Nydia del Carmen, YTV Editor

Incumbent Mayor Justin Elicker won the municipal mayoral election on Tuesday night, crushing challengers Tom Goldenberg and Wendy Hamilton with about 80 percent of the votes.

In total, 9,755 New Haveners supported Elicker, while 2,210 cast ballots for Goldenberg. Independent candidate Wendy Hamilton had 223 votes. Elicker received the majority of the votes in all of New Haven’s 30 wards. 

Elicker ran on behalf of the Democratic and Working Families parties, while Goldenberg was a Democratic candidate endorsed by the Republican and Independent parties after failing to gather enough signatures to get on the Democratic primary ballot in September.

“We did [it]! What an awesome night,” Elicker yelled, opening his post-election speech. “I want to congratulate so many people because, let’s be real, Democrats took across the board in the city of New Haven.”

Elicker says the public expressed confidence in the city’s direction

Elicker walked into a crowded victory party at the Da Legna at Nolo restaurant after the election was called and was met with rounds of applause and cheers from supporters. On his way through the room, he shook hands and thanked his supporters. 

He thanked supporters, campaign volunteers, and the New Haven Democrats and the Working Families Party who endorsed him. He also acknowledged New Haven Rising, as well as local unions, UNITE HERE! Local 34 and Local 35. Elicker also thanked his family, who stood by him and who he said sacrificed a lot for his job and “for everyone in this room.”

“I thought that if I could just become mayor, I could make a difference. But me just being mayor, is that what actually makes a difference? No,” Elicker said. “There’s a lot of talk about the New Haven machine … and there’s kind of a tone to it. … We put the fuel into [this machine], and that fuel is knocking on doors, … the day-to-day grind, the partnership with our Board of Alders, with [state and federal governments].”

Elicker said that thanks to these partnerships, the city has received “unbelievable resources” over the past four years.

The Mayor boasted about the city’s accomplishments during his past two terms, including the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, the creation of affordable housing, the establishment of a climate office and the adoption of the first in Connecticut tenants union ordinance. He emphasized that the city achieved them through collaboration, repeatedly asking his supporters to scream “together.” 

The election results, Elicker said, reflect residents’ confidence in the city’s direction. He also said he believes his overwhelming victory reflects the public’s rejection of the divisive rhetoric he claimed his competitor used, referring to Goldenberg. Elicker blamed the challenger for “misrepresent[ing] so many truths about our city” and “scapegoat[ing] the people that were most vulnerable in our community.” 

Democrats also won all 30 alder races as well as the city clerk position and Board of Education seat. The charter revision, which Democrats drafted and supported, was approved by the voters by nearly a 2‑to‑1 margin. 

“This city … is all about hope and stability, both in politics and in government, and it’s because of this team in this city right now,” Vincent Mauro, New Haven Democratic Town Committee chair, said at the party.

Goldenberg: “This is historic.”

At 8:30 p.m., Tom Goldenberg walked into his election watch party at East Rock Market. Around 10 minutes later, he called Elicker to tell Elicker he conceded.

Joined by two dozen family members, friends and campaign supporters, Goldenberg gave a speech thanking them for all of their hard work and support during the elections. He also thanked Republican Town Committee Chair John Carlson for supporting him, a Democratic candidate, which “took guts.”

“When I look back at this campaign, maybe it’s not the exact outcome I would have envisioned,” Goldenberg said in his speech. “But I think looking at what I’ve put in, what my team has put in and all the people we’ve met along the way, we have put our heart and soul into this. We have put our 100 percent into things that we really believe need to happen in the city.”

Goldenberg highlighted his campaign’s attention to education and quality of life around New Haven, mentioning that his pushes toward more engagement in schools have led to Board of Education meetings moving to an in-person format. He also referenced working with the residents of Bella Vista to achieve better living conditions.

His speech was preceded by a speech from Jason Bartlett, a veteran campaign manager and aide to former Mayor Toni Harp who agreed to help Goldenberg on his campaign in June. Both Goldenberg and Bartlett brought up the statement that Goldenberg made in which he agreed to be endorsed by the Republican Party.

“I think that statement is really powerful: Democrats working with Republicans,” Goldenberg said. “If only we would see this at a national level, imagine where we would be … this is historic.”

Elicker was elected for his first term as mayor in 2019.