A Connecticut judge has set January 23 as the date for a new Democratic primary in the race for Bridgeport mayor, after throwing out the September election results over alleged ballot box stuffing.
By means ofThe Associated Press
November 18, 2023, 12:34 PM
FILE – Bridgeport, Conn., Mayor Joe Ganim testifies during a hearing in Bridgeport Superior Court, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, in Bridgeport, Conn. A Connecticut judge has set January 23, 2024 as the date for a new Democratic primary election in the race for Bridgeport mayor after September election results were thrown out due to alleged ballot box stuffing. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, File)
The Associated Press
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A Connecticut judge has set January 23 as the date for a new Democratic primary in the race for Bridgeport mayor, after throwing out the September election results over alleged ballot stuffing.
Judge William Clark issued the order late Friday afternoon after Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes agreed on the Jan. 23 date. Clark also ruled that a new general election would be held on February 27, if necessary.
Clark’s order also includes specific procedures to be followed in the new primary, including making absentee ballots available by Dec. 29 and a new safeguard requiring the county clerk to stamp any absentee ballot received through drop boxes with the words ‘Drop Box’.
The judge ordered a new primary earlier this month, citing surveillance videos of Ganim supporters apparently stuffing multiple absentee ballots into collection boxes for the Sept. 12 primary. Two women featured in the videos were summoned to court to explain themselves, but they invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer questions.
Ganim defeated Gomes in the primaries with 251 votes out of nearly 8,200 votes cast. Gomes won the personal counting of votes, but Ganim led during the counting of absentee votes. The result has fueled skepticism about the security of the US elections, as well as conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. Gomes then filed his successful lawsuit challenging the election.
Ganim narrowly won the Nov. 7 general election, which the judge could not stop due to state law.
The State Elections Enforcement Commission is currently investigating the ballot fraud allegations, as well as other possible improprieties.
Ganim has repeatedly denied any knowledge of wrongdoing related to the absentee ballots. His first term as mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, was interrupted when he was convicted of corruption and served seven years in prison. He got his old job in 2015 after his release from prison.