Ed Gomes

Edwin A. "Ed" Gomes (born February 25, 1936) is a Democratic member of the Connecticut State Senate, representing District 23, which includes Bridgeport. He was elected to the chamber in a special election on February 24, 2015, having previously served in the chamber, representing the same district from November 2005 to January 2013.
Gomes served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1963 and then worked as a Laborer/Annealer for Carpenter Steel from 1963 to 1977 and International Representative of District 1 for the United Steelworkers of America. He was then elected to the Bridgeport City Council from 1983 to 1989 and again from 1999 to 2005.
After losing badly in the primary in 2012, he decided to run again in the special election in early 2015, but the Democratic leadership decided to give the nomination to someone else. However, the local Working Families Party decided to give him their spot and he was elected in a three way race, becoming its first candidate outside the state of New York to win office.
Having been welcomed back into Democratic ranks, Gomes is now deputy majority leader.