Emilio Defeats MacCormack In GOP Primary
Will face off against Boyd for 50th District in November
After controversial comments from a 50th District GOP candidate pushed an election race into turmoil, a last-minute push by area Republicans has led to a new face set to challenge the Democratic incumbent in November.
In the GOP Primary held Tuesday, Aug. 11, Anthony Emilio (Pomfret) defeated Jadon MacCormack (Brooklyn) by a district-wide count of 368-90, which represents an 80.3-percent advantage for Emilio. In Eastford, Emilio defeated MacCormack by a total of 65-8. According to Town Clerk Johanna Wolfe, there were 59 machine poll votes on Aug. 11, no absentee ballots, and 14 early voting ballots. In total, 73 Republican voters were counted among 448 registered Republicans in Eastford, yielding a 16.29-percent voter turnout.
MacCormack, 23, was declared the Republican candidate in May, and was originally slated to run unopposed in the Primary and go on to challenge Democratic incumbent Pat Boyd (D-Pomfret) in the State House of Representatives’ 50th District, which covers the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Mansfield, Pomfret, and Woodstock. The election is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
However, in a social media post on June 2 titled “Happy Straight Month,” MacCormack stated he would “stand against the transgender and LGBT movement that has for too long corrupted our families, undermined parental authority, and eroded the foundational values of our society.” He added he would “fight relentlessly in the state legislature to protect our children from premature medical interventions, indoctrination in schools, and the normalization of perverse ideologies that threaten the innocence of the next generation.”
The post drew immediate backlash from both sides of the aisle, especially when further comments by MacCormack were featured on an episode of “Reese on the Radio,” on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 on June 3. In the episode, MacCormack confirmed his support for the death penalty for “sodomites,” confirming a post made on the social media site X on Aug. 11, 2025, replying to Dominic Michael Tripi’s post about the Supreme Court considering overturning a gay marriage ruling with a picture of a noose with the caption: “The Bible has a better idea.”
“I want to bring us back to the old past and the truth of what made America the land of the free,” MacCormack said on the “Reese on the Radio” episode June 3. “When it comes to putting on the death penalty, we need to focus on what is proper. We can't have people molesting children. Perverts, these horrible people, they should get the death penalty too. I believe every sodomite is a pervert.”
The Connecticut GOP released a statement later that week that sought to distance itself from MacCormack’s statements.
“The Connecticut Republican Party strongly condemns any rhetoric, explicit or implicit, that can be interpreted as encouraging hostility, intimidation, or violence toward any individual or group,” the statement read. “At a time when our nation continues to witness the real-world consequences of inflammatory political discourse amplified through social media, candidates for public office have a heightened responsibility to choose their words carefully and to promote civil, respectful debate. The recent statements made by [MacCormack] fall far short of that standard.”
Facing calls to withdraw from the race, MacCormack remained defiant, stating publicly that he had no regrets and that he would “never withdraw.” In a social media post on June 4, he doubled down on his statements.
“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,” he stated in the June 4 post. “I will never withdraw. I plan on running the most impactful campaign of this election cycle … I stand by every word. Those who oppose my statements have immoral judgment and are not upholding the founding principles of Connecticut.”
In the days after the comments, news began to emerge that Emilio would be collecting signatures across the district to challenge MacCormack in the primary. The minimum number of signatures required was 238, and Emilio collected 340 — including some at Experience Eastford on June 6. Emilio officially joined the ballot for Aug. 11 and began to campaign.
Christopher Bowen, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, promoted the petition before Experience Eastford and spoke to the effect the controversy has had in town.
“The positions [MacCormack] has been promoting are rooted in division and hostility, and they run counter to the basic values of respect, dignity, and liberty that hold communities together,” Bowen said. “When public voices spread messages that demean and attack others, it harms more than individuals; it erodes the sense of safety that we all deserve. … Adding your name to the petition is a simple but meaningful way to push back against the hate and support a better future for everyone.”
Although the turnout for the primary was relatively small, the support for Emilio was clear. After the victory, Emilio reflected on the results in a post on social media on the evening of Aug. 11.
“I am incredibly grateful to the voters of the 50th District for placing their trust in me and our campaign,” Emilio said. “Tonight’s victory is a tremendous honor, and I am proud to be heading to the general election as our Republican nominee. Throughout this campaign, I have heard from residents who want a representative who will listen, work hard, defend our towns, and focus on results. I hope to bring integrity back to this role and provide the 50th District with the full attention, common sense, and steady leadership it deserves.”
“Public service is about much more than winning political points,” Emilio continued. “It is about respecting every resident, listening to different perspectives, and working together to find solutions that strengthen our communities. As I look ahead to the general election, I will work to earn the trust of residents across the entire 50th District, regardless of party or political affiliation. Thank you to my family, our volunteers, supporters, and everyone who cast a ballot. I am humbled by your support and excited to continue this campaign toward November.”
After the defeat, MacCormack remained defiant, declaring he intends to shift his focus to running for Congress in 2028, while also maintaining a fiery offensive on his primary opponent.
“I am the true winner in this Republican Party,” he said. “I have seen and exposed scandals while calling out unethical behavior. I have not backed down and never will. Connecticut needs the 2nd Congressional leadership I have already demonstrated. Full sights set on 2028. A small district race with fewer than 500 votes cast is a clear reflection of the Republican Party’s failure. Thirty-plus uncontested Democrat seats across the state, while the GOP scrambles to field a candidate in three days, tells the whole story. I will reform this party and Make America Straight Again. God is on my side, and I know many supporters remain. As for ‘Troubled Tony,’ you may have won the battle, but go back to the retirement home you came from. We do not need leaders with one foot already in the grave. [Being a man] who never wanted to run until someone became ‘controversial’ and the GOP needed a last-minute handout doesn’t make you a patriot but a pathetic pawn.”
In other Primary results, incumbent Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont defeated challenger Josh Elliot, 74,576 (67.4 percent) to 36,092 (32.6 percent). In Eastford, Lamont emerged victorious with a 64-44 win. According to Wolfe, there were 60 machine poll votes on Aug. 11, with seven absentee ballots, and 41 early voting ballots. In total, 108 Democrats voted out of 264 registered Democrats in Eastford, yielding a 40.91-percent voter turnout.
