Connecticut Democratic State Representative Anne Hughes has been charged with sixth-degree larceny after an Apple AirTag hidden in a campaign sign led Easton police straight to her property.
Hughes is the incumbent seeking another term in the 135th House District covering Easton, Redding, and Weston. Her Republican challenger is Darrell Harris. On Friday, Harris’s campaign reported that multiple signs had been stolen along Route 59 and Judd Road. After repeated disappearances, a volunteer had placed AirTags in some of the signs. One of them pinged on property owned by Hughes.
Police followed up. Hughes returned several of the signs, including the tracked one. Officers issued her a misdemeanor summons for sixth-degree larceny. The investigation remains ongoing.
The signs were not ordinary yard signs. They highlighted Hughes’s own words from a 2025 hot-mic moment after a Tax Equity Caucus press conference. She was recorded telling colleagues: “We’re not rich. But I always tell the governor to tax my people — they won’t even notice.” Harris’s campaign put that line on the signs. Hughes then allegedly removed them.
In a Facebook post, Hughes said she took the signs because she believed they were improperly placed on public property. She apologized for not contacting police or the opposing campaign first and claimed she takes “full responsibility.” She added that campaigns should be about issues, not yard signs.
House Speaker Matt Ritter, a fellow Democrat, called the behavior “childish.” Local Republicans said it raises questions about judgment, integrity, and accountability. Even the Easton Democratic Town Committee stated it does not condone the actions.
Hughes is due in court in two weeks. Election Day is Tuesday. Voters in the district now have a clear choice between the candidate whose words were put on a sign and the candidate who allegedly took the signs.
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