Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim kicked off the next phase of his petition drive Sunday. 

Ganim hopes to guarantee himself a spot on the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary for governor.

The mayor said he's secured 11,000 of the 15,500 signatures needed by the June 12 deadline.

On the heels of Saturday's Democratic convention, the mayor is trying to secure a place on the primary ballot in August.

He criticized the party for endorsing Ned Lamont for governor and Susan Bysiewicz for lieutenant governor.  

Ganim says he expects to have the remaining 4,000 signatures in the next few days.