Boston City Council Election Narrows Candidates for November

Boston — The preliminary municipal election on Tuesday narrowed the field for Boston City Council contests and set the stage for a November general election. Unofficial city tallies show incumbents retained strong positions in the at-large race while a tightly contested District 7 race produced two narrow winners to advance. The mayoral preliminary also produced a clear top-two outcome.

Key results and what they mean

The at-large City Council preliminary reduced a crowded field to eight candidates who will move on to the general election. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune led the at-large vote with 45,500 votes (18.7%). She was followed by Julia Mejia at 17.4%, Erin Murphy at 16.0%, and Henry Santana at 12.6%. Former District 3 councilor Frank Baker received 10.8%, Alexandra E. Valdez drew 7.8%, Marvin Dee Mathelier collected 5.7%, and Will Onuoha obtained 4.6%.

In District 7, the race was extremely close, with leading candidates separated by small margins. Said Coach Ahmed received 1,155 votes (15.7%) and Miniard Culpepper received 1,102 votes (15.0%), making them the two candidates who will advance to the general election. Close behind were Mavrick Afonso with 1,082 votes (14.7%), Samuel Hurtado at 14.4%, and Said Abdirahman Abdikarim at 14.3%.

Other district-level outcomes

Several incumbents won by wide margins and will advance to the November ballot. In District 1, incumbent Councilor Gabriel Coletta Zapata secured 77% of votes and will face Andretti McDuffie-Stanziani (14.8%). District 2 Councilor Ed Flynn won with 86%, beating Charles Jeffrey Delaney (6.6%). District 4 Council Vice President Brian Worrell received 81% and will face Helen Cameron (11.5%). District 5 incumbent Enrique Pepén advanced with 64% against Winston Pierre (23%). Several districts had incumbents facing only one challenger and thus effectively qualified for the general election, while Districts 3 and 8 will see incumbents running unopposed.

Mayoral preliminary and turnout

The mayoral preliminary drew attention alongside council races. Mayor Michelle Wu won the preliminary with 72% of the vote, while challenger Josh Kraft took 23.1%, setting a November rematch. Overall turnout for the preliminary was approximately 21%, which is higher than the turnout for the last preliminary in 2017.

Context and voter response

The District 7 contest was for the seat vacated after the removal of former councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson following a conviction on federal corruption charges. Voter commentary and campaign reporting noted different candidate priorities: the at-large leaders emphasized work on housing, public services, community coalitions, and constituent outreach. Candidate summaries after the preliminary reflected gratitude to supporters, renewed campaign focus, and plans to sharpen outreach before the November general election.

Boston’s City Council comprises 13 members: four at-large and nine district representatives. All councilors serve two-year terms. The November general election is scheduled for November 4, when the winners from this preliminary round will compete for full terms.

What to watch before November

• How at-large incumbents convert preliminary leads into general-election support.
• Whether District 7 finalists expand their reach among closely divided neighborhoods.
• Turnout trends compared with previous cycles and whether higher preliminary turnout persists.
• Developments in the mayoral race as the top-two finishers prepare for a November contest.

FAQ

Who advanced in the at-large City Council race?

Eight candidates advanced: Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Erin Murphy, Henry Santana, Frank Baker, Alexandra E. Valdez, Marvin Dee Mathelier, and Will Onuoha.

Who will move on in District 7?

Said Coach Ahmed and Miniard Culpepper advanced to the November general election for District 7.

Why is the District 7 seat open?

The seat was vacated after the former councilor was removed following a federal corruption conviction.

When is the general election?

The general election is set for November 4.

How many members are on the Boston City Council and how long are their terms?

The council has 13 members—four at-large and nine district representatives—and each serves a two-year term.

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