Democrat Arunan Arulampalam won Hartford’s mayoral race Tuesday night, carrying about 69% of the vote.
He will succeed two-term Democratic Mayor Luke Bronin, who decided not to run for reelection.
Arulampalam, 38, is an immigrant, born in Zimbabwe to Tamil parents who fled the ethnic violence of Sri Lanka. His wife, Liza, is a minister, and they are parents of five children, three of whom are adopted.
“This is what it looks like when a city comes together,” Arulampalam said, claiming support from all corners of the city. “This is what it looks like when we hope and dream and break down barriers.”
Arulampalam was opposed by Republican Michael McGarry and three petitioning candidates: Giselle Gigi Jacobs, Nick Lebron and J. Stan McCauley. A fourth, Mark Stewart Greenstein, quit the campaign, but his name remained on the ballot.
Eric Coleman, a retired judge and former lawmaker, ran as a write-in candidate.
