The Bridgeport, Connecticut, mayoral race has taken an unexpected turn, as Superior Court Judge William Clark has overturned the results of the Democratic primary upon viewing compelling video footage of voter fraud. The incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim, who won the primary against challenger John Gomes by a narrow—251 vote margin after leading by 487 votes on election night, now faces uncertainty after the court’s ruling. Evidence includes videos of a city employee stuffing a ballot box with absentee ballots, leading to a lawsuit filed by Gomes, which resulted in the court’s decision to hold a new Democratic mayoral primary election. Ganim is considering appealing the court’s ruling.
However, this upheaval has complicated the upcoming general election, with uncertainty about how the candidates will be listed on the ballot. Despite the court ruling, Ganim will still be listed as the Democratic nominee, while Gomes will be listed as an independent candidate. In addition, potential legal repercussions are on the horizon for those involved in voter fraud. Meanwhile, Ganim, who was first elected mayor in 1991, was previously convicted for accepting bribes and kickbacks while in office. He was re-elected after serving seven years in prison.
