Three Working Families Party (WFP) nominees were elected on November 5, 2025, in Connecticut, despite not also being Democratic Party nominees. This outcome highlights the unique dynamics of local elections in the state.
In Bridgeport, five seats on the Board of Education were up for grabs. The election was partisan, and the city uses a Limited Voting system. Under this system, when five seats are available, no party is allowed to nominate more than three candidates.
For this election, the Democrats nominated three candidates, the Working Families Party nominated two, and the Republican Party nominated two as well. The two WFP nominees, Joseph Sokolovic and Rob Trader, managed to secure their seats. Their victory was largely possible because the Independent Party cross-endorsed the WFP nominees, boosting their vote share enough to outpace the Republican candidates.
Below is a copy of the ballot used in Bridgeport for reference.
Meanwhile, in Hartford, four Board of Education seats were open. Only four candidates ran, making it straightforward for the WFP nominee, Shonta Browdy, to win a seat. Like Bridgeport, Hartford also uses Limited Voting for its Board of Education elections, which explains why only three Democrats ran this cycle.
These election results underscore how fusion voting and cross-endorsements can play a decisive role in local races, particularly under Limited Voting systems.
https://ballot-access.org/2025/11/07/five-working-families-party-nominees-were-elected-in-connecticut-without-having-the-nomination-of-the-democratic-party/