Former Connecticut state Senator Dennis Bradley was arrested Tuesday after a voter accused him of interfering with her absentee ballot ahead of an August Democratic primary election.
Voter Alesia Dennis alleged that Bradley came to her apartment, opened her completed ballot, and instructed her to change her vote from incumbent Paul Ganim to Bradley’s brother, Mark Bradley, who was running for probate judge. Dennis told NBC Connecticut she felt intimidated during the encounter and complied with his directions.
The Arrest and Charges
Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin announced Bradley’s arrest Tuesday. Bradley faces four charges involving absentee ballots, including unlawfully opening a ballot and being present while an applicant executed an absentee ballot.
Dennis contacted Bridgeport police on August 5, days after the alleged incident, and filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission the following day. After the encounter, Dennis handed her completed ballot to police and later voted in person at the registrar of voters’ office.
Bradley’s attorney, Darnell Crosland, said the former senator maintains his innocence. Bradley was released on a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 21.
Impact on the Voter
Dennis described the burden of having to cast a ballot twice, saying “I shouldn’t have to go through that twice.” Dennis initially said the ordeal made her consider giving up voting altogether, telling reporters “I wasn’t going to vote no more” after Bradley’s arrest.
She later indicated she still trusted Bridgeport’s election system and intended to continue voting. Her complaint concerns an individual’s alleged actions rather than election officials’ conduct.
Political Response
Connecticut Republican lawmakers Stephen Harding and Rob Sampson criticized the case in a joint statement, calling the accusations an embarrassment for Bridgeport. Their response reflects political stakes, though prosecutors must proceed based on evidence rather than party affiliation.
Bradley’s Background
Bradley represented Bridgeport in the Connecticut Senate from 2019 through 2023. He has a separate federal conviction tied to his 2018 state Senate campaign, having been convicted in March of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five wire-fraud counts related to Connecticut’s public campaign financing program.
