New Haven residents saw a decisive outcome Tuesday when Randall Furlow, a pastor and longtime Democratic ward co‑chair, won the special election for the Edgewood Ward 24 seat on the Board of Alders. The victory matters because the alder seat has been empty since longtime incumbent Evette Hamilton stepped down at the end of September, leaving the ward without direct representation on city decisions affecting schools, housing and public safety.
According to the New Haven Independent, Furlow received 315 votes compared with 179 for fellow Democrat Lindsey Eichler Tengatenga. The vote total broke down to 278 votes cast at the polls, 31 early votes and six absentee ballots for Furlow, while Tengatenga collected 151 in‑person votes, 26 early votes and two absentee ballots.
The special election, held a week after the November 3 general election, recorded a 23.4 percent turnout, with 494 of the 2,110 eligible voters casting ballots. The low turnout underscores the importance of every vote in local contests that directly affect neighborhood concerns.
Both candidates voiced priorities that resonate with Ward 24 residents. Furlow and Tengatenga each pledged to improve school conditions, increase housing affordability and make streets safer. Furlow, a 47‑year‑old New Haven Public Schools graduate with deep family roots in the city, emphasized labor power and educational equality as top goals during his victory remarks.
Supporters of Furlow gathered outside the Ellsworth Avenue firehouse as polls closed, including Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven Rising activists Remedy Sharif and Jaime Myers McPhail, Alders Frank Douglass, Angel Hubbard, Brittiany Mabery‑Niblack, and Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow, who is also Randall’s cousin. Downtown/Yale Alder Elias Theodore was present to congratulate the winner and discuss future collaboration.
In his victory speech, Furlow told the crowd, “Everything that we have envisioned is about to come to pass… Ward 24 spoke and spoke very loudly. I think the message is plain and clear that I am the one they chose.” He added, “The work has just begun,” signaling his intent to move quickly on the issues raised during the campaign.
Furlow will serve the remainder of Hamilton’s two‑year term, which runs through the end of 2027. He now joins the Board of Alders as the city continues to address budget priorities, school funding and affordable‑housing initiatives that affect the broader New Haven community.
What’s next: Alderman‑elect Furlow is expected to be sworn in at the next Board of Alders meeting, where he will receive committee assignments and begin work on pending legislation related to school conditions, housing policy and public‑safety measures. Residents can follow his progress through upcoming city council hearings and community forums scheduled for early 2027.
