Democratic Party-endorsed candidate Arunan Arulampalam declared victory in Hartford’s Democratic primary for mayor on Tuesday. The AP later declared him the projected winner in the low-turnout election.
Arulampalam, 37, defeated state Senator John Fonfara and retired judge Eric Coleman. He’ll be the Democratic nominee in the general election, set for Nov. 7.
As of 10:15 pm, when Arulampalam gave a victory speech, Fonfara had not called to concede, according to Arulampalam.
As of 1:30 am, with 99% of votes counted, Arulampalam held 40% of the vote (2,041 votes), Coleman 31% (1,574) and Fonfara 30% (1,540).
Only about 14% of Hartford's 38,000 eligible Democratic voters cast a ballot.
Arulampalam, an attorney, is CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, which revitalizes blighted properties in the city.
Endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee and outgoing two-term Mayor Luke Bronin, Arulampalam and about 100 supporters held a victory celebration at Dunkin’ Park.
"I think it sends a message that we should be really hopeful," said Arulampalam about his win. "There's an opportunity to come together as a city, that folks in every neighborhood are going in the same direction. I think it's really hopeful."
The Democratic nominee becomes the favorite in the general election in the heavily Democratic capital city. Coleman will be on the November ballot as a petitioning candidate, along with Councilman Nick Lebron, Giselle Jacobs and J. Stan McCauley.
As with other races around the state, Election Day in Hartford was characterized by low turnout. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said that’s not surprising for a primary in a year highlighted by municipal elections.
Still, speaking at a 5 pm news conference, Thomas encouraged voters to get out and vote before polls closed at 8 pm, saying, “All the kitchen table issues that I hear people speaking about…these are all the issues that are being decided today.”
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--Seeking a third two-year term, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker won the city’s Democratic primary, defeating challenger Liam Brennan.
