2021 Boston City Council election
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13 seats on the Boston City Council 7 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||
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 Composition of the Boston City Council by political party[a] | ||||||||||
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The 2021 Boston City Council election was held on November 2, 2021. All thirteen councillors from the nine districts and four councillors at-large were up for election. Elections in Boston are officially nonpartisan.
Councillors Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi George, Kim Janey, and Michelle Wu ran in the mayoral election, while Matt O'Malley did not seek re-election. Councillors Ricardo Arroyo, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Lydia Edwards, Michael F. Flaherty, and Julia Mejia ran for re-election.
Background[]
Marty Walsh was elected to the mayoralty of Boston, Massachusetts, in the 2013 and 2017 elections.[1][2] On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he would select Walsh to serve as the United States Secretary of Labor.[3] Walsh resigned as mayor on March 22, after being confirmed as Secretary of Labor, and was replaced as acting-mayor by Kim Janey, who also served as president of the Boston City Council.[4][5]
The city council voted to move the primary election date from September 21, to September 14, in order to allow for another week mail-in voting ballots to be distributed for the general election and was approved by Mayor Janey.[6][7][8]
Incumbent status[]
| District | Name | Entered office | Running |
|---|---|---|---|
| At-large | Annissa Essaibi George | January 2016 | No |
| Michael F. Flaherty | January 2014 | Yes | |
| Julia Mejia | January 2020 | Yes | |
| Michelle Wu | January 2014 | No | |
| 1 | Lydia Edwards | January 2018 | Yes |
| 2 | January 2018 | Yes | |
| 3 | Frank Baker | January 2012 | Yes |
| 4 | Andrea Campbell | January 2016 | No |
| 5 | January 2020 | Yes | |
| 6 | Matt O'Malley | November 2010 | No |
| 7 | Kim Janey | January 2018 | No |
| 8 | Kenzie Bok | January 2020 | Yes |
| 9 | Liz Breadon | January 2020 | Yes |
Campaign[]
At-large[]
Michelle Wu, who had served on the city council since 2014, announced that she would run in the mayoral election on September 15, 2020.[9] Annissa Essaibi George, who had served on the city council since 2016, announced that she would run in the mayoral election on January 27, 2021.[10] Incumbent councillors Julia Mejia, who had won election to the city council by one vote in the 2019 election, and Michael F. Flaherty are running for reelection.[11]
Althea Garrison, the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature and former member of the city council, Ruthzee Louijeune, a lawyer who worked as senior counsel for Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential and senatorial campaigns, Alex Gray, a policy analyst, and Nick Vance, a political action co-chair of the NAACP in Boston, are running in the election.[12][13][14]
| 2021 Boston City Council at-large election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Primary election[15] | General election[16] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent) | 41,299 | 15.0 | 62,242 | 17.4 |
| Julia Mejia (incumbent) | 38,765 | 14.1 | 61,709 | 17.3 |
| 33,425 | 12.2 | 54,601 | 15.3 | |
| 22,835 | 8.3 | 42,831 | 12.0 | |
| David Halbert | 16,921 | 6.2 | 42,561 | 11.9 |
| Carla Monteiro | 18,844 | 6.9 | 39,648 | 11.1 |
| Bridget Nee-Walsh | 15,118 | 5.5 | 27,424 | 7.7 |
| Althea Garrison | 16,810 | 6.1 | 24,194 | 7.0 |
| Kelly Bates | 12,735 | 4.6 | ||
| Alexander Gray | 11,263 | 4.1 | ||
| Jon Spillane | 11,155 | 4.1 | ||
| Said Abdikarim | 7,725 | 2.8 | ||
| Domingos DaRosa | 7,139 | 2.6 | ||
| Donnie Palmer Jr. | 6,823 | 2.5 | ||
| Roy Owens Sr. | 5,223 | 1.9 | ||
| James Colimon | 4,671 | 1.7 | ||
| Nick Vance | 3,943 | 1.4 | ||
| Write-ins | 845 | 0.3 | 1,350 | 0.4 |
| Total | 274,694 | 100 | 359,294 | 100 |
Note: The primary result is uncertified
1st district[]
Lydia Edwards, who was first elected to the city council in 2017, announced that she would run for reelection and launched her campaign on February 26, 2021, at a virtual event.[17]
| Candidates | General Election[citation needed] | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| Lydia Edwards | ||
| Write-in | ||
| Total | TBD | TBD |
2nd district[]
Councillor filed to run for reelection.[18]
| Candidates | General Election[citation needed] | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| Write-in | ||
| Total | TBD | TBD |
3rd district[]
Frank Baker, who was first elected in 2011, announced that he would run for reelection after initially wanting to leave politics until the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans.[19] Stephen McBride is running in the election.[20]
| Candidates | General Election[16] | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| Frank Baker | 8,464 | 63.1 |
| Stephen McBride | 4,956 | 36.9 |
| Write-in | ||
| Total | TBD | TBD |
4th district[]
Andrea Campbell, who had served on the city council since 2016, announced on September 24, 2020, that she would run for mayor.[21] Evandro Carvalho, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, announced that he would run in the election on October 19.[22] Leonard M. Lee Sr., a community organizer and member of the Boston Parks Commission, announced on February 3, 2021, that he would run in the election stating that he was inspired to run after a nineteen-year-old was killed by the police outside his home.[23] William Dickerson III, a former city council aide, Nikkia Jean-Charles, who was inspired by Ayanna Pressley's campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, Trina Ruffin, and Troy Smith are running in the election.[24] Joel Richards, a Boston Public School Teacher and Boston Teachers Union activist, is also running in the election.[25]
| 2021 Boston City Council district 4 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Primary election[15] | General election[16] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| 2,498 | 25.5 | 7,442 | 61.8 | |
| Evandro Carvalho | 1,835 | 18.7 | 4,597 | 38.2 |
| Joel Richards | 1,315 | 13.4 | ||
| Josette Williams | 1,171 | 11.9 | ||
| Leonard Lee Sr. | 974 | 9.9 | ||
| William Dickerson III | 947 | 9.7 | ||
| Deeqo Jibril | 455 | 4.6 | ||
| Troy Smith | 423 | 4.3 | ||
| Jacob Urena | 183 | 1.9 | ||
| Write-ins | 24 | 0.2 | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 9,801 | 100% | TBD | TBD |
Note: The primary result is uncertified
5th district[]
Councillor Ricardo Arroyo is running for reelection and John White is also running in the election.[11][26]
| Candidates | General Election[16] | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| 13,117 | 76.1 | |
| John White | 4,109 | 23.9 |
| Write-in | ||
| Total | TBD | TBD |
6th district[]
Kendra Hicks, an activist, announced that she would run against councilor Matt O'Malley in the 2021 election.[27] O'Malley, who was first elected to the city council in 2010, announced that he would not seek reelection on December 2, 2020, so that he could focus on his family.[28]
| 2021 Boston City Council district 6 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Primary election[15] | General election[16] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| 9,236 | 50.2 | 13,907 | 55.9 | |
| Mary Tamer | 7,984 | 43.4 | 10,974 | 44.1 |
| Winnie Eke | 1,188 | 6.5 | ||
| Write-ins | 76 | 0.4 | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 18,408 | 100% | TBD | TBD |
Note: The primary result is uncertified
7th district[]
Kim Janey, who was serving as acting-mayor and who had served on the city council since 2018, announced on April 6, 2021, that she would run in the mayoral election.[29] Tania Fernandes Anderson, Angelina Camacho, Joao DePina, Marisa Luse, Santiago Rivera, and Lorraine Payne Wheeler are running in the election.[30]
| 2021 Boston City Council district 6 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Primary election[15] | General election[16] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Tania Fernandes Anderson | 2,014 | 26.7 | 7,017 | 73.3 |
| Roy Owens Sr. | 1,284 | 17.0 | 2,550 | 26.7 |
| Angelina Comacho | 1,256 | 16.6 | ||
| Brandy Brooks | 741 | 9.8 | ||
| Lorraine Wheeler | 697 | 9.2 | ||
| Santiago Rivera | 568 | 7.5 | ||
| Marisa Luse | 550 | 7.3 | ||
| Joao DePina | 407 | 5.4 | ||
| Write-ins | 34 | 0.5 | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 7,551 | 100% | TBD | TBD |
Note: The primary result is uncertified
8th district[]
Kenzie Bok, who was first elected in 2019, filed to run for re-election.[18]
| Candidates | General Election[citation needed] | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| Kenzie Bok | ||
| Write-in | ||
| Total | TBD | TBD |
9th district[]
Liz Breadon, who was first elected to the city council in 2019, is running for reelection against Michael J. Bianchi and entrepreneur Eric Porter.[11]
| 2021 Boston City Council district 6 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Primary election[15] | General election[16] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Liz Breadon | 5,050 | 71.7 | 7,223 | 71.9 |
| Michael Bianchi | 970 | 13.8 | 2,819 | 28.1 |
| Eric Porter | 768 | 10.9 | ||
| Write-ins | 252 | 3.6 | TBD | TBD |
| Total | 7,040 | 100% | TBD | TBD |
Note: The primary result is uncertified
Campaign finance[]
| Candidate | Campaign committee | |
|---|---|---|
| COH | District | |
| Frank Baker[31] | $62,576.29 | 3rd |
| Kelly Bates[32] | $61,737.76 | At-large |
| Kenzie Bok[33] | $44,227.40 | 8th |
| Lydia Edwards[34] | $106,067.81 | 1st |
| Michael F. Flaherty[35] | $252,075.21 | At-large |
| Alexander Gray[36] | $40,185.62 | At-large |
| David Halbert[37] | $63,828.57 | At-large |
| Kendra Hicks[38] | $76,456.51 | 6th |
| Julia Mejia[39] | $101,899.46 | At-large |
| Erin Murphy[40] | $48,238.95 | At-large |
| Ruthzee Louijeune[41] | $129,825.33 | At-large |
| Mary Tamer[42] | $74,801.94 | 6th |
Endorsements[]
At-large district[]
- Federal officials
- Ayanna Pressley, United States congresswoman[45]
- Elizabeth Warren, member of the United States Senate from the Massachusetts[48]
- State officials
- Sonia Chang-Díaz, member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 2nd Suffolk district[49]
- Local officials
- Kenzie Bok, Boston City Councilor from the 8th district[50]
- Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]
- Organizations
- State officials
- Daniel J. Hunt, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 13th Suffolk district[52]
- Local officials
- Kenzie Bok, Boston City Councilor from the 8th district[50]
1st district[]
2nd district[]
- Organizations
- SEIU 32BJ[47]
4th district[]
- Local officials
- Ricardo Arroyo, member of the Boston City Council from the 5th district
- Liz Miranda, state representative
- Organizations
- UNITE HERE Local 26
- Pipefitters Local 537
- Plasterers’ & Cement Masons Local 534
- Laborers Local 151
- Laborers Local 223
- IBEW Local 103
- United Auto Workers Region 9A
- North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
- The Roofers and Waterproofers Local 33
- The Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3
- The Mass Retirees
- Organizations
- Massachusetts Voters for Animals
- Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
- Organizations
- Boston Teachers Union[44]
- Democratic Socialists of America
- Grassroots Law Project
- Greater Boston Labor Council
- Mijente Boston Asamblea
- Right to the City Alliance
- Run for Something
- Sunrise Movement
- Organizations
- Mass NOW PAC
- Local officials
- Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]
5th district[]
6th district[]
- Local officials
- Matt O'Malley, member of the Boston City Council from the 6th district[54]
7th district[]
- Organizations
- SEIU 32BJ[47]
- Local officials
- Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins
- State Representative Chynah Tyler
- Organizations
- Boston Teachers Union
- North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
- Greater Boston Labor Council
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2222
- Teamsters Union Local 25
- The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 1445
- Mass Voters for Animals
- Mass NOW
- Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus
8th district[]
9th district[]
- Organizations
- SEIU 32BJ[47]
Polling[]
At-large[]
General election[]
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Michael Flaherty |
Althea Garrison |
David Halbert |
Ruthzee Louijeune |
Julia Mejia |
Carla Monteiro |
Erin Murphy |
Bridget Nee-Walsh |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College | October 26–27, 2021 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 45% | 20% | 37% | 47% | 48% | 34% | 39% | 24% | – |
| Suffolk University | October 15–17, 2021 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 30% | 9% | 16% | 21% | 29% | 15% | 18% | 10% | 35% |
| MassINC Polling Group | October 6–12, 2021 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 20% | 8% | 12% | 16% | 21% | 13% | 16% | 11% | 47% |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". WBUR-FM. November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". The Boston Globe. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Biden chooses Boston Mayor Walsh as Labor secretary". Politico. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary, Resigns As Mayor Of Boston". WBZ-TV. March 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Kim Janey becomes Boston's acting mayor, makes history as first Black person, woman to hold the office". Boston.com. March 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boston City Council to mull moving Sept. 21 preliminary election up a week". The Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boston Pushing Preliminary Election Up One Week To Sept. 14". WGBH (FM). April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Janey signs ordinance moving preliminary election to Sept. 14". WHDH (TV). May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu Announces Run For Mayor". WBUR-FM. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Councilor Essaibi-George jumps into the mayoral fray". The Boston Globe. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c "The Boston mayoral race's unintended consequence: a City Council shakeup". The Boston Globe. June 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Transgender Conservative Althea Garrison Will Run For Boston City Council At-Large Again This Year". New Boston Post. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Mattapan native Ruthzee Louijeune joins at-large council race". Dorchester Reporter. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Garrison says she'll 'definitely be on the ballot' this year; The question is: which one?". Dorchester Reporter. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Unofficial Election Results". Boston.gov. 3 October 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Waller, John (November 2, 2021). "2021 Boston City Council election results". Boston.Com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ "Councilor Edwards announces re-election campaign". East Boston Times-Free Press. February 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "Five of Six Mayoral Candidates Take Nomination Papers on Day 1: Early Poll Shows Half of Voters Undecided, Wu With Highest Favorability". Beacon Hill Times. April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "With 'everything up in the air,' says Councillor Baker, he has to run again". Dorchester Reporter. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Jones Hill man, 31, to seek District 3 council seat". Dorchester Reporter. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Andrea Campbell announces campaign to be Boston mayor". Boston.com. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "City council race: Jacob Urena running for District 4". The Boston Scope. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Longtime activist Leonard Lee plans run for District 4 council". Dorchester Reporter. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Four new candidates join hopeful field in District 4". Dorchester Reporter. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ Pereira, Rebeca (July 26, 2021). "Richards touts new labor, progressive endorsements in District 4 race". Dorchester Reporter.
- ^ a b c "Candidates lining up for district races". Bay State Banner. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Kendra Hicks to Challenge O'Malley in Boston City Council Race". Jamaica Plain News. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley won't seek re-election next year". Boston.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey enters race to seek a full term". Boston.com. April 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Candidates line up in race for District 7". Bay State Banner. April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Frank Baker campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Kelly Bates campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Kenzie Bok campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
- ^ "Lydia Edwards campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Michael F. Flaherty campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Alexander Gray campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
- ^ "David Halbert campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Kendra Hicks campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Julia Mejia campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Erin Murphy campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ "Mary Tamer campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty Announces Significant Endorsements in His Bid for Re-Election". South Boston Today. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "The Lit Drop: Wu talks housing in Dot, unions endorse candidates". Dorchester Reporter. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e DeCosta-Kilpa, Nik (September 27, 2021). "Ayanna Pressley announces Boston City Council endorsements". www.boston.com. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Woodard, Tiana (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council race this week: Latest poll mirrors prelims, Andrea Campbell unveils endorsements, flier sparks racism allegations - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Union of Essential Workers Announces Endorsements for Boston City Council". SEIU 32BJ. 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Elizabeth Warren endorses at-large Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune". The Boston Globe. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign endorsed by Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz". Jamaica Plain Gazette. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "District 8 Councilor Bok Endorses Jon Spillane and Ruthzee Louijeune for At-Large City Council: Cite Affordable Housing Experience and Commitment as Crucial for Next Council – The Boston Sun". The Boston Sun. July 22, 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "2021 Endorsements". Sierra Club. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
- ^ "Hunt endorses Murphy's bid for city council at-large". Dorchester Reporter. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
- ^ "Endorsements". Boston Democratic Socialists of America]]. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ Miller, Joshua Rhett (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council candidate slammed over 'full-blown racist' campaign flyer". New York Post. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
Further reading[]
- McDonald, Danny (November 14, 2020). "City councilor to mayor? In Boston, it's typically an uphill climb for challengers". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
External links[]
- Election office at boston.gov
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