For 45 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 7, the anxious crowd in Lauren Garrett’s backyard tried desperately to glean information from the first-term mayor’s facial expressions and laughter as members of her reelection team counted votes upstairs. Meanwhile, Garrett’s sons — seemingly unfazed by the electoral chaos occurring in their northern Hamden home — played Fortnite in the downstairs living room. One of the mayor’s dogs trotted contentedly around her grassy backyard, instinctually flopping onto her back for anyone who would pet her. Attendees picked at the eight Sergio’s pizzas arranged on a folding table beside the patio, the nearby fire pit struggling to take the edge off the 37-degree November evening. 🔗 in bio for the full story. (Story by catelizabethmurphy) (Photos by cameronlevasseur/HQNN)