Cohen Contests Election, Sues Over West Haven Mayoral Results

WEST HAVEN, CT — Republican challenger Barry Lee Cohen has filed a lawsuit contesting the mayoral election, according to multiple reports.

Incumbent Democrat Nancy Rossi defeated Cohen in the hotly contested mayoral race by 32 votes, according to a recount last Sunday. Rossi initially claimed a 24-vote victory on election night. The lead then increased to 29 votes, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of the State's Office before finishing with a final tally of 4,275 to 4,243 following the recount.

Cohen filed a complaint Monday claiming there were irregularities with the absentee ballots and votes cast by non-West Haven residents in the election, according to WTNH News 8.

WTNH reported Cohen received 72 more in-person votes than Rossi, but 393 absentee ballots were cast for Rossi compared to 297 for Cohen.

Rossi is named in Cohen’s lawsuit, along with other city officials, including the city clerk and the democratic and republican registrar of voters, according to FOX 61.

Cohen told FOX 61 that they’ve learned there were “significant irregularities” with the absentee ballots cast in the election and argued some of them should have been rejected if they didn’t meet state requirements. His team is also requesting access from the city clerk to all materials related to the election, according to FOX 61.

The New Haven Register reported Cohen’s campaign is asking the court to declare the absentee ballots void and appoint Cohen the winner, or to declare the absentee ballots void and order a special election for mayor.