BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — Incumbent Democratic Mayor Joe Ganim has declared victory over former aide John Gomes in the Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary race.

Early reports on Tuesday night showed Gomes had a substantial lead, but Ganim caught up with 51 percent of the votes to Gomes with almost 49 percent.

This will be Ganim’s eighth term as mayor of Bridgeport. He first served from 1991 to 2003 before spending seven years in federal prison for corruption and extortion charges as mayor. Voters returned him to office in 2015 and 2019.

Ganim previously faced a primary challenge in his 2019 re-election bid when he narrowly defeated state Sen. Marilyn Moore by 270 votes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.