When New Hampshire state Rep. Jess Grill (D-Manchester) sent out a bipartisan invitation to sing karaoke at a local bar after the end of last week’s house legislative session, she thought failing to find a third person to join her to sing TLC’s “No Scrubs” would be the worst case scenario.
Instead, a Republican colleague posted the invitation to social media with a reference to the Holocaust.
“We need a final solution for theater kids in politics,” GOP State Rep. Travis Corcoran wrote in an X post, which is still up. The post was first brought to wide exposure by Granite Post.
Corcoran is a darling of New Hampshire Republican State House leadership, recently appearing alongside House Majority Leader Jason Osborne headlining an event for the State Libertarian Party.
While Corcoran and his allies have tried to downplay the seriousness of the post, Grill, who is Jewish, said she felt the need to take the threat seriously in light of growing antisemitic violence, including last Thursday’s attack on a Michigan synagogue with more than 100 children inside.
“This type of behavior is completely unacceptable and has no place in our legislature, particularly in response to an invitation to a bipartisan, apolitical event. We need to condemn these comments at every opportunity, and I’m grateful for those on both sides of the aisle who have chosen to do so,” said Grill in an interview with Granite Post.
The incident gained wide coverage from WMUR, NHPR, and InDepthNH.
Corcoran is well known in New Hampshire politics for his frequent use of racist slurs and inflammatory comments.
Republican House Speaker Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry) — well-known for doling out stiff punishments for minor behavioral breaches by House Democrats and ignoring major issues among Republican lawmakers — issued a rare statement condemning Corcoran, but gave no signal that any meaningful punishment would follow.
“The recent rhetoric shared by Rep. Corcoran is deeply inappropriate,” Packard wrote in a statement.
Some other state GOP lawmakers also joined in rebuking Corcoran.
“The social skills of a five-year-old. This antisemitic post is disgusting. This is on par with his ‘libertarian brand’” Wrote NH GOP State Rep. Dennis Mannion in a post on X.
“You are a piece of shit… and just in case you think I’m being a keyboard warrior, I’m happy to call you a piece of shit to your face tomorrow.” Wrote GOP State Rep. Matt Coker.
House Democratic Leader Rep. Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter) minced no words about the danger of violent, anti-semetic language being used by New Hampshire lawmakers.
“Posting antisemitic language and references to the Holocaust is reprehensible,” Simpson said. “Rep. Corcoran’s conduct is unacceptable for anyone, and even more so for a member of the legislature. I condemn this rhetoric. I expect the Speaker to stand against it and take action to address the hate speech coming from his caucus.”
Among those not commenting publicly? Osborne and Republican New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
Grill began inviting fellow legislators, staffers, and friends to join her for karaoke nights during her first term in an attempt to promote bipartisanship and build community amid a contentious political landscape. Since then, the informal “Karaoke Caucus” has grown, bringing together political parties and musical genres with an agenda focused solely on having a fun time after voting in the House.
She intends to continue inviting fellow members to the Karaoke Caucus and hopes that this incident will encourage more people to choose a positive outlet over social isolation and divisiveness.
