By Anne White
New Canaan’s two major political parties have both scheduled their 2025 caucuses for Tuesday, July 22, inviting local residents to help choose the candidates who will appear on the November 4 municipal election ballot.
Republican Caucus Details
The New Canaan Republican Town Committee (RTC) will hold its caucus at Saxe Middle School, with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. The caucus meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium, including formal parliamentary procedures, candidate speeches for contested offices, and adoption of rules.
Voting will start at approximately 6:45 p.m. in the gym and continue until 9:00 p.m. sharp. Voters who prefer to skip speeches can arrive after 6:45 p.m. and head directly to the gym after checking in.
Eligibility is limited to registered New Canaan Republicans who are at least 18 years old as of caucus day. There is no absentee voting; participants must attend in person.
Any unregistered or unaffiliated voters that want to vote in the Republican caucus may go to Town Hall to register to vote as a Republican. Forms can be dropped off at New Canaan Town Hall at the Registrar of Voters Office. The last day to register at Town Hall and participate in the Tuesday Republican Caucus is Monday from 7:30AM – 12PM. Voters switching from another party must wait three months before gaining caucus voting rights.
Upon entering Saxe, participants will check in at tables by street address, show a state-issued photo ID, and verify party registration. Qualified voters will receive a paper ballot that serves as an admission pass to the auditorium or gym. Voting is anonymous, using the same tabulators as general elections. No proxy voting is permitted, and children may accompany parents but cannot vote themselves.
After voting, participants must exit the building and may not return to the meeting. The RTC encourages voters to stay for speeches if they want to learn more about the candidates before voting but notes that simply casting a ballot is also an option.
Republicans will endorse candidates for First Selectman, Selectman, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Town Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeals, and Constables. Some races are uncontested—including First Selectman (Dionna Carlson), Selectman (Steve Karl), Town Clerk (Claudia Weber), and Treasurer (Andrew Brooks)—but the Town Council race is competitive, with five candidates seeking four spots.
In its message to voters, the RTC explains:
“It’s important to show up and vote, particularly if you feel strongly about one candidate or another. If you don’t attend the caucus, you’re letting someone else decide who our Republican candidates are in November. Please join us—your vote may make the difference.”
For more details, residents can visit www.NewCanaanRepublicans.org.
Democratic Caucus Details
The New Canaan Democratic Town Committee (DTC) will hold its caucus the same evening at East Elementary School, 54 Little Brook Rd.
The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., with nominations for municipal offices accepted between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Voting to endorse candidates will follow the nominations.
All registered Democrats in New Canaan are invited to attend. Voting must be done in person, with no absentee or proxy options. Participants will nominate and endorse candidates for offices including First Selectman, Selectman, Town Council, Board of Education, Treasurer, and Constable.
Party leaders encourage Democrats to attend to help choose the local ticket for November’s election, shaping the town’s leadership and policy priorities.
For more information about the Democratic caucus and local party activities, residents can visit www.NewCanaanDems.info.
Why It Matters
Both caucuses offer local party members a direct say in selecting the candidates who will represent them on the November ballot. While the general election determines who ultimately serves, these summer meetings are where local slates are set—making July 22 an important date for New Canaan’s political calendar.
