District 7 City Council Race Recount Confirms Results

Boston, September 22, 2025

News Summary

The recount for the District 7 City Council race concluded with no change in the results, reaffirming Said “Coach” Ahmed and Miniard Culpepper as the top two candidates. Mavrick Afonso, who finished third, saw his margin of loss increase after the recount. A mayoral race recount is also underway, requested by Domingos DaRosa. Both recounts aim to ensure election integrity ahead of the general election scheduled for November.

Boston

Recount Leaves District 7 City Council Race Outcome Unchanged; Mayoral Recount Underway

The District 7 City Council race results remained unchanged after a recount conducted on Sunday. Said “Coach” Ahmed and Miniard Culpepper secured the top two positions again, moving on to the general election. Mavrick Afonso, who finished third, petitioned for the recount after losing by a narrow margin.

Key results and vote totals

The recount confirmed that Said “Coach” Ahmed received a total of 1,170 votes, while Miniard Culpepper garnered 1,112 votes. The recount confirmed that Afonso received 1,082 votes, which was 20 votes less than Culpepper. Afonso initially trailed Culpepper by 20 votes and, post-recount, the margin increased to 25 votes.

Scope and timing of the District 7 recount

The recount in the District 7 race involved four out of six wards and was completed on Sunday. City election workers spent approximately six-and-a-half hours completing the recount process. Officials described the recounts as part of broader efforts to affirm election integrity and reflect the will of the voters. Several other candidates in the district remained tightly contested following the recount.

Candidate responses and next steps

Mavrick Afonso expressed disappointment with the recount results and said he needed time to process the outcome. Afonso has not committed to any further campaign actions, including a potential sticker campaign. He also emphasized the importance of understanding candidates’ positions on key community issues and urged voters to do due diligence on candidates’ platforms.

Mayoral recount details

The mayoral race is also undergoing a recount requested by third-place finisher Domingos DaRosa after he received 2,409 votes, falling short of the 3,000 votes needed to secure a spot on the November ballot. The Boston Board of Election Commissioners has authorized the recount for five of the 22 city wards as part of the mayoral race recount. DaRosa requested recounts in wards 4, 8, 9, 16, and 18, focusing on ensuring the democratic process.

Context on the mayoral race

The original mayoral election results showed Mayor Michelle Wu as the front-runner, defeating Josh Kraft, who subsequently dropped out of the race. The recounts for both the District 7 City Council race and the mayoral race are scheduled and conducted under local election rules to verify results ahead of the general election on November 4.

Process, integrity and what voters should know

Recounts are a routine part of the election process when candidates or campaigns request them. In District 7, the recount was limited to portions of the district—four of six wards—where close margins prompted a review. The mayoral recount is narrower, authorized for five wards after a petition by a third-place finisher. Officials cited verification, transparency, and accuracy as the central goals of the recount procedures.

Timeline and schedule

• District 7 recount completed on Sunday after about six-and-a-half hours of counting.
• Mayoral recount authorized for five wards and is underway following the formal request by Domingos DaRosa.
• The general election is scheduled for November 4.

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Additional Resources

• Boston Globe: Election Recount Details
• Boston Herald: District 7 City Council Recount
• Boston.com: Mayoral and District 7 Recounts Scheduled
• MassLive: Election Recounts in Boston
• Bay State Banner: District 7 Preliminary Results

Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER

BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.