz_Simmons) April 15, 2022

Basye served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023, where he represented the state’s 47^th House District until he was forced to leave due to term limits. In 2023, he unsuccessfully ran for a position on the Columbia Board of Education but lost even though he led the other candidates in fundraising by a wide margin. Basye filed to run for the state’s 19^th Senate District against Webber on Tuesday, the deadline for filing.