New Haven Mayor Toni Harp has decided to suspend her campaign for re-election after losing in the Democratic primary.
Harp will still appear on November’s ballot on the Working Families party line, but she will be making no active effort to gain support. The three-term mayor lost to Justin Elicker in the Democratic primary earlier this month. The upset came after Harp was endorsed at the New Haven Democratic Town Committee’s convention in July.
“I’ve been blessed – and remain grateful – for enthusiastic assistance from thousands and thousands of supporters, contributors, and voters and it’s been my good fortune – literally – to have the opportunity I’ve had to be mayor these past nearly six years,” Harp said in a media release. “We’ve worked together to advance this city well beyond where it was six years ago and among so many accomplishments, I’m most proud of the partnerships and collaborations at the heart of them.”
Harp, the first woman mayor of New Haven, came into office in 2014, and campaigned most recently on her record of lowering crime, improving education and the goal of making New Haven a more inclusive, world class city.
Her life in public service preceded the mayor’s office – she also spent time in the state legislator as a senator representing New Haven, and was also a city alder.
