Auditor candidate becomes social media sensation by comparing the College Republicans to Nazis

June 18, 2025 – Republican State Auditor candidate Dadeville businessman Robert McCollum has been taking fire on and off social media for angry social media posts that he made in which he compared the College Republican Federation of Alabama to the Nazi Party.

"The College Republican Federation of Alabama Chair can be compared to Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin," Robert L. McCollum posted on his X social media account.

That was followed by,

"The College Republican Federation of Alabama can be compared to the NAZI party from the 1930s or the Communists."

That triggered a lengthy exchange on social media between McCollum and some of the young Republicans in which some foul language was uttered.

The comments were in response to a straw poll that the College Republicans had at their state convention. The College Republicans held a hastily prepared straw poll that did not include all of the candidates and possible candidates.

Robert McCollum was one of those candidates who were left off the ballot. Derek Chen and Josh Pendergrass – McCollum's opponents were included on the straw poll even though he announced ahead of either of them and has run for statewide office twice previously – for the Public Service Commission.

When asked why he was not on the ballot, Robert was told that it was because he "Was not a major candidate."

This slight coming after the previous slight so angered Robert that it leading to an angry tirade on social media in which he blasted the College Republicans collectively and College Republicans President individually, including repeated comparison to them to the Nazi Party of 1920s to 1940s Germany.

McCollum spoke to the Alabama Gazette late on Wednesday night about his comments and the situation.

"I call em like I see em," an unapologetic McCollum told the Gazette,

McCollum said that he was slandered by some of the people in the exchange.

"Saying my businesses are my mama's and I am living off my mama," said McCollum vigorously denying the allegation.

The Gazette asked McCollum if he was concerned about Republican groups barring him from speaking to them about his campaign going forward.

"I will be there with a video camera," said McCollum

"They are calling me everything in the book," said McCollum. "Nobody is disagreeing with me."

"Telling the guy to F____ off. That is the only thing I would be willing to apologize for," said McCollum of his comments to the Chair of the Alabama College Republicans. "Stay tuned because I am doubling down."

McCollum expressed his concern that actions taken by groups like the College Republicans to minimize participation will backfire on the party.

McCollum suggested that certain sinister forces within the Alabama Republican Party were trying to pick winners and losers in the elections and that that behavior had the possibility of fracturing the Republican base in Alabama.

"I hate to see the Republicans roll out the red carpet for a Democratic Party takeover of the state by 2034, which is what the College Republicans are doing," said McCollum. "If things keep going we will be like Georgia where either party can win."

McCollum insists that he still believes in President Donald J. Trump and the national agenda of the Republican Party.

"I am a Trump supporter," said McCollum. "I voted for him three times."

McCollum is a Dadeville businessman. He previously ran for Public Service Commission President in 2024 and for Public Service Commissioner in 2022 failing to win the Republican nomination either time; though he did make the Republican primary runoff in 2022.

Birmingham attorney Derek Chen and former Kay Ivey aide Josh Pendergrass are the other announced candidates for the Republican nomination for State Auditor. Incumbent Auditor Andrew Sorrell (R) is running for Secretary of State so the seat is open.

The Republican Primary is on May 19, 2026.