The Arrest and the Ballot Allegation
Former Connecticut Democratic state senator Dennis A. Bradley Jr. was arrested on four state election-related charges after a voter accused him of opening her completed absentee ballot and directing her to change her vote. The voter said Bradley entered her apartment, opened the ballot, and showed her how to switch her selection in a Democratic primary. She had voted for incumbent probate judge Paul Ganim. The requested replacement, according to the allegation, was Mark Bradley, Dennis Bradley’s brother. The claim is not a conviction. Bradley is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges in court.
🚨 BREAKING: Former CT Democratic State Senator Dennis Bradley has been arrested on four criminal charges over alleged absentee ballot violations. A voter reported that he opened her completed ballot at her apartment and pressured her into changing her vote. "I felt intimidated,"… pic.twitter.com/9HsTLdH3bo
— Diamond and Silk® (@DiamondandSilk) October 7, 2026
What Prosecutors Say Happened
According to Connecticut’s Division of Criminal Justice, the complaint traces back to August 5, six days before the August 11 Democratic primary in Bridgeport. The voter first contacted Bridgeport police and filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission the following day. State election officials then referred the matter to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for further investigation. Inspectors with the Statewide Prosecution Bureau arrested Bradley on two counts of illegal possession of absentee ballots and envelopes. He also faces one count of being present when an absentee-ballot applicant executes a ballot, along with another absentee-ballot charge. Prosecutors say the issue is not simply whether a voter may change her mind. Their allegation concerns the handling of an already completed ballot and direction toward a relative’s candidacy.
“…alleging that Dennis Bradley came to her apartment, opened her previously executed absentee ballot, and instructed her how to change her vote from Ganim to Mark Bradley.” 👀 https://t.co/nDDgGZW7Ph
— JW Wharton (@PreppyProf) October 7, 2026
The Defense Disputes the Public Account
Bradley’s attorney, Darnell Crosland, challenged the account reported publicly. News 12 Connecticut reported that Crosland said the video shown in news reports had been edited and that the full footage had not yet been released. The defense expects a clearer picture after receiving discovery. Crosland described Bridgeport politics as a “bloodsport” and called the allegations “paper thin.” He also argued that voters have the right to change their ballots and choose any candidate they want. Bradley was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 21. News 12 reported that this state case is separate from Bradley’s earlier federal campaign-fraud prosecution.
#BREAKING Former #Bridgeport state Sen Dennis Bradley arrested on NEW charges, now accused of changing a woman’s ballot to help his brother’s probate judge primary, attorney Darnell Crosland confirms
Bradley turned himself this morning. Crosland calls allegations “paper thin” pic.twitter.com/w5CLZ1uO8S
— John Craven (@johncraven1) October 6, 2026
A Separate Federal Case
The latest arrest comes while Bradley awaits sentencing in a separate federal case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced in March that a federal jury convicted him of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud tied to his 2018 state Senate campaign. Those federal convictions are distinct from the new state charges. The state allegations remain accusations, and Bradley is presumed innocent in that case unless prosecutors establish them in court.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.