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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A Connecticut Republican candidate has told Newsweek he has "no regrets" despite facing bipartisan backlash—and a public rebuke from his own party—after declaring June “Straight Month” and describing Pride celebrations as something Americans should oppose.
Jadon E. MacCormack, 23, is running for a seat in Connecticut’s 50th House District, a largely rural region in the state’s northeast.
A first-time candidate who worked at the state Capitol earlier this year, he posted on Facebook at the start of June, which is widely observed as Pride Month.
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“Happy Straight Month! It’s American to be Anti-Pride Month,” MacCormack wrote, going on to say he would “stand firmly against the Transgender and LGBT movement.”
The post quickly drew criticism not only from Democrats but also from senior Republicans, triggering a rare public split within the state party.
"On America’s 250th Anniversary, I see this issue as a major turning point for the country, but for local communities especially; one rooted in the founding principles of Connecticut," MacCormack told Newsweek. "I have no regrets."
GOP Leaders Distance Themselves
Within hours, Connecticut House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora moved to distance the party from MacCormack’s remarks, stressing that they did not reflect Republican priorities.
“Mr. MacCormack’s recent comments about Pride Month are his own. They don’t speak for the Republican Party here,” Candelora said, adding that the remarks were “immature and reckless.”
Candelora went further, questioning the candidate’s suitability for office and calling on him to withdraw from the race altogether.
“The best thing he can do for the 50th District now is step aside,” he said.
In a separate statement, the Connecticut Republican Party issued a broader condemnation, warning that MacCormack’s rhetoric crossed a line for public officials.
In a statement, the party said his comments could be interpreted as encouraging hostility toward LGBTQ people and emphasized that his views are “not representative of the Connecticut Republican Party.”
It concluded that the candidate had “disqualified himself” from serving as a Republican standard-bearer and urged him to end his campaign.
Bipartisan Backlash
Criticism extended beyond party lines, with Democrats and other state leaders condemning the tone and substance of the post.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont called the remarks “unacceptable” and “completely out of step with Connecticut values,” stressing that the state “welcomes people” and “respects differences.”
While Connecticut State Senator Jeff Gordon called the comments “hateful” and denounced the language as “reprehensible.”
The reaction reflected unusually broad agreement across Connecticut’s political spectrum, and comes amid wider Republican tensions over Pride Month messaging. Earlier this week, Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles faced bipartisan backlash for a since-deleted post declaring that “homosexuality has no place in America” and wishing followers a “Happy Nuclear Family Month,” before later apologizing and blaming a staffer.
Around the same time, Indiana Governor Mike Braun declared June “Nuclear Family Month,” a move that has drawn criticism for its timing alongside Pride Month and for promoting a traditional definition of family.
Candidate Refuses to Back Down
Despite the mounting pressure, MacCormack has shown no signs of retreating.
"I have experienced firsthand the weak and immoral political system of the Republican establishment within the Grand Old Party in Connecticut. The Democratic leadership has failed Connecticut and we need real reform to both parties," he said.
Responding to criticism from his own party, he dismissed the calls for him to step aside as “absurd” and accused Republican leaders of weakness.
"There is a clear reason Connecticut is in such deep decline: too many Republicans in office have grown weak and complacent. What the party desperately needs is the bold, principled mindset that young conservatives like myself are bringing to the fight," MacCormack wrote on Facebook.
"I will never withdraw," MacCormack said. "I plan on running the most impactful campaign of this election cycle alongside Ryan Fazio on the ballot."
The controversy leaves MacCormack politically isolated within his own party just months before voters head to the polls.
He is seeking to represent a seven-town district currently held by Democrat Patrick Boyd, who has served since 2017.
Update 06/04/26, 10:51 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Jadon E. MacCormack and a new headline.
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