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JT Lewis, of Newtown, whose brother died in the December 2012 mass shooting and who is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, announced his intentions to run for state Senate, claiming that current elected officials have fallen short.
In a video posted on social media on Monday, July 15, the 19-year-old announced his plans.
“After the Sandy Hook shooting, a mom and a little boy who just lost a son and a brother, made a call to their state senator,” he said. “They wanted to help prevent future tragedies, but the senator never returned their call. And that person is our current senator, Tony Hwang, and the little boy who just wanted to hear his moms called for help heard, has grown up.”
Lewis will be looking to unseat Hwang, who lives in Fairfield, in the 2020 election.
“To honor Jesse, I’ve decided to be courageous enough to run for Senate in my home state of Connecticut,” he said. “In the months and then years following the loss of my brother, we’ve met with (elected officials) hoping someone would stop the violence we so personally experienced.”
The teenager went on to say, “Our leaders are in it for themselves. They’re there to take pictures and feel an inflated sense of importance. I’m entering the fray because only with real leadership will Connecticut see the change we are so desperate for.
“The experience I’ve had and the connections I’ve made in the past few years show that I am capable of my resolve to serve and improve our state of Connecticut. I’m young. But I know how to lead.”
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