Michelle Cunningham

Michelle Cunningham is the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for the Connecticut House of Representatives, District 53, in the November 3, 2026 general election, where she is running against incumbent Tammy Nuccio (R / Independent Party of Connecticut).[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, she described a career at policy-focused statewide nonprofits, most recently as executive director of the Connecticut Network for Children and Youth.[3]

Cunningham earned a high school diploma from Delaware Valley Regional High School, a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1988 and a graduate degree from Rutgers University in 1991, according to Ballotpedia.[1] In her survey answers, she said she was the first person in her extended family to attend college and that she and her family have lived in Willington since 2007.[3] She said she served twelve years on the Willington Board of Education, four of them as chair.[3]

Cunningham said in the survey that her campaign is focused on making Connecticut more affordable, including a fairer tax system, child care, education and housing costs.[3] She listed health care, including a public option, and tax fairness among the policy areas she is passionate about.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.