The members of the Democratic party of the Town of Newtown will choose between two candidates, Brandon Moore and Michelle Embree Ku, for the nomination to be the party's candidate for the 106th District state representative seat, at a caucus at 6 pm Tuesday, May 26, at Newtown Middle School.

Receiving the nod at the party's caucus may not be the end of things; if the losing candidate does not step down, it goes to a primary in June to see which candidate will have the Democratic line on the November ballots against incumbent State Representative Mitch Bolinsky.

Hive letters and whispers of behind the scenes controversy have been flying since December 2025, when both candidates announced their intention to run.

Embree Ku announced on January 10 that she had filed to run. The 106th District lies entirely within Newtown.

“This campaign is about people — not politics,” said Embree Ku in her announcement. “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.

In a Hive letter on May 7, Embree Ku said, "For 14 years, I’ve worked alongside neighbors to make Newtown a better place to live, raise a family, and grow older in comfort.

"That work has meant preserving Newtown's unique open spaces for our community and future generations," said Embree Ku. "It has been helping rebuild Sandy Hook Elementary, a project that asked the very best of us in the face of the unimaginable. It’s meant supporting seniors so they can stay connected, students so they can thrive, and standing by the veterans who stood up for us."

Embree Ku also noted that "it’s also the quieter work that shapes daily life, like protecting the aquifer we all depend on, strengthening school safety, expanding transportation for seniors, and making decisions like changing school start times to support better learning."

"None of this happens without putting in effort and sometimes entertaining difficult discussions," stated Embree Ku. "It’s what happens by showing up, listening, and teaming up with others to turn ideas into outcomes."

In addition to her work in Newtown, Embree Ku noted she has also worked directly with state leaders to deliver for Newtown.

"I proudly served on the Regional Advisory Team to the Secretary of Education and Governor Ned Lamont to guide our return to school during COVID, helping strike a balance between safety and students’ well-being," said Embree Ku. "On the Legislature’s Food Allergies Task Force, I worked with advocates and lawmakers to pass a Good Samaritan law that saves lives. I’ve testified and pushed for better school funding, safer communities, and healthier classrooms. Those relationships matter and helped bring resources back to Newtown. From brownfield cleanup to HVAC funding for our schools, from housing and community investment grants to preserving open space like 6 Commerce Road, I know how Hartford works, because I’ve already been at the table."

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

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

Moore is 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 in his announcement.

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.”

Moore noted that in 2024, "Democrats lost this race by more votes and by a larger margin than any Democratic candidate since 2016."

"That’s a fact, and Mitch Bolinsky won his seventh term in Hartford," said Moore. "We cannot keep running the same playbook and expect different results. Think about the young people in our community struggling with mental health challenges. Think about women seeking reproductive healthcare. Think about families crushed by childcare costs and residents opening electricity bills that go up every month. These are the reasons I’m running."

Moore said the state must expand childcare tax credits, support housing solutions that work for Newtown, reduce traffic congestion, lower energy costs, defend women’s rights, and fight the gun violence epidemic with the seriousness it deserves.

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