Bridgeport, Connecticut, held an election for mayor in 2023 and 2024. The original general election was held on November 7, 2023, with incumbent Joseph Ganim winning re-election. However, a state judge struck down the results of the September 12 Democratic primary due to evidence of election fraud and ordered a new primary scheduled for January 23, 2024. Ganim won this primary and was re-elected as mayor on February 27, 2024.
First nominations
Primaries were held on September 12.[1]
Democratic primary
Democratic incumbent Joseph Ganim narrowly won reelection over his former aide, John Gomes.[1] Gomes had won the votes cast on election day, but his lead was surmounted by Ganim once absentee ballots were counted.[2]
Gomes declined to concede and alleged voter fraud against Ganim.[1] Bridgeport police launched an investigation regarding claims of "possible misconduct" after a video surfaced online of two women putting white envelopes in an absentee ballot drop-off box.[3]
On November 1, 2023, a Connecticut Superior Court judge ordered a new Democratic primary, upholding Gomes' challenge.[4] The court found that 1,253 absentee ballots were submitted at Bridgeport drop boxes, despite surveillance videos only showing 420 people using the boxes.[5] The general election was still held on November 7. Attorneys for Bridgeport have indicated they may appeal the decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[4][6]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Ganim (incumbent) | 4,260 | 52.13% | |
| Democratic | John Gomes | 3,912 | 47.87% | |
| Total votes | 8,172 | 100.00% | ||
First general election
Despite his loss in the Democratic primary, John Gomes won the nomination of the Independent Party of Connecticut and secured a place on the general election ballot against Ganim.[8] The Republican candidate in the race was David Herz.[9] Lamond Daniels, who failed to make the Democratic primary ballot, ran as an independent.[10]
Ganim narrowly won the election.[11]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Ganim (incumbent) | 5,729 | 41.3% | |
| Independent Party | John Gomes | 5,550 | 40.0% | |
| Independent | Lamond Daniels | 1,836 | 13.2% | |
| Republican | David Herz | 765 | 5.5% | |
| Total votes | 13,880 | 100.0% | ||
Second Democratic primary
Based on the Connecticut Superior Court's ruling, if Gomes had won the general election, then he would have become mayor. Since Ganim won the general election, a second Democratic primary would be held on January 23, 2024. If Gomes won that primary, he would advance to a second general election. If Ganim won the second Democratic primary, then he would be re-elected as mayor.[5] The primary was contested by Gomes and Ganim, who won by a slight margin.[13]
If Herz or Daniels had won the general election, a second Democratic primary would have occurred for a second general election, but Ganim could still run under the New Movement Party and Gomes could still run under the Independent party if either lost the second primary.[5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Ganim (incumbent) | 4,971 | 56.07% | |
| Democratic | John Gomes | 3,894 | 43.93% | |
| Total votes | 8,865 | 100.00% | ||
Second general election
Because Gomes had qualified as an Independent candidate, a new general election was slated for February 27, 2024, unless all remaining candidates running against Ganim had withdrawn from the ballot by that date.[14][15]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph Ganim (incumbent) | 6,366 | 58.7% | |
| Independent Party | John Gomes | 4,131 | 38.1% | |
| Republican | David Herz | 357 | 3.3% | |
| Total votes | 10,854 | 100.0% | ||
References
- ^ a b c "Connecticut mayor who regained office after corruption conviction wins another primary". AP News. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Kate, Seltzer; Ashad, Hajela. "Ganim wins Bridgeport mayoral primary, as absentee ballots once again decide election". Connecticut Public. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ Lockhart, Brian. "Bridgeport police probe 'possible misconduct' after video shows person putting items in ballot box". CT Post.
- ^ a b Altimari, Dave; Brown, Andrew (November 1, 2023). "Bridgeport Primary Election Overturned; New Vote Ordered". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c Nierenberg, Amelia (November 4, 2023). "Even in a City Used to Voting Scandals, This One Is a Doozy". The New York Times. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Connecticut judge sets new primary date for mayor's race tainted by alleged ballot box stuffing". Associated Press. November 18, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Municipal Primary Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Bridgeport, Connecticut Municipal Election" (PDF). Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Roy, Yash (October 30, 2023). "CT Election Day 2023: How to vote and who's running". CT Mirror. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Lockhart, Brian (September 22, 2023). "Lamond Daniels to remain in Bridgeport mayor's race". CT Insider. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Bridgeport mayor claims win, but do-over looms in election upended by video of ballot box stuffing". FOX61. November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Connecticut Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Bridgeport mayor wins do-over Democratic primary in race marred by ballot irregularities". Associated Press. January 23, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim wins do-over election, Associated Press projects". CBS New York. CBS News. February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Smith, John Henry. "After Ganim's third win, what's next in Bridgeport's mayoral election saga?". Connecticut Public Radio. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Bridgeport Mayoral Election Results". The New York Times. February 27, 2024. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2024.