6月18號，劉頴匡喺沙田新城市廣場中庭聯同8名沙田同埋大埔區區議員，宣佈參與新界東初選。劉頴匡揀喺歷經多次警暴嘅新城市廣場舉行記者會宣佈參選，認為呢個地方係新界東「最能見證到過去一年的地方」  。同日，何桂藍宣佈參選新界東。她指自己嘅前立場新聞記者身份令她反思點樣做多啲，於是決定參與議會抗爭。她指，喺《港區國安法》之下，民主派議員應該用盡一切方法同中央政府周旋到底，又認為只有反抗先可以改變香港宿命  。
On 18 June, Lau joined eight members of the Sha Tin and Tai Po District Councillors at the atrium of New Town Plaza in Sha Tin to announce his candidacy in the New Territories East primary election. Lau chose to hold a press conference at New Town Plaza, which has experienced many police riots, to announce his candidacy, believing that this place is "the place that best witnesses the past year" in the New Territories East. On the same day, Ho Kwai-lan announced her candidacy for the New Territories East. She said that her status as a former position journalist made her reflect on how to do more, so she decided to participate in the parliamentary protests. She pointed out that under the National Security Law, pro-democracy legislators should use all means to negotiate with the central government to the end, and believed that only resistance can change Hong Kong's fate.