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Rather Than Merely Denouncing MacCormack, GOP Leaders Can Find an Alternative Candidate — They Only Need 239 Signatures.

Connecticut Republicans are desperately trying to distance themselves from Jadon MacCormack, their extremist endorsed candidate for state representative in the 50th district and former legislative staffer, who has repeatedly doubled down on social media posts supporting executing LGBTQ+ people. 

MacCormack’s social media feeds are an unending chain of vile posts concerning LGBTQ+ people, Black people, Catholics, Jews, women, and more. MacCormack has been posting these opinions proudly for years, which the CT GOP was apparently and inexplicably unaware of, as he claimed their endorsement.

At this point, GOP leaders have only appealed to MacCormack to drop out of his own volition. He has refused, and even worse, doubled down. MacCormack went on WTIC yesterday to make it clear that he is proudly committed to implementing the death penalty for all LGBTQ+ people in Connecticut. 

“At the end of the day, we’re focused on just having the legislation be in control of what happens to sodomites,” MacCormack said. “Now, I’m not calling for individuals to be violent toward people. Now, I want the government to be in that position to have – and include – the death penalty.”

“I believe that I’m very race-inclusive: If you’re a sodomite, you should get the death penalty, simple as that,” he said during the interview.

The CT GOP’s biggest names, including Ryan Fazio, not only failed to stop extremist Jadon MacCormack from walking onto the ballot but are now failing to organize a response. Despite claiming “Republicans hold their candidates to a higher standard,” Fazio offered nothing but vague platitudes and a toothless call for MacCormack to withdraw.

Since the GOP continues to dither and distance themselves, rather than actually attempting to clean up their own mess, Democrats will be the ones to point out that they can still replace him.

Any candidate can still qualify for the August 11 primary election. Parties and candidates have until Tuesday, June 9 at 4:00 p.m. to gather signatures from just 5% of the district’s registered Republican enrollment. As of this morning, that means they need just 239 petition signatures from enrolled Republicans in the district. 

Any local Republican horrified by MacCormack’s deeply disturbing ideology can and should act swiftly to do what statewide party leadership failed to do and ensure MacCormack is defeated in August before he even wins the nomination.

“Republicans do not get to nominate a candidate like Jadon MacCormack, wait until the backlash becomes unavoidable, and then simply wash their hands of the situation,” said CT Dems spokesperson Ian Clarke. “They have a clear path, a clear deadline, and a very manageable number of signatures to obtain. 239 signatures to say this vile individual is unacceptable."

Quick Facts: 

• Deadline: Petition signatures must be filed with the Secretary of State by Tuesday, June 9 at 4:00 p.m.

• Signature threshold: An alternative Republican candidate would need only 239 valid signatures to qualify for the primary ballot, to deny MacCormack an automatic primary win. 

• Who can sign: Signatures must come from enrolled Republicans in the district.

• Town-by-town petitions: Signatures must be collected on separate petition pages for each town. A Republican from one town cannot sign a petition page for another town and still have that signature count.
  

For Additional References:

• Secretary of the State — Candidate Ballot Access

• Secretary of the State — Nominating and Primary Petitions

• Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 153 — Nominations and Political Parties