The Waterbury Times|Published Sept 9, 2025
Waterbury The dust has settled on the Republican primary in Waterbury, and the slate of candidates is now set to face off against the Democrats this November. It was a contest marked by old alliances, shifting loyalties, and some tight races that will undoubtedly shape the city’s political future. Here’s a breakdown of what happened in each district and what to expect moving forward.
District 1: Grosso and Stock Take the Lead
Michael Grosso and Jameson Stock emerged victorious in District 1, winning with 240 and 198 votes respectively. They outpaced Mary Grace Cavallo, the incumbent, who garnered only 114 votes, and Amanda Nardozzi, who received 106.
For those familiar with Waterbury’s Republican dynamics, Nardozzi’s candidacy was notable. Once aligned with Dawn Maiorano and the “Row A” Republicans, Nardozzi switched sides to join George Noujaim’s “Row B” faction. Cavallo, meanwhile, was not endorsed by Maiorano, and with this loss, Cavallo will now need to gather signatures to get her on the ballot, if she hopes to defend her seat in November.
District 4: Noujaim and Kondash Triumph in a Tight Race
George Noujaim, running without the endorsement of Dawn Maiorano, won the District 4 primary with 136 votes, alongside Paul Kondash, who secured 126. They narrowly edged out Row A candidates Allen Leon (121 votes) and Reynaldo Melendez (110).
Leon missed victory by just seven votes, allowing the Row B Republicans to sweep District 4. This victory is a clear sign of the continuing division within the local GOP ranks and the strength of Noujaim’s faction.
Read the Real Reason Why Noujaim Started his own Republican slate here:
Editorial: Why I Refused to be on the Town Committee’s Slate — and Built Our Own- George Noujaim
District 3: Incumbent Kelly Zimmerman and Abigail Diaz Secure Victory
District 3 saw a clean sweep for Row A Republicans, with incumbent Kelly Zimmerman taking 186 votes and Abigail Diaz securing 146. They outpaced Andy Michaud Jr., who received 110 votes.
Zimmerman’s easy win suggests strong support for the incumbent and her running mate in this district, positioning them well for the November general election.
District 2: Split Results Reflect Ongoing GOP Divisions
District 2 ended with a split result between Ruben Rodriguez, the incumbent minority leader aligned with Row A, who received 61 votes, and Bryan McEntee from Row B, who won with 70 votes. They triumphed over three other candidates — Clisham (52), Gordon Diaz (43), and Brenner (45) — showcasing a fragmented but competitive primary.
This split points to the ongoing rivalry between the GOP factions, with no clear dominant force in District 2.
District 5: Controversy and a Tight Race
District 5 was the most contentious race, shadowed by the recent incident involving Efrain Torres and Vic Cuevas. A court ruling found no fault on Cuevas’ part, and no restraining order was issued.
The primary was won by incumbent Jack Alseph with 71 votes, closely followed by Waterbury Police Officer Adrian Sanchez, who garnered 63. Torres, despite his controversy, managed only 51 votes — the second-lowest among all candidates.
What’s Next?
With the Republican slate now finalized, these candidates will square off against their Democratic opponents in the November general election. The divisions within the local GOP, particularly between the Maiorano-backed Row A and the Noujaim-led Row B factions, have set the stage for a dynamic and closely watched race.
This primary was just the first lap in what promises to be an intense political marathon. Stay tuned as Waterbury’s political landscape continues to evolve in the coming months.
Catch your breath, Waterbury — the race is heating up
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