This has sparked massive outrage online.
Numerous prominent figures associated with the “MAGA” movement and the Republican party have responded to a judge’s decision to invalidate the results of a Democratic mayoral primary in Connecticut due to concerns about ballot tampering.
According to Newsweek, on Wednesday Judge William Clark ruled to nullify the results of the September mayoral election in Bridgeport. In that election, the incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim, a Democrat, won against fellow Democratic contender John Gomes by a margin of 251 votes. The judge based his decision on video evidence showing individuals inserting multiple absentee ballots into outdoor collection boxes.
This judicial ruling followed a lawsuit filed by John Gomes contesting the election results. Judge Clark, who is a Democratic appointee, stated that Gomes had presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that individuals who were not election officials mishandled a significant number of ballots. This mishandling raised serious doubts about the legitimacy of the primary election results and rendered it impossible for the court to determine the accurate outcome of the primary.
The ruling has garnered attention from figures associated with the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, as well as Republicans who have previously alleged, without substantiated evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was marred by voter fraud and issues with mail-in ballots.
During an appearance on the conservative podcast, The Benny Johnson Show, Ohio congressman Jim Jordan voiced his thoughts on the Connecticut ruling. He emphasized the importance of fair and free elections, advocating for measures like voter identification and signature verification as safeguards to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Johnson posted about the judge’s decision and questioned whether cases involving Democrats rigging elections against fellow Democrats could raise questions about broader electoral integrity.
Sharing a video clip of the alleged ballot tampering during the Bridgeport mayoral primary, former GOP congressional candidate Robby Starbuck raised concerns about the similarities between this case and the events surrounding the 2020 presidential election. He pointed out that while there might be less evidence in this case, it raises questions because both potential winners are Democrats.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, who acquired Twitter and renamed it X, also weighed in on the matter. He expressed concern about the occurrence of ballot stuffing, suggesting that the main question is how common such incidents might be.
Musk’s post was shared online by Kari Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial candidate who had alleged voting irregularities in her race against Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. She made several unsuccessful attempts to challenge the election results.
In his ruling, Judge Clark ordered discussions to determine when a new Democratic primary could be conducted within 10 days of his decision. He clarified that he lacked the authority to delay the November 7 general election, which would determine the next Bridgeport mayor, as numerous other races were scheduled for the same day.
Responding to the judge’s decision, John Gomes issued a statement, stating that the victory belongs not only to him but to the people of Bridgeport who were wronged as detailed in Judge Clark’s decision. He emphasized the triumph of democracy.
Gomes’ attorney, Bill Bloss, explained that if Joe Ganim were to win the November 7 election and the primary redo, he would be re-elected as mayor. However, if Gomes were to win the primary for a second time, another general election would be necessary, according to the Connecticut Post.
Mayor Joe Ganim mentioned that he is considering the possibility of appealing the judge’s decision but is presently focused on the upcoming November 7 general election, where he is the Democratic nominee for mayor. He called for voters to participate in the electoral process to support him and other municipal offices on the ballot.
WATCH:
BREAKING: A Democrat Judge in Connecticut has OVERTURNED the results of the Mayoral Primary Election in Bridgeport and have ordered a new election be held after bombshell video evidence of election fraud was found.
Is the GOP doing anything to stop this from happening again in… pic.twitter.com/DrWaWjpmqJ
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) November 2, 2023