Exhibit: Mike France.
😬Arrested for assaulting his kid
👎Chair of the Conservative Caucus
😳Couldn't say Biden won
🚩Openly celebrated the end of Roe
‼️Pushed out of his third congressional run for being too "establishment".
The 2017-era "Fiscal Guardrails" CT GOP is gone. Legislate accordingly.
Exactly how are we supposed to believe CT GOP legislators are acting in good faith when this is their public message?
This is a far fall from the GOP caucus that crafted the Guardrails/Roadblocks.
They are full-on MAGA now, and need to be dealt with as such.
www.facebook.com/share/r/1DeV...
Story here.
bsky.app/profile/erin...
Last night's results from North Carolina's primary are a clear sign.
Folks want leaders who will push back on this cruelty and stop tolerating or enabling it.
Only losers try to appease transphobes.
NEW: We have at least 2 CT GOP candidates on RW radio shows saying that abortions are not the only thing they want notification for.
One cited "major surgery" and the other cited "gender identity".
That's clear intent to expand this to GAC, if you ask us.
Judiciary Dems: Kill HB 5309!
This needs work, Courant.
The Conservative Caucus, of which Lanoue is a member, has put this bill in every year. It's not just him.
Rep. Gilchrest, as usual, is correct on this issue. Judiciary needs to kill this bill and never bring it up again.
digitaledition.courant.com/shortcode/82...
Description: screenshot of a facebook post from state representative Brian Lanoue (R-45) where he announced that his bill to require parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion will get a public hearing. This notification bill is introduced almost every year by the Conservative Caucus, because they believe it is the only place they can make progress in curtailing reproductive freedom in CT. In a previous post covering their 2026 agenda, we highlighted the dangers of such notification laws. The hearing is scheduled for next week. End description.
Description: screenshot of a Conservative Caucus facebook post from March 2025, where they announced parental notification for a minor seeking an abortion as part of their "Make Connecticut Great Again" agenda. End description.
We have no idea what Judiciary was thinking here. This hearing is going to be a clown show, and they will regret having it, especially in a short session.
The Con Caucus puts this bill in almost every year, in a deliberate attempt to curtail repro rights. Just say no!
Fun fact: both Sampson and Candelora are founding members of the Conservative Caucus.
If you want to help push the Con Caucus into oblivion, end unlimited debate. We can hear less of their crap, and more bills can pass.
ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/02/26/c...
NEW: Former Congressional Candidate and State Representative Mike France (R-Ledyard) has filed to run for the 19th Senate District against Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague)!
Republican Jason Guidone of Hebron, who ran against Osten in 2024, has also filed.
Description: screenshot of an X post by GOP congressional candidate George Austin, outside the National Republican Congressional Committee, or NRCC, in Washington, DC. The NRCC puts money into competitive congressional races. CT-2 was on the NRCC's target list for 2022. In 2021, the NRCC put CT-2 on the target list after a wave of GOP municipal wins that year. However, two consecutive resounding victories by Joe Courtney over Mike France in 2022 and 2024 have since kept CT-2 off that list. After 2025's municipal results, we assess it is highly unlikely that Austin can convince the NRCC that he stands much of a chance in CT-2. End description.
If only the rest of us could be blessed with the confidence to think we could make the NRCC think CT-2 is competitive.
Mike France accused George Austin of "selling snake oil", and this is a good example of what a bottle of it looks like.
The CT GOP believes that notification laws - whether for abortions or even basic mental health care - are consensus positions, citing their use in many other states.
It's another GOP "parents know best" sales pitch. But CT legislators should not fall for it.
ifwhenhow.org/news/parenta...
Description: a list of bills that we believe form the 2026 Conservative Caucus agenda. The list reads by topic, bill numbers, and sponsors. Would privatize the Department of Motor Vehicles. SB 81 - Sampson, Fishbein, Anderson Would Eliminate the Highway Use Tax. SB 49, HB 5096, HB 5084, HB 5062, HB 5058, HB 5025, HB 5011 HB 5107 - Fishbein, Anderson, Mastrofrancesco, Dubitsky, Piscopo, Weir, Berthel, Bolinsky, Bronko, Zawistowski Would exempt social security benefits and pension/annuity income from the personal income tax. SB 70 - Sampson, Dauphinais, Mastrofrancesco Would eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit. SB 69 - Sampson, Dauphinais, Mastrofrancesco, Anderson Would prohibit state agencies from charging service fees for payment by card. SB 79 - Sampson, Mastofrancesco, Fishbein Would eliminate a tax or fee if it does not collect as much revenue as it costs to administer. SB 72 - Sampson, Mastrofrancesco, Fishbein Would require parental Notification Requirement for Minor Seeking Abortion Care*. HB 5309, HB 5307 - Lanoue End description.
The Conservative Caucus did not release a formal agenda for the 2026 session, but we have a good feel for it a couple of weeks in.
Only one topic is a carryover: Parental Notification for a minor seeking abortion care. The rest are largely tax-related, except for a bill to privatize the DMV.
Remember - this is what the CT GOP wants for IDs at the polls.
"People could use other forms of government ID at the polls, specifically including concealed weapons permits, but the legislation would explicitly rule out student identification, even if issued by a state college or university."
Description: screenshot of an X post by republican congressional candidate George Austin. He is re-posting a tweet from Elon Musk making fun of the city of New York for requiring IDs to apply to be a paid snowshoveler. GOP ID laws will often select which IDs are acceptable based on which voter groups use them. In North Carolina, one law was struck down because it was crafted to exclude the IDs African-Americans used the most. And in Idaho, a recent law excluded state-issued photo IDs for college students. Republicans have tried to sell photo ID laws as a solution to voter fraud, but there is no sound proof that is happening anywhere. Photo ID laws are just another way that the GOP id trying to pick and choose who gets to vote. End description.
Joe Courtney's opponent thinks Musk is clever here.
But imagine if the city could pick and choose which IDs were acceptable for this application, and decided to exclude the ones most used by people of color.
And for anyone who ever changed their name, this would still not be enough paperwork.
This is who the CT GOP wants to run against Joe Courtney.
"MAGA Mike" France was not MAGA enough for them. 😬
(Points repeatedly at watch)
Our turn, CT! Let's go!
47 has already called CT's voting corrupt, just like he did with NM. NM is doing something about it.
www.abqjournal.com/news/amid-pa...
A much-needed bill!
Thanks to the GAE co-chairs!
In 2019, the Conservative Caucus wrote a lengthy letter demanding CT's congressional delegation oppose H.R. 1, the "For the People Act", because it contained pro-voter provisions.
They are not going to like this bill. 🤭
Cool story, bro.
CT already has a voter ID law.
You're just mad you can't win here.
This is amazing news!
We can't wait to see how well the Conservative Caucus takes the news.
Heads up to @cthousedems.bsky.social @ctsenatedems.bsky.social and any other elected official who can see this - this clip could supercharge the MAGAs in the state who are trying to restrict voting here.
Remind them that half the Registrars in CT are Republicans, as a starting point.
Wild take on "Democrats hate law enforcement" from "Mr. Law and Order" himself - a guy who worships ICE and backed a convicted criminal for a state rep race.
ctnewsjunkie.com/2026/02/09/c...
Description: Screenshot of an X post from Congressional candidate George Austin. In it he shares a post depicting someone wearing an ICE uniform and supposedly singing the Somali national anthem at a college basketball game. He commented, "someone tell me this is false, please". There is a community note stating "this video is AI-generated". That he posted it with comment, despite the community note, raises concerns about how gullible he is. End description.
If Austin can be duped this easily, imagine how excited a foreign intelligence service would be to have him in office.
Imagine how frustrated Mike France must be to have lost to this guy. 😬
We wonder if @repjoecourtney.bsky.social knows about this...😬
A maddening, but enlightening, report. Worth the time to read.
It draws a clear line through Epstein and those who associated with him to the frightening reality trans people endure today.
Ergo: the appearance of a record number of anti-trans bills last year by the CT GOP was NOT "organic".
@ctpublic.bsky.social @ctmirror.org @ctnewsjunkie.bsky.social @hartfordcourant.bsky.social
Any CT media - why have we not seen a story about this? It's a significant development. France once had CT-2 on the NRCC target list, and rated as a Tossup. What happened?
There's a story here!
Description: screenshot of an X post from George Austin, sharing Elon Musk's re-tweet of the President's demand for "voter ID". Efforts to require photo ID, and for legislatures to select what IDs are acceptable for voting, are a cornerstone conservative policy goal and have been shown to disenfranchise voter blocs who often vote Democratic, such as minorities and students. End description.
Description: screenshot of an X post from George Austin, where he re-tweets a transphobic Fox News article supporting a court case that would ban transgender athletes from sports. Such "sports bans" against transgender athletes have been shown to be part of a larger conservative policy campaign to eradicate the transgender community from American public life. End description.
Description: screenshot of an X post from George Austin, where he re-tweets a post from the "Libs of TikTok" account. He uses a transphobic phrase, "gender confusion" in his comment, indicating transphobia. He also disparages public education and advocates for "school choice. The re-tweeted post is said by Libs of TikTok to show a teacher instructing students on how to protest ICE. "School Choice" is a cornerstone campaign to destroy public education and allow schools to violate the Civil Rights Act and Brown v Board of Education ruling. Libs of TikTok is a notorious content creator known for posting right-wing political content, often spinning content and context to push false conservative narratives. End description.
Description: Screenshot of an X post by George Austin, where he re-tweets an account that shared a post from James O'Keefe. The post falsely accuses anti-ICE protestors of being financed by an unspecified group of organizations. James O'Keefe is a discredited former journalist who attempts to shape political opinion using manipulated content and push false conservative narratives. Austin sharing this indicates that he views O'Keefe as a trusted source of information, which is concerning for someone running for Congress. End description.
Mike France's withdrawal from the CT-2 race leaves George Austin of Suffield as the presumptive GOP nominee.
A quick scroll of his socials tells you all you need to know: openly transphobic, "voter fraud is everywhere", and just look at where he gets his talking points from. 😬
Rep. Vail is a Conservative Caucus member, and Sen. Sampson was the Caucus' first Chair.
If their retort here is "not the ICE agents I know", then they should save their outrage for DHS and the Administration. They are the ones that made ICE what it is today.
www.ctinsider.com/politics/art...
We assess that it's because he will lose the Convention, or at least have to endure a bruising Primary.
He only re-entered the race because the state party dragged him back in after Austin filed. That makes him the "establishment candidate. And a loser - so maybe the Rs are looking for someone new.
Screenshot of France's post announcing that he is suspending his campaign. Part 1 of 2. Quote: Over the past several months, I have traveled thousands of miles across Eastern Connecticut, met with hundreds of party leaders, and participated in countless meetings and local events. One message has come through loud and clear from Republicans, Democrats, and Unaffiliated voters alike: Eastern Connecticut needs new leadership in Congress—leadership that prioritizes affordability over blind party loyalty, and results over rhetoric. Congressman Joe Courtney has failed to provide that leadership, and our district deserves better. Replacing him with a Republican who will fight for Eastern Connecticut—not against it—remains essential. From the outset, building on the success of our previous campaigns, there was a narrow but real path to victory in this race. Experience matters. Facts matter. Success requires unity, discipline, and a shared commitment to defeating the incumbent. Unfortunately, a small number of Republican leaders in Eastern Connecticut chose internal division over cooperation. Their actions fractured the coalition necessary to win and undermined the progress we had made. After deep reflection and consultation with my family, I have concluded that I cannot continue to devote the extraordinary time and energy required to overcome these obstacles while also honoring my family and professional responsibilities. I also believe it is not appropriate to ask hardworking families across Eastern Connecticut to continue investing in a campaign that will win the convention and primary but cannot win the general election—which is what ultimately matters. As a result, I am suspending my campaign for Congress."
Screenshot of France's post announcing that he is suspending his campaign. Part 2 of 2. Quote: "I am deeply grateful to the supporters, volunteers, and donors who stood with me throughout this fight. Your commitment was real, meaningful, and impactful. Together, we forced accountability, strengthened Republican competitiveness in Eastern Connecticut, and supported critical down-ballot efforts that will continue to matter long after this race. I remain confident that Eastern Connecticut will elect a Republican to Congress—but only if we commit to unity, discipline, and principled leadership focused on winning, not internal power struggles. Thank you, Mike France"
NEW: France Surrenders! 🤭
In a post earlier this afternoon, Mike France announced that he is suspending his campaign. This comes about 7 months after re-entering the race following his second loss in 2024.
George Austin of Suffield is the lone Republican in the race now.
Not that they care about scientific evidence, but the Conservative Caucus is NOT going to like this. 🤗
“Blanket bans on transgender women in sport are not supported by the best available evidence,” Dr Cheung said, adding that “fairness and inclusion can coexist”.
