Boston City Hall Faces Recount Delay After Water Main Break

Boston, September 21, 2025

News Summary

A water main break at Boston City Hall disrupted planned recounts for the mayoral and City Council District 7 elections. The malfunction of all toilets forced the dismissal of election officials and volunteers who were preparing to count ballots. The recounts, requested by third-place candidates Domingos DaRosa and Mavrick Afonso, will now take place the following day at 9 a.m. Election efforts are heightened due to the narrow margins in District 7, making accurate ballot counting crucial amidst these unforeseen delays.

Boston

Main development

Boston City Hall was unable to conduct planned recounts for the mayoral and City Council District 7 races due to a water main break that caused all toilets in the building to malfunction. The recounts, triggered by requests from third-place candidates Domingos DaRosa and Mavrick Afonso, are rescheduled for the following day, with expectations to begin at 9 a.m.

Immediate impact

The human resources and logistics required to perform the recount were disrupted when plumbing failures rendered restrooms unusable. Eneida Tavares, Chair of the Boston Elections Commission, informed the crowd gathered at City Hall about the plumbing failures and the resulting delay. Around 30 election officials and volunteers prepared to sort and count ballots but were ultimately dismissed due to the plumbing issue.

Who requested the recounts and why

The recounts were requested by third-place candidates Domingos DaRosa in the mayoral race and Mavrick Afonso in the City Council District 7 race. Both candidates had collected signatures to force recounts and pursue the possibility of advancing to the general election. Participants from both races emphasized the importance of ensuring every vote is accurately counted, with particular attention to the close margins in District 7.

District 7 vote totals and stakes

In the District 7 race, Afonso received 1,082 votes, while Culpepper received 1,102 votes, and the frontrunner Said Ahmed received 1,155 votes. Afonso finished just 20 votes behind second-place candidate Miniard Culpepper, making the recount especially consequential for determining who will move on to the next stage of the election.

Mayoral recount details

The recount also involved a request by DaRosa, who received 2,409 votes in the mayoral race, trailing significantly behind Mayor Michelle Wu’s 66,398 votes. While the margin between DaRosa and Wu is large, the recount process was pursued to confirm the official totals and explore potential ballot changes depending on results and state rules.

Signature threshold and state law

According to state law, a candidate must secure at least as many votes as the number of signatures required to qualify for the ballot in order to be replaced. DaRosa’s current vote total leaves him short of the required 3,000 signatures, needing an additional 600 votes to qualify for a spot on the November ballot.

Administrative preparation and certification

Election officials had already certified recount petitions and were preparing material before the interruption. The Boston Elections Commission had previously certified recount petitions for four wards in District 7 and five wards in the mayoral race. Officials must now coordinate a refreshed schedule, notify staff and observers, and resume the recount process when conditions allow.

Context and local environment

The District 7 seat became vacant following the resignation of former councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson due to federal corruption charges, increasing attention on the contest to fill that seat. Outside City Hall, the scene included preparations for a separate public event marking Boston’s first rodeo in a century, creating an unusual juxtaposition with the election activity inside the building. Waiting campaign volunteers noted significant community turnout and engagement in the election process prior to the delay.

Next steps

Recounts are expected to resume the following day beginning at 9 a.m., subject to building conditions and availability of election staff and observers. Election officials will complete sorting and counting of ballots for the certified wards and report updated totals once the process is finished.

Importance of the recount

The recount process remains a critical safeguard in close contests and for candidates seeking to confirm or change their positions on the ballot. The halted session highlighted logistical vulnerabilities that can affect election administration and the need for contingency plans when physical facilities become unavailable.

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Quick reference table

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Candidates Request Recount for Boston City Council District 7
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Additional Resources

• Boston Globe: Boston Recount Mayor District 7 Toilets
• Boston.com: Close District 7 Boston City Councilor Race Could Go to a Recount
• Boston Herald: Boston to Hold Recounts for Mayoral District 7 City Council Races
• Bay State Banner: Ahmed and Culpepper Come Out on Top in District 7 Preliminary, Afonso Seeks Recount
• Boston Herald: District 7 Boston City Council Race Likely Headed to a Recount After Tight Preliminary Election
• Wikipedia: Election Recount
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Election
• Google Search: Boston Recount 2025
• Google Scholar: Boston’s City Council Election Recount
• Google News: Boston Recount 2025

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