(Rocky Hill, CT) - Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin today announced that Dennis A. Bradley, Jr., age 42, of Bridgeport, has been criminally charged in connection with the misuse of absentee ballots during the 2026 Bridgeport Democratic Primary.
Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney today arrested Bradley on a warrant charging him with two counts of Illegal Possession of Absentee Ballots and Envelopes, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d), Present When an Absentee Ballot Applicant Executes an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(e), and Absentee Ballots, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-359.
On August 11, 2026, the City of Bridgeport held a primary election for the Democratic Party candidate nomination which included the position of Judge of Probate. The candidates for that office were incumbent Paul Ganim, and his challenger, Mark Bradley. Electors had the ability to vote in person or by absentee ballot. A complainant contacted the Bridgeport Police Department on August 5, 2026, and followed up with a complaint to the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) on August 6, 2026, that a male known to her as “Dennis Bradley” came to her apartment, opened her previously executed absentee ballot, and instructed her how to change her vote from Paul Ganim to Mark Bradley, who is Dennis Bradley’s brother. The SEEC subsequently referred the case to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for further investigation.
Bradley was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court, Geographical Area No. 2, on October 21, 2026.
These charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.