Connecticut is a case study in what happens when political competition vanishes. Democrats now hold every statewide office and a supermajority in the legislature, but the dysfunction runs deeper than partisan dominance. The Republican Party, once a viable counterweight, bears a heavy share of responsibility for decades of corruption, backroom deals, and exclusionary politics that have left the state’s government unaccountable, and its citizens disillusioned.
With the June 24, 2025, Republican State Chair election just days away, the spotlight is not only on the Democrats’ grip on power but on the GOP’s own failures. The party’s legacy includes bribery, convictions, and ethical lapses—most notably, former Republican state chairman Richard Foley’s conviction for accepting a $25,000 bribe from developers in exchange for influencing state banking legislation. Yet, the culture of questionable conduct is not limited to Republicans.
Current Democratic Governor Ned Lamont’s administration has also come under FBI investigation after his former deputy budget director, Kosta Diamantis, was implicated in a scandal involving state construction contracts and the hiring of his daughter by the state’s top prosecutor. Rather than face direct legal consequences, Lamont’s administration commissioned an outside accounting firm to review the matter, ultimately releasing a report that found no laws were broken, though the appearance of conflict and lack of oversight were widely criticized. This pattern—where both parties have enabled or evaded accountability—has fueled public distrust and left Connecticut’s government mired in scandal and secrecy.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the chairmanship election itself, where only 74 insiders—the State Central Committee—hold the power to decide the party’s future. Grassroots Republicans and the public are locked out by design, and even identifying these gatekeepers has proven nearly impossible for reformers. The party is now bankrupt and cannot afford anyone to answer the phones. The current Chairman is unreachable for an interview, further highlighting the disconnect and dysfunction at the top.
Word spread that the our tour was seeking information on the process, whistleblowers or prospective candidates, someone called in to alert the tour that Jason B. Douglass—a lifelong Connecticut resident and licensed private detective—had officially put his name in as a challenger for State Chairman. It was a shocking realization: that in fact there was no operating central office for the Republican Party, the Connecticut people were reaching out to us, that underscored just how bankrupt and closed off the party had become.
AbleChild provided several names of voting members to Jason B. Douglass who provided us with the following background. Jason is based in Manchester, in the 1st Congressional District. With roots in Vernon and a background in fundraising and broadcasting, Douglass is a MAGA, MAHA candidate who has worked in all 169 of the state’s communities and traveled to all 50 states, but his commitment is firmly to Connecticut’s future. Douglass began reaching out to the 74 voters. Douglass is urging any voting member who has not yet been contacted, or who wants to hear directly from a challenger, to reach out to him at (860) 982-6654 or [email protected].
The entrenched resistance to reform was thrown into sharp focus during a call with Joe Hoxha, one of the 74 voting members. When AbleChild reached out to inform him of Douglass’s candidacy and raise concerns about the process and the lack of access of any kind, Hoxha responded defensively implying that the evidence we were presenting the actual names of candidates, whistleblowers about the process were complainers and stating that he was committed to supporting the current Chairman, even though he admitted the Chairman had performed poorly. The conversation ended with him screaming, “If there is another candidate, he can call me immediately!” Indeed, Douglass called him right away. The entire episode was a stark example of the mob-like protection and defensiveness that pervades party leadership, making it nearly impossible to break through the wall of silence or register any concerns. Hoxha later called back to apologize, explaining that he was upset about something else and acknowledging that we had legitimate questions. He said he would call him back out of courtesy but pledged his support to the current poor performing chairman.
The “Take Back Connecticut Tour” has been rolling through towns, meeting with overwhelming support from the public. The RV, emblazoned with images of Martin Luther King Jr., President Kennedy, and President Trump, has drawn crowds and sparked conversations across party lines—even Democrats have engaged with the team, hungry for transparency, change and civil engagement. AbleChild & Logical Conservative.com encountered two federal congressional candidates who are outspoken about the lack of help from the current chairman: Jonathan DeBarros, running as a Republican in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District against Democratic incumbent Jahana Hayes, and Chris Lancia, Republican candidate in the 3rd Congressional District challenging longtime Democratic incumbent Rosa DeLauro. It is important to note that our nonprofit organizations have not endorsed these candidates; they came to us after hearing about the tour. It is shocking these are congressional candidates without support from the Chairman. Whistleblowers have come forward, describing a culture of exclusion and a chairman who refuses to provide access or guidance for challengers.
With just days left before the vote, Connecticut’s Republican Party faces a reckoning. Will it cling to secrecy, exclusion, and the corruption that led to its collapse—or open the door to real reform and accountability? The outcome will not only decide the party’s future but serve as a powerful example to the nation of how political parties can either perpetuate or break the cycle of corruption. The clock is ticking, and the nation is watching. This is only day two of the tour, and we will continue to write about significant events to keep the Nation informed on Connecticut’s struggle for authentic representation.
AbleChild is a 501(3) C nonprofit organization has recently co-written landmark legislation in Tennessee, setting a national precedent for transparency and accountability in the intersection of mental health, pharmaceutical practices, and public safety.
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