Jean Thornton

Political career A Republican, Thornton was first elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1962 as one of two representatives from the town of Glastonbury. Though only formally elected to a single two-year term, Thornton remained in her seat until 1967 due to Connecticut's 1964 redistricting attempts. Following the landmark court decision Butterworth v. Dempsey, Connecticut's apportionment was ruled unconstitutional, and the state was federally mandated to eliminate its single-town electoral districts. When the General Assembly failed to redistrict in time, Connecticut was ordered to cancel its 1964 House election, and the legislature elected in 1962 was ultimately held over until 1967 due to a lengthy impasse. She was elected and served three terms.

In 1972, following another redistricting,

Political positions and legislation Thornton was a supporter of U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign and was a staff member at the campaign's Connecticut headquarters.

Thornton authored a bill in support of expanding abortion rights in Connecticut, which then only permitted abortion to save the life of the mother, to allow abortion in cases where "the physical and mental health of the mother are endangered", as well as in cases of rape or incest.

Thornton authored a "right to work" bill that would make it illegal to discriminate in hiring due to a candidate's union or non-union status.