Bridgeport, Connecticut, held an election for mayor in 2023 and 2024. 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 scheduled for January 23, 2024. Ganim won this primary and was re-elected as mayor on February 27, 2024.
Democratic incumbent Joseph Ganim narrowly won reelection over his former aide, John Gomes.[1] Gomes had won the votes cast on election day, but his lead was surmounted by Ganim once absentee ballots were counted.[2]
Gomes declined to concede and alleged voter fraud against Ganim.[1] 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.[3]
On November 1, 2023, a Connecticut Superior Court judge ordered a new Democratic primary, upholding Gomes' challenge.[4] The court found that 1,253 absentee ballots were submitted at Bridgeport drop boxes, despite surveillance videos only showing 420 people using the boxes.[5] The general election was still held on November 7. Attorneys for Bridgeport have indicated they may appeal the decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court.[4][6]
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 was David Herz.[9] Lamond Daniels, who failed to make the Democratic primary ballot, ran as an independent.[10]
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, a second Democratic primary would be held on January 23, 2024. If Gomes won that primary, he would advance to a second general election. If Ganim won the second Democratic primary, then he would be re-elected as mayor.[5] The primary was contested by Gomes and Ganim, who won by a slight margin.[13]
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.[5]
Because Gomes had qualified as an Independent candidate, a new general election was slated for February 27, 2024, unless all remaining candidates running against Ganim had withdrawn from the ballot by that date.[14][15]