During a historic election night, Michelle Wu was elected as the first female and Asian American mayor of Boston. The two finalists, Wu, and her opponent, Annissa Essaibi George, were both at-large city councilors, and are both women of color, Wu being of Asian descent and Essaibi George of Tunisian descent. This is the first Boston election where both finalists identified as such.
Wu won the race with 63.6% of the vote, Essaibi George conceding with 36.4%. Before the primary, candidates included acting mayor Kim Janey, city councilor Andrea Campbell, chief of economic development John Barros, and representative Jon Santiago. By the time the September 14 primary elections came around, Santiago had withdrawn from the race. Most Bostonians remained undecided until early September, when Wu pulled ahead in the polls.
Both Wu and Essaibi George were active in their communities the night of the election. Essaibi George was working the polls in Mattapan, seen hugging a voter in a video she posted to her Twitter page, with the caption, “Feeling the [love] while working the polls in Mattapan!” Wu met with voters at Villa Victoria along with acting mayor Janey.
On Twitter, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker wrote, “To all the candidates in elections across the Commonwealth who put themselves out there for a chance to give back to their community, thank you.”
“We’re ready to meet this moment. We are ready to be a Boston for everyone,” Wu stated following her victory. During her speech, Wu spoke of tackling changes both citywide and local for the residents of Boston, saying “We need, we deserve, both.” Essaibi George gave her final speech after conceding in Copley Square, thanking her supporters and acknowledging the historical circumstance of the evening.
“This race may technically be over,” Essaibi George stated, “but the work is not done. Our work is not done…I promise you I am never going to stop fighting for this city that I love.”
It is expected that Wu will be taking her place in office on November 16.
Along with the mayoral race, Bostonians also cast their votes for their city councilors. The winners include Lydia Edwards, Edward Flynn, Frank Baker, Brian Worrell, Ricardo Arroyo, Kendra Hicks, Tania Anderson, Priscilla Kenzie Bok and Liz Breadon. At-large city council winners include Michael Flaherty, Julia Mejia and Ruthzee Louijeune.
