News Summary
Current Mayor Michelle Wu is leading her competitor Josh Kraft by nearly 30 points ahead of the preliminary election, according to a recent poll. Wu has 59% support while Kraft trails at 29%. The survey highlights a high likelihood of voter engagement and prioritizes housing issues among voters. Despite some mixed feelings regarding her policies, Wu retains a favorability rating of 66%. The race remains competitive as both candidates prepare for the upcoming election in September, with a notable number of undecided voters.
Boston – Current Mayor Michelle Wu is leading her closest competitor Josh Kraft by a significant margin of nearly 30 points as the preliminary election approaches. A recent poll conducted by the Boston Globe and Suffolk University indicates that Wu holds a strong lead with 59% support compared to Kraft’s 29%. This data highlights Wu’s solid position as she campaigns for another term as mayor in the upcoming September election.
In addition to Wu and Kraft, two other candidates, Robert Capucci and Domingos DaRosa, are trailing far behind, with Capucci receiving 0.8% and DaRosa at 2.8% in the polling. Interestingly, 6.6% of respondents remain undecided about their choice of candidates. The poll surveyed 500 likely voters between July 13 and July 16, and it carries a margin of error of 4.4%.
Voter engagement appears high, with an overwhelming 90% of respondents expressing their likelihood to vote in the preliminary election. Support for Wu’s leadership is reflected in the poll, with nearly two-thirds, or 64.6%, of voters approving of her job performance as she seeks re-election.
As both candidates gear up for the preliminary election, housing issues have emerged as a top concern for Boston voters. The poll reveals that 26% of participants view housing as the most critical issue, while 17.2% prioritize the economy and job opportunities. During a recent debate on housing affordability, both Wu and Kraft acknowledged that housing costs in Boston are excessively high but disagreed on how best to address the situation.
Moreover, the polling results indicate significant support for rent stabilization measures, with approximately 65.2% of respondents in favor. Nearly 30% are advocating for easing zoning regulations and injecting public funding into stalled housing projects. However, an interesting counterpoint is seen in the transportation sector; half of the respondents, or 50.2%, believe that the city’s bike lanes have made commuting less convenient, indicating mixed feelings about Wu’s transportation policy.
Despite some concerns about her tenure, Wu maintains a favorability rating of 66%, while only 36% of the voters view Kraft favorably. Unfavorable opinions are also evident, with 28% disapproving of Wu’s performance and 42% having a negative impression of Kraft. The data suggests Wu is well-received across various age and racial demographics, although Kraft shows some support from Republican and independent voters.
The preliminary election results likely indicate that both Wu and Kraft will advance to the final election in November. Even though housing is a dominant issue among voters, only 5% identified crime as their primary concern, a point which Kraft has emphasized throughout his campaign. Additionally, 45% of voters reported feeling that life in Boston is somewhat or very unaffordable, which may influence their voting decisions.
Wu’s campaign has focused on delivering results for families across all neighborhoods in Boston, emphasizing her commitment to address pressing issues like housing and economic stability. In contrast, Kraft’s team believes that as voters become more familiar with his policies and background, his support will increase in the lead-up to the election.
With 9% of voters still undecided, the race remains competitive, and both candidates will need to engage effectively with constituents to sway those who have yet to form a firm choice regarding their next mayor.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Globe: Wu Leads Kraft in Poll
- Wikipedia: Michelle Wu
- MassLive: Wu Jumps Out to 30 Point Lead
- Google Search: Boston mayor election 2025
- Boston Herald: Wu Holds Lead Over Kraft
- Google Scholar: Boston Mayoral Polls
- NBC Boston: Wu vs Kraft Poll
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston Mayor Election
- Boston.com: Wu’s Comfortable Lead
- Google News: Michelle Wu Josh Kraft
