Blow to Ganim: Judge orders new Democratic primary in Bridgeport race for mayor.

Finding significant evidence of the mishandling of absentee ballots in Bridgeport’s September 12th Democratic primary for mayor, Superior Court Judge William F. Clark ordered a new primary a week before the November 7th municipal election.

The ruling is a triumph for challenger and former Ganim supporter John Gomes. Ganim edged out Gomes by 251 votes. Gomes defeated Ganim on votes cast at polling places on primary day but lost to the incumbent when absentee ballots were counted. Video recordings emerged several days after the primary of Ganim loyalist Wanda Peter-Pataky repeatedly putting absentee ballots in a depository at the Margaret Morton Government Center.

“Quite simply the defendants ask this court to ignore the significant mishandling of ballots by partisans that were caught on video flouting the mandatory provisions of Connecticut law,” Judge Clark wrote in a decision released Wednesday afternoon.

Published November 1, 2023.