Campaigners Work Jepson Polling Site on Election Day
Opposing candidate campaigners and a New Haven Rising group distributed flyers outside the Benjamin Jepson School polling place.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Campaigners for opposing state representative candidates and a New Haven Rising canvassing group handed out flyers outside the Benjamin Jepson School polling place on Election Day. New Haven Rising has recently pushed for a local ordinance amendment that would prohibit most short-term rentals in New Haven.
Why it matters
The flyering occurred in the 97th General Assembly District, where Democrat Wildaliz Bermúdez faces Republican Anthony Acri. Housing affordability, including rent and short-term rental rules, is an issue raised by the advocacy group active at the polls.
Campaigners stood more than 75 feet from the Benjamin Jepson School polling place while distributing flyers, with the 97th General Assembly District race between Wildaliz Bermúdez and Anthony Acri on the ballot. Officials have not stated whether any electioneering complaint was lodged against the canvassers.
The players
Wildaliz Bermúdez
Democratic nominee for the 97th General Assembly District who leads New Haven's Fair Rent department and has been a prominent housing advocate in the city.
Anthony Acri
Republican nominee for the 97th General Assembly District competing against Democrat Wildaliz Bermúdez in the state House race.
New Haven Rising
Nonprofit partner of local UNITE HERE unions that has pushed for restrictions on short-term rentals in New Haven.
The details
New Haven Rising canvassers distributed flyers focused exclusively on short-term rental regulation, while separate campaigners supported the opposing state House candidates. Ward 13 Alder Mildred Melendez, a Democrat, is backing Bermúdez.
Timeline
- Election Day, November 3, 2026: campaigners distributed flyers outside the Benjamin Jepson School polling place.
Political Context
New Haven Rising's canvassing extends its push for a local ordinance amendment that would prohibit most short-term rentals in New Haven into the election period. The flyering pairs that housing-policy campaign with partisan contests for the 97th General Assembly District.
Residents near the Benjamin Jepson School polling place encountered flyers from both candidate campaigners and a housing advocacy group on Election Day. Renters weighing short-term rental rules should watch for the outcome of the proposed ordinance amendment.
The takeaway
Voters approaching polling sites should expect advocacy groups to distribute literature nearby, even when those materials are outside the legal electioneering boundary.
Further reading
Explore more New Haven election coverage for context on the local races on the ballot.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Haven Indy.
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