2023 Bridgeport, Connecticut mayoral election
November 7, 2023
Turnout19.18% Decrease
 
Candidate Joseph Ganim John Gomes
Party Democratic Independent Party
Popular vote 5,729 5,550
Percentage 41.3% 40.0%
 
Candidate Lamond Daniels David Herz
Party Independent Republican
Popular vote 1,836 765
Percentage 13.2% 5.5%
Mayor before election

Joseph Ganim
Democratic

 Elected Mayor

TBD

The 2023–24 Bridgeport, Connecticut mayoral election is an ongoing election. 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, which will be held on January 23, 2024. If Ganim wins the new primary, he will win re-election; if not, another general election will be held.[1]

First nominations

Primaries were held on September 12.[2]

Democratic primary

Democratic incumbent Joseph Ganim narrowly won reelection over his former aide, John Gomes.[2] Gomes had won the votes cast on election day, but his lead was surmounted by Ganim once absentee ballots were counted.[3]

Gomes declined to concede and alleged voter fraud against Ganim.[2] 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.[4]

On November 1, 2023, a Connecticut Superior Court judge ordered a new Democratic primary, upholding Gomes' challenge.[5] The court found that 1,253 absentee ballots were submitted at Bridgeport drop boxes, despite surveillance videos only showing 420 people using the boxes.[6] The general election will still be held on November 7. Attorneys for Bridgeport have indicated they may appeal the decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[5]

Democratic primary election results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Ganim (incumbent) 4,260 52.13%
Democratic John Gomes 3,912 47.87%
Total votes 8,172 100.00%

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 is David Herz.[9] Lamond Daniels, who failed to make the Democratic primary ballot, is running as an independent.[10]

Ganim narrowly won the election.[11]

General election results[12]
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, there will be a second Democratic primary. If Gomes wins that primary, he will advance to a second general election. If Ganim wins the second Democratic primary, then he will be re-elected as mayor.[6]

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.[6]

Democratic primary election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joseph Ganim (incumbent)
Democratic John Gomes
Total votes 100.00%

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. 1 2 3 "Connecticut mayor who regained office after corruption conviction wins another primary". AP News. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ↑ Kate, Seltzer; Ashad, Hajela. "Ganim wins Bridgeport mayoral primary, as absentee ballots once again decide election". Connecticut Public. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Lockhart, Brian. "Bridgeport police probe 'possible misconduct' after video shows person putting items in ballot box". CT Post.
  5. 1 2 Altimari, Dave; Brown, Andrew (1 November 2023). "Bridgeport Primary Election Overturned; New Vote Ordered". The Connecticut Mirror. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Nierenberg, Amelia (4 November 2023). "Even in a City Used to Voting Scandals, This One Is a Doozy". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Connecticut Municipal Primary Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Bridgeport, Connecticut Municipal Election" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  9. ↑ Roy, Yash (2023-10-30). "CT Election Day 2023: How to vote and who's running". CT Mirror. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  10. ↑ Lockhart, Brian (2023-09-22). "Lamond Daniels to remain in Bridgeport mayor's race". CT Insider. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  11. ↑ "Bridgeport mayor claims win, but do-over looms in election upended by video of ballot box stuffing". FOX61. November 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  12. ↑ "Connecticut Election Results". New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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