“It’s American to be Anti-Pride Month,” wrote Jadon MacCormack, the 23-year-old GOP candidate for Connecticut’s 50th House District, in a now-viral social media post announcing his intention to “stand firmly against the Transgender and LGBT movement” and celebrate “Straight Month” this June.
His post drew immediate blowback and calls for him to drop out of the race:
- Governor Ned Lamont called the comments “hateful” and “completely out of step with Connecticut values. Elected democrats, Democrat Town Committees and candidates from all across the state similarly condemned the comments, and called on MacCormack to pull the plug on his campaign.
- House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said it was “sickening to think that this candidate wants to spew this kind of poison in the people’s chamber.’
- Vanita Bhalla, the vice chair of the Connecticut Democrat Party, said MacCormack represents an element of the contemporary GOP — he’s a “MAGA extremist.”
- The Young Democrats of CT said the comments were “part of a clear, unvarnished pattern of hate” and pushed Ryan Fazio and CT GOP leadership to take concrete action against MacCormack’s dialogue.
- The Connecticut Republican Party issued a statement strongly condemning “any rhetoric… encouraging hostility, intimidation, or violence toward any individual or group,” asserting that McCormack “crossed a line.”
- CT GOP Chair Ben Proto said MacCormack”immediately withdraw his candidacy and step aside.”
- Gubernatorial candidate Ryan Fazio echoed the CT GOP’s sentiment, as did Republican State Senator Jeff Gordon, whose district covers much of the same area as the 50th House District. Gordon strongly condemned the “reprehensible” comments.
- House Minority Leader Vince Candelora said it was “immature and reckless”, “hate speech” and a sign MacCormack “isn’t ready for the responsibility he’s asking voters to give him.”
Rep. Candelora noted in a subsequent social media post that he will “always call out anyone who supports violence.” He included an image MacCormack had posted of a noose with the comment, “The Bible has a better idea,” in reference to gay marriage.
Hellbound and Down 