On Saturday, February 7, friends, family, and supporters of Amybeth Laroche gathered in Newtown Community Center for Laroche to officially announce her candidacy for state senator.

Ben Ruben, on behalf of Newtown Republican Town Committee, welcomed everyone at the beginning of the event. Ruben said, “We are gathered here not just for another event, but for a moment that truly matters: to kick off a historic announcement for Newtown’s very own and future Connecticut State Senator Amybeth Laroche.”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Ruben added, “Your time, your energy, and your belief that Republican values can still make a difference mean more than you know to all of us here today.” Ruben acknowledged some special guests who were there to show support for Laroche, which included State Senator Rob Sampson, Navy SEAL Chris Shea, State Representative Marty Foncello, and State Representative Mitch Bolinsky.

Ruben’s welcoming address noted that Laroche’s campaign is “not just a campaign,” he described it as a “movement” to ensure the 28th District has a “strong, Republican voice fighting for common sense, our seniors, our veterans, and for our families.”

Phil Carrol, chair of Newtown Republican Town Committee, then took the mic to address the crowd. Carrol shared that he first met Laroche when she ran for Board of Finance in last year’s local election. He said that she put “everything” into that campaign, which is why he believes that she is going to win the senator seat.

“She’s smart, dependable … She stands tall, like the flagpole,” Carrol and the crowd let out a small laugh, “but not in the middle of the road.” He added that Laroche puts families first, honors veterans, and champions small businesses.

Following Carrol’s remarks, John Sauro, CEO of North Atlantic Mortgage, spoke next. He thanked everyone for coming out.

“I’m here tonight for one simple reason: I’m incredibly proud of Amybeth Laroche. I’m proud of her, not only as part of our family, but as someone who has worked so hard to stand tall through adversity and lead with purpose. A lot of people talk about leadership. Amybeth lives it,” Sauro said.

He added that what he respects the most about Laroche is that she has “never forgotten who she is [working] for.” Sauro said those people are families, children, seniors, and everyday taxpayers.

Sauro then invited Laroche to take the mic. The two shared a brief embrace before she approached the podium.

With a deep breath, Laroche began her speech. “Rise and rise again until the quiet majority becomes an unstoppable force. My name is Amybeth Laroche, and I officially announce my candidacy for Connecticut’s 28th Senate District.”

The crowd erupted in applause once more.

Laroche continued explaining her values, stating affordability as a main concern. She shared that she grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island and is a survivor of domestic violence. With her daughter in the crowd, she bit her lip and shared that her daughter, Guiliana, is a reminder that “autism isn’t a limitation in [her] home.”

Through parenting her daughter, Laroche is well versed in advocating for services in and outside of the classroom. Laroche learned about navigating healthcare systems while taking care of her father, too. She said that these experiences are not her campaign, these experiences are reasons for her campaigning.

“I truly found home when I moved to Newtown,” Laroche said. She reflected on her campaign for Board of Finance, saying that she did not expect to be campaigning for state senate. She ran for Board of Finance because she believed the town “deserved fiscal discipline, transparency, and respect for taxpayer dollars.” She added that she did not understand how much Hartford impacted Newtown until she sat on the Board of Finance.

“I want to be very clear: Senator Hwang continues to hold this seat through the end of his current term, and we do not know what his plans will be for November. What I do know is this: our district must be ready and we must stay strong. I am fully committed to my responsibilities on the Board of Finance, but I am also running for state senate to ensure this seat remains in Republican hands,” Laroche told the crowd. More applause came from the seats in the room.

She continued, “And that our communities have a voice focused on results, not politics.” She added that elected officials must “meet people where they are, reflect their priorities, and speak to the realities they’re living every day.” She admitted that she respects Hwang’s service and visibility, but believes that Connecticut is facing challenges that require a new generation of leadership.

“We cannot keep electing leaders based on name recognition,” Laroche said. She compared campaigning to sports, saying that coaches do not keep players in the game because everyone knows their name, coaches keep players in the game because they deliver wins.

“A known name means nothing if families still can’t afford to stay here. A long tenure means nothing if young people continue leaving the state. Familiarity means nothing if the 18-55 backbone remains ignored. These seats belong to the people, not to the politicians who occupy them,” Laroche said.

She said her priorities are “simple,” and laid them out for the crowd: “real tax relief, lower energy costs, lower health care costs, housing solutions rooted in local control, child care and workforce pathways, transparency, and accountability.”

She ended her speech by saying, “I am not running for a title. I am running to serve. I bring real world experience, not political performance. I solve problems. I negotiate, and I fight for accountability. I understand your challenges because I live them. Choose courage over comfort. Choose results over recognition. Choose leaders who show up in the arena, not those behind a name. I am Amybeth Laroche, and I am ready to fight for Connecticut. Let us all rise together.”

The audience stood quickly after her speech ended and applauded once more for Laroche.

Ruben took the mic back. “Wow,” he said. He shared that he is excited to get Laroche’s campaign started and asked the group for support. He asked the group to consider donating to her campaign either monetarily or by volunteering.

The Newtown Bee asked Laroche why she decided to run and why she decided to run now. She answered, “I am running because I believe our district deserves strong, solutions-driven leadership rooted in fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. I’ve spent my career in government contracting uncovering waste, enforcing compliance, and delivering measurable results. That experience has shown me what effective oversight looks like and where it’s lacking.”

Answering the second part of the question, she said, “This is a pivotal moment. Families are feeling pressure from rising costs, small businesses are navigating uncertainty, and many residents feel their voices are not being fully represented in Hartford. We need someone who is willing to speak up, actually show up, and work collaboratively to deliver results for our communities. When leadership moments present themselves, you step forward, and I am ready to do that.”

For more information on Laroche’s campaign, search “Amybeth Laroche” on Facebook.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.