Michelle Embree Ku Democratic Endorsed Candidate for the Connecticut House of Representatives, 106th District, Newtown.
Hello, I’m Michelle Embree Ku — your neighbor, a problem-solver, and a proven leader who doesn’t sit on the sidelines. For 16 years, I’ve shown up, stepped up, and delivered for Newtown. My background in science and public health means I follow the facts, face challenges head-on, and fight for solutions that actually improve people’s lives. I lead with integrity and compassion — but make no mistake, I’m here to get results. Newtown comes first. Always.
“Ku Is For You” isn’t a tagline — it’s how I work. I listen at your doorstep, not from a distance. I bring people together. And I don’t back down when it comes to standing up for our community.
I didn’t wait to get involved — I got to work. From our schools to nonprofits, from statewide leadership to town service, I’ve built a record of action and accountability.
COMMON SENSE. REAL BACKBONE.
Real Solutions to Daily Challenges
I don’t just talk about problems — I take them on. I knock on doors, hear what’s not working, and push until we fix it. You deserve a voice that doesn’t get ignored.
Strong Schools for Every Child
Great schools don’t happen by accident — they take commitment and courage. Michelle Embree Ku will fight for safe buildings, clean air, strong academics, and real support for every student, including special education. In Hartford, she will work with colleagues across the State House to move bills that strengthen ECS funding, make school aid more predictable, and ensure Newtown gets its fair share. She will advocate for smart education policy that reflects the real cost of teaching every child, so local schools can keep delivering the quality families expect without placing an ever-growing burden on taxpayers. Read more…
Healthcare That Works for Families
Healthcare should be clear, accessible, and affordable—period. That means tackling the high cost of care and prescription drugs, expanding access to quality providers, and ensuring that no one is forced to choose between their health and their finances. I will work to strengthen patient protections, support community-based care, and defend access to essential services, including reproductive healthcare. Our seniors deserve stability and dignity, our working families deserve reliable and affordable coverage, and women deserve the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. I am committed to holding the system accountable and delivering real, practical solutions that put patients first. Read more…
Real Action on the Environment
We see the impact of climate change every day—in more extreme weather, rising energy costs, and growing uncertainty about the future. Addressing these challenges requires practical, forward-thinking solutions that both protect our environment and strengthen our infrastructure. That means investing in clean, renewable energy sources like solar, which can lower costs for families, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and create good-paying local jobs. It also means modernizing our energy grid, supporting energy efficiency, and encouraging responsible development that preserves our natural resources. By taking a balanced, commonsense approach, we can build a more sustainable future while keeping our communities affordable, resilient, and economically strong. Read more…
TRUSTED. TESTED. READY.
I know how to lead. I know how to legislate. And I know how to turn ideas into action.
I bring grit, focus, and follow-through to everything I do — because this work matters. I’m ready to fight for Newtown in Hartford with strength, clarity, and an unshakable commitment to the people who call this community home.
A Clear Choice for Newtown
This race isn’t just about ideas—it’s about who’s ready to lead and who’ll actually stand up for our community.
In a moment that demands experience, toughness, and the ability to navigate real challenges, good intentions aren’t enough when families are counting on results.
Michelle Embree Ku is ready to take on anyone pushing the same old conservative priorities that don’t reflect our community or move Newtown forward. She’s taking on anyone aligned with the extreme, out-of-touch Republican agenda we see at the federal level—putting politics over people and threatening the progress we’ve made. Michelle won’t back down. She’ll stand up, fight back, and deliver for Newtown.
Newtown won’t get left behind.
Michelle Embree Ku is different.
She has the experience, the strength, and the determination to stand up to both—pushing back against harmful policies while delivering real, local results. She listens, she shows up, and when it’s time to act, she fights—and wins.
Newtown deserves a leader who is ready, grounded in our community, and unafraid to take on anyone who stands in the way of our progress.
Tested and Trusted
- Newtown Legislative Council (2021-2023)
- Workspace Advisory Committee (2021-2025)
- Newtown Board of Education (2013-2021, Chair 2017-2021)
- Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Board of Directors (2013-2021)
- EdAdvance Regional Education Service Center, Board of Directors (2013-2020, President 2020, Vice President 2018-19)
- Representative to CSDE/RESC Alliance Regional Advisory Team to examine return to school during COVID (2020)
- Co-Chair of the State of Connecticut General Assembly’s Task Force to Study Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools (2016)
- Member of Newtown Charter Revision Commission (2012)
- Newtown Volunteer Task Force / United Way (2012-2013)
- Middle Gate PTA – Library Volunteer Coordinator (2010-2015)
- Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, State Government Relations Chair
- Two years on the Board of Selectmen
- Two years on the Legislative Council (currently serving)
- Eight years on the Board of Education (4 years as Chair)
- One year on a Charter Revision Commission
Professional Experience
- Regulatory Submissions Scientist (current)
- Adjunct Professor, Brown University
- Research Fellow, Rhode Island Hospital
Education
- Brown University, PhD in Biology
- Cornell University, BS in Animal Sciences
I’ve called Newtown home for 16-plus years. My husband, Warren, and I raised our three boys here, who attended Newtown’s public schools. Like so many families in town, I’m deeply connected to the community I love — as a hockey mom, a daughter, and your neighbor. When I go to Hartford as your state representative, I’ll fight for the values we share together in this community.