In a significant turn of events, a Superior Court judge has ordered a new Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport, following challenger John Gomes' claims of unprecedented absentee ballot fraud. The judge's ruling mandates discussions between the two sides and city election officials within the next 10 days to determine the date for the primary, with a decision expected by November 17.

Gomes, a former chief administrative officer in incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim's administration, hailed the court's decision as "a victory for the people of Bridgeport." He emphasized that his campaign has always prioritized the upholding of the democratic process and expressed gratitude for the court's support.

However, the legal battle may not be over yet. Attorneys representing the city have announced their intention to file an emergency appeal to the state Supreme Court. This development raises the possibility of the highest court in the state hearing legal arguments as voters head to the polls on Tuesday.

It is important to note that the judge's ruling does not impact the scheduled voting on Tuesday, as the judge lacks the authority to halt an election. Gomes is currently challenging incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim as a third-party candidate.

The outcome of the general election next week will significantly influence the next steps. If Gomes emerges victorious, his attorney William Bloss has asserted that they will withdraw the complaint, effectively making Gomes the mayor. Conversely, if Ganim wins Tuesday's election, another Democratic primary will be held, as mandated by Judge Clark's order.

The city-wide implications of the primary result depend on its outcome. If Ganim prevails in the new primary, he will be reelected mayor, rendering another general election unnecessary. However, if Gomes emerges as the victor in the primary, a new city-wide election will be required to determine the ultimate winner of the mayoral contest, Bloss explained.

In addition to Gomes and Ganim, Republican candidate David Herz and petitioning candidate Lamond Daniels are also running for mayor in Tuesday's election. It is worth noting that all other city races are not subject to a new primary and will be decided on Election Day.

In the initial September 12 Democratic primary, Ganim secured victory over Gomes by a narrow margin of 251 votes. However, Gomes subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the results after a video emerged showing Democratic Town Committee vice-chairwoman Wanda Geter-Pataky allegedly placing multiple absentee ballots into one of the city's four absentee ballot drop boxes.

The judge, in his ruling, deemed the videos "shocking" and underscored that they should be cause for concern for all parties involved. The footage showcased Geter-Pataky delivering ballots to the drop boxes and assisting others in the same process, suggesting potential violations of the state's election laws.

Clark acknowledged that the issue at hand was not the applications or advocacy for delivering absentee votes per se, but rather whether those actions crossed legal boundaries. The judge pointed to the video evidence, particularly in Districts 136 and 139, which led him to conclude that violations of the law had indeed occurred.

Geter-Pataky, one of the eight witnesses who testified during the extensive five-day hearing, exercised her Fifth Amendment right, invoking it 71 times during her testimony, to decline answering questions posed by attorney William Bloss.

As the legal battle continues to unfold, all eyes are now on the forthcoming general election and its potential impact on the mayoral race in Bridgeport.