Two different Democratic candidates have announced plans to run for the 106th District State Legislature seat.

It is presumed they will be running against incumbent Republican Mitch Bolinsky, who has served seven terms, though Bolinsky has not formally announced a re-election bid.

The two candidates are Brandon Moore, a relative newcomer to Newtown, and Michelle Embree Ku, a longtime Newtown politician who unsuccessfully challenged Bolinsky in 2024.

Moore announced his candidacy in The Bee’s Letter Hive on December 31.

Moore, a third-generation Connecticut native who served in Afghanistan, received a double master’s degree in Hartford, and worked for Governor Ned Lamont and Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz, “implementing workforce policies that helped thousands of residents secure well-paying jobs.”

“I helped parents, veterans, and unemployed residents achieve the American dream,” said Moore.

Moore stated in his announcement that he was the first in his family to attend college, and was nominated by Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman to attend West Point. For eight years, he flew Apache attack helicopters and commanded soldiers everywhere from Korea to Afghanistan.

“Service taught me optimism,” stated Moore. “It taught me how to solve big problems. It taught me to believe in people. Right now, families feel pressure from every direction.”

Moore stated that housing costs make it harder to stay in town, and noted that energy bills and child care costs are also stretching family budgets.

“I am running to lower your cost of living and raise your quality of life,” stated Moore. “That means fighting so that Newtown becomes more affordable for young families and seniors alike. It means investing in energy solutions that cut monthly bills and protect our environment. It means treating education and childcare as the foundation of a strong economy, not an afterthought.”

Embree Ku announced on January 10 that she has filed to run for Connecticut’s 106th House District in the November 2026 general election. The 106th District lies entirely within Newtown.

“This campaign is about people — not politics,” said Embree Ku. “It’s about making sure Newtown’s voices are heard clearly in Hartford and that decisions reflect the concerns of the people who live here.”

For more than a decade, Embree Ku has served as a local leader on the Legislative Council, on the Board of Selectmen, and as chair of Newtown Board of Education. She has also served in appointments on statewide boards and commissions and maintains a professional career in science and research.

“I believe leadership means listening first,” Embree Ku said. “It means working with others — across differences — to get things done for our community. Newtown deserves representation that’s steady, thoughtful, and grounded in service.”

Embree Ku is running as a Democrat and plans to participate in Connecticut’s Citizens’ Election Program, which emphasizes transparency, accountability, and grassroots support through small donations from local residents.

For more information about Embree Ku’s campaign, visit kuisforyou.com.

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Alex Villamil said that a convention of the Democratic Town Committee in May would allow its members to decide between the two candidates. If the one who is not chosen decides to contest the decision at the convention, they can gather signatures for a petition, which, if successful, would trigger a primary in August.

“It’s unexpected, but we’ll let the process decide,” said Villamil.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.