Former Connecticut State Senator Dennis Bradley Charged in Bridgeport Absentee Ballot Case
Former Connecticut state Sen. Dennis A. Bradley Jr. has been charged with four criminal offenses following an investigation into the handling of an absentee ballot during Bridgeport’s August Democratic primary.
Bradley, 42, was arrested Tuesday by inspectors from the Connecticut Office of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Statewide Prosecution Bureau. Prosecutors allege that he unlawfully possessed absentee ballots and was improperly involved in the execution and handling of an absentee ballot during the primary.
The case centers on an allegation from a Bridgeport voter who told authorities that Bradley opened an absentee ballot she had already completed and instructed her to change her vote to his brother, Mark Bradley, who was running for judge of probate.
The charges are allegations, and Bradley is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Four Charges Filed Against Former Senator
According to Connecticut prosecutors, Bradley faces:
- Two counts of illegal possession of absentee ballots and envelopes
- One count of being present when an absentee ballot applicant executes an absentee ballot
- One count under Connecticut’s absentee-ballot law involving the alleged unlawful handling of a ballot
The charges stem from the Aug. 11, 2026, Bridgeport Democratic primary. Voters in that election chose between incumbent Probate Judge Paul Ganim and challenger Mark Bradley.
Bradley served as a Democratic member of the Connecticut Senate representing Bridgeport from 2019 through 2023.
Voter Reported Alleged Ballot Incident
The investigation began after Alesia Dennis contacted the Bridgeport Police Department on Aug. 5, six days before the primary.
According to the state’s account, Dennis reported that a man she knew as Dennis Bradley came to her apartment and opened an absentee ballot she had already completed. She told authorities that he then instructed her to change her vote from Paul Ganim to Mark Bradley, his brother.
Dennis subsequently filed a complaint with the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission, or SEEC, on Aug. 6.
SEEC referred the matter to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for further investigation, eventually leading to the criminal charges announced Tuesday.
Dennis later told NBC Connecticut that she felt intimidated during the encounter and went along with the instructions she said she was given.
She turned the absentee ballot over to police and later voted in person at the registrar of voters’ office.
The Probate Judge Primary
The alleged incident involved a relatively specific contest within Bridgeport’s Democratic primary.
Paul Ganim, the incumbent probate judge, faced Mark Bradley, Dennis Bradley’s brother.
The case therefore involves an allegation that a former state senator intervened in an absentee voting process involving a close relative who was himself a candidate for office.
Prosecutors have not alleged in their announcement that the incident changed the outcome of the probate judge primary. The criminal case is focused on the alleged handling and possession of the absentee ballot.
Bradley Previously Faced Federal Charges
The new case is not the first time Bradley has faced criminal charges.
NBC Connecticut reported that he was federally charged in 2021 in connection with allegations involving Connecticut’s public campaign financing program and his 2018 state Senate campaign. Those allegations are separate from the current absentee-ballot case.
The state prosecution announced Tuesday concerns conduct alleged to have occurred during the 2026 Bridgeport Democratic primary.
Bridgeport Has Faced Previous Absentee Ballot Investigations
The latest case comes amid a broader series of investigations into absentee-ballot handling in Bridgeport.
Connecticut prosecutors have brought charges against multiple people in connection with alleged absentee-ballot violations involving previous Bridgeport elections.
In 2025, the state’s Division of Criminal Justice announced charges against several people connected to investigations of the 2023 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary. That investigation followed complaints about absentee-ballot handling and ultimately became part of a broader legal dispute over the election.
Separate investigations have also resulted in charges related to the 2019 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary.
The repeated cases have placed absentee-ballot procedures in Bridgeport under heightened scrutiny, although each criminal case involves its own allegations and evidence.
Bradley Released Pending Court Appearance
After his arrest Tuesday, Bradley was released on a promise to appear in court.
His next scheduled appearance is Oct. 21 in Bridgeport Superior Court, Geographical Area No. 2, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.
The state has emphasized that the charges announced Tuesday are accusations rather than findings of guilt.
As the case proceeds, prosecutors will have to establish the allegations in court, while Bradley retains the presumption of innocence unless a court determines otherwise.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
