“From each nook of our metropolis, Boston has spoken. We’re prepared to satisfy this second. We’re able to turn into a Boston for everybody,” Wu stated to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night time. “I wish to be clear, it wasn’t my imaginative and prescient on the poll, it was ours, collectively.”
Metropolis Councilor Annissa Essaibi George conceded the Boston mayoral race with a big share of the vote nonetheless ready to be counted.
“I wish to supply an amazing large congratulations to Michelle Wu,” Essaibi George stated to a crowd of supporters at her election night time social gathering. “She’s the primary girl and first Asian American elected to be mayor of Boston.”
Wu is ready to succeed performing mayor Kim Janey, Boston’s first Black and feminine mayor. Janey, then-Metropolis Council President, was subsequent in line to steer town when Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was named President Joe Biden’s Labor secretary in January.
Within the weeks main as much as the election, polls persistently confirmed Wu with a transparent lead over Essaibi George, additionally a girl of shade.
From the start, this election was a outstanding departure from Boston’s historical past. Uncontested mayoral races, the place there isn’t a incumbent searching for reelection, are laborious to return by in Boston and sometimes draw crowded primaries within the Democrat-heavy metropolis. And on this yr’s unaffiliated main, each severe contender was an individual of shade, and most of them had been ladies.
Championing hallmark insurance policies like a Inexperienced New Deal for Boston, Wu racked up help from high-profile Massachussetts progressives, corresponding to Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. Pressley, who represents a portion of Boston, additionally served on the Boston Metropolis Council with each Wu and Essaibi George.
Wu ran on a progressive platform, together with calling for a fare-free transit system.
Whereas each candidates locked down help from a lot of Boston’s highly effective unions, Essaibi George touted endorsements from a lot of native unions such because the Boston Firefighters, Boston EMS, electrical employees, metal employees, Massachusetts Nurses Affiliation and extra.
Wu’s help included 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Employees East and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority unions.
But a big a part of Wu’s help got here from extra progressive organizations, such because the Working Households Occasion, Dawn Motion Boston, the native chapter of the nationwide youth-led local weather group and Deliberate Parenthood Massachusetts.
Whereas each candidates sought to distance themselves from the acquainted progressive vs. average divide within the Democratic social gathering, outdoors sources added some stress. Main as much as Election Day, a pro-Essaibi George tremendous PAC ran an advert claiming that Wu wished to “defund the police.” The Wu marketing campaign referred to as it “dishonest and determined.”
