How To Win A Primary Without Actually Winning

In which your author describes how to be a successful candidate in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Step 1.  Be close friends with the state's election supervisor (in Connecticut, that position is filled by the "Secretary of the State", which is akin to "Secretary of State" in other states). (1)

Step 2.  Install a Town Clerk that is loyal to you, and will "rubber-stamp" your decisions and wishes.  

Step 3.  Have that same Town Clerk disqualify the majority of your opponent's petition signatures (see notes 1-3). (1) (2)

Step 4.  Even if you are defeated in the ballots cast on primary day, declare that absentee voting has made you the winner (see note 4). 

Step 5.  When confronted by concerned citizens on this issue, have this two-word response ready..."no comment" (see note 5).  

Step 6.  Bask in the knowledge that you have played such citizens for fools.  Laugh long and loud.  

Notes:

 1.  In Connecticut, it is possible for a candidate from a "major party" (read: Democrats and Republicans) to be endorsed by a "minor party".  In this manner, said candidate could receive votes from additional "third parties".  This is known as the practice of "cross-endorsement", or "electoral fusion".  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fusion#United_States for more information.  

 2.  In order to be accepted as a "minor party candidate", said candidate must petition for ballot access.  Successful petitions are those which gather at least one percent of the total number of votes cast in the last election (for a certain office).  In this instance, Ms. Marilyn Moore (the declared loser of the primary) was trying to register as a "Working Families Party" candidate.  She needed to gather two hundred and seven signatures in order to do this.  

 3.  According to the Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Town Clerk Charles Clemons (an ally of incumbent Democratic mayor Joe Ganim) accepted only one hundred and sixty eight of the two hundred and seventy signatures that Ms. Moore's team submitted.  The rest were declared to be invalid, and rejected.  As such, the Secretary of the State announced that Ms. Moore will not be able to run (in the general election) under the Working Families Party banner.  This is significant because it means Ms. Moore's only option is to mount a write-in campaign. (3)

 4.  When all the votes cast on primary day were counted, it seemed that Ms. Moore had won the endorsement of the Bridgeport Democratic Party.  However, according to election officials, absentee voting totals were enough to give the victory to Mayor Ganim.  This is a matter of some concern; according to these same officials, twelve percent of all votes cast were by absentee.  Such a number of absentee ballots is significantly higher than the average amount, which suggests possible misconduct regarding the vote count.  

 5.  As of now, Mayor Ganim has had no comment regarding allegations of fraud or misconduct.  

Sources:

1.  Personal knowledge.

  

2.  Lockhart, Brian. "Moore Running Out Of November Options". Connecticut Post, 2019, https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Moore-campaign-considering-its-options-for-14430955.php. Accessed 19 Sept 2019.

3.  Dixon, Ken. "Moore Will Launch Write-In Campaign For Bridgeport Mayor". Connecticut Post, 2019, https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/Moore-will-launch-write-in-campaign-for-14450060.php. Accessed 19 Sept 2019.