Bridgeport will hold a second Democratic primary for mayor on Jan. 23, with incumbent Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes facing each other for the third time in four months.
September’s primary found Gomes leading with more in-person votes, but Ganim scored a come-from-behind victory when the absentee ballots were counted. This result mirrored the 2019 primary, when State Sen. Marilyn Moore had more in-person votes but Ganim won after absentee ballots were counted.
Earlier this month, a Superior Court judge ordered a new primary after video evidence emerged of a Ganim campaign worker and a Bridgeport city employee filling ballot boxes with absentee ballots, a violation of state law. The judge did not void the primary results and last week’s election had Ganim winning by a slender 173-vote lead over Gomes, who ran as a third-party candidate.
The upcoming primary will require the Town Clerk to stamp every absentee ballot received from an official drop box with the words “drop box” and include the name, date and recorded time. There will also be serial numbers on absentee ballot applications for individuals who request more than five ballots. Absentee ballot applications will come available on Dec. 29.
If Gomes wins the upcoming primary, a new mayoral election will be held. If Ganim wins, he retains his job and no further vote will be needed until the mayor’s office comes into play again in the 2027 election.
“We are pleased that the Secretary of the State has agreed that important checks to ensure fair casting of absentee ballots will be implemented for the first time,” said Bill Bloss, attorney for the Gomes campaign.
