And Then There Were Three

Jake Siesel, the first candidate to enter this year’s Ward 1 Alder race, has officially ended his campaign and thrown his support behind fellow Democratic candidate Elias Theodore, saying that uniting their efforts would be the most effective way to advance their shared goal of strengthening connections between Yale students and the broader New Haven community.

Siesel’s exit of the race — less than a week before the July 21 Democratic Town Committee convention — leaves a total of three candidates still vying to replace one-term incumbent Democrat Kiana Flores.

Siesel said during an interview Thursday that he made the decision to drop out after ​“countless conversations with community leaders,” during which he came to better understand the persistent structural challenges facing the Ward 1 Alder role — especially when it comes to bridging the long-standing divide between Yale and New Haven. He noted that although past alders have worked hard on this issue, they’ve often struggled to make significant progress due to factors outside their control.

Siesel said his campaign was never driven by personal ambition, but by a desire to create meaningful change in a community he deeply values. He viewed joining forces with Theodore — someone he had frequently discussed shared goals with during the campaign — as the most effective way to pursue that mission.

Just this past Sunday, Siesel told the Independent that he still planned to petition onto the ballot, despite rising senior Norah Laughter securing a unanimous advisory endorsement from the four people who voted at an online-only Ward 1 Democratic Town Committee meeting. However, he confirmed to the Independent on Thursday that he had been considering stepping down for a while.

With Siesel stepping aside, the Ward 1 alder race now stands as a three-way contest between Theodore, Laughter, and Rhea McTiernan Huge — a fellow Yale student who has secured the endorsement of outgoing Ward 1 Alder Kiana Flores.

“Elias and I have spoken extensively about our respective visions for Ward 1 and the importance of mending the divide,” Siesel said. ​“We both understand the importance of engaging with as many people in the Yale and New Haven communities as possible on a personal level.”

Theodore welcomed Siesel’s endorsement and partnership. 

“It’s a massive support,” he said. ​“Jake and I have both been having dozens of conversations with local leaders, stakeholders, and community members, and we’re bringing that knowledge together through this.”

Theodore, a 19-year-old rising junior and urban studies major, was raised in East Rock and has lived in New Haven his entire life. A graduate of Wilbur Cross High School, he first engaged with city government while advocating as a student-athlete for the renovation of the school’s athletic complex. That early exposure, he said, sparked his interest in eventually running for office. He launched his campaign last month.

Siesel, who hails from North Carolina, originally launched his campaign in mid-April after covering cops and courts for the Yale Daily News during the spring. He had investigated prolonged vacancies on New Haven’s Civilian Review Board and attempted to join the board himself — only to face months of delays from city officials. 

Now, he and Theodore are focusing their energy on the New Haven Exchange, a joint initiative envisioned as a long-term project that fosters ​“friendship, fellowship, and earnest dialogue” between Yale students and city residents.

Theodore said the initiative addresses a missing piece in Yale’s civic engagement landscape. While the university already offers strong service opportunities, he noted a need for more programs that foster personal connection, bringing people together in shared spaces, encouraging students to explore different parts of the city, and inviting local residents onto campus for meaningful interaction.

Proposed activities for the initiative include a cleanup at the Quinnipiac River, shared meals between students and New Haven residents using Yale dining hall guest swipes, and collaborative events like joint practices or performances involving Yale and local high school sports teams or music groups. Theodore said they plan to form a leadership team made up of both Yale students and community members, which he believes will foster meaningful participation and shared ownership.

The two are still determining whether the project will be housed under Dwight Hall, Yale’s center for public service and social justice, or operate independently, but emphasized their commitment to community-led direction. 

“I want to imagine a Yale where every student graduates with a friend in the New Haven community — not affiliated with the university — that they built a relationship with over these years. There’s no reason why that shouldn’t be possible,” Theodore said.

Both emphasized that the New Haven Exchange will continue regardless of the election outcome. Theodore said they are dedicated to building something with impact well beyond their time at Yale or any single alder term.