Boston, September 18, 2025
News Summary
The Boston Election Department is set to hold two recounts on Saturday in the closely contested mayoral and District 7 City Council races. Candidates Domingos DaRosa and Mavrick Afonso, who finished third in their respective fields, have requested the recounts due to narrow voting margins. The recounts aim to ensure every vote is accurately counted, and their outcomes may significantly impact the upcoming elections in Boston.
Boston — The Boston Election Department will hold two recounts on Saturday following narrow preliminary results in the mayoral and District 7 City Council races.
Top line
The recounts are for the mayoral race and the District 7 City Council race. The recounts were requested by candidates Domingos DaRosa and Mavrick Afonso, respectively, who finished third in each of their races. The recounts will take place at 9 a.m. at the Boston Election Department, located at City Hall.
Why recounts were requested
Mavrick Afonso requested a recount for the District 7 seat vacated by Tania Fernandes Anderson, who resigned after federal corruption charges. The District 7 seat has been vacant since July following the resignation and conviction of Tania Fernandes Anderson. Anderson was sentenced to one month in prison related to her federal corruption charges.
Domingos DaRosa requested a recount after finishing third in the mayoral primary to Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft. Josh Kraft has since withdrawn from the mayoral race after losing by a 49-point margin to Mayor Wu. As it stands, Mayor Michelle Wu would be the only candidate listed on the general election ballot due to Kraft’s withdrawal. DaRosa received 2,409 votes but needed at least 3,000 votes to qualify for the general election ballot, as per state law.
District 7 vote counts and margins
In the District 7 race, Said “Coach” Ahmed received 1,155 votes, Miniard Culpepper got 1,102 votes, and Afonso finished with 1,082 votes. Afonso finished third by just 20 votes, trailing second-place candidate Miniard Culpepper in a tight 11-way race. The preliminary votes were close, with fifth-place finisher Abdikarim only 28 votes behind Afonso, underscoring the tightly contested nature of the election.
Certification and scope of recounts
The Boston Board of Election Commissioners certified recount petitions for Afonso in four of the six wards in District 7: 4, 9, 12, and 13. DaRosa’s recount petitions were certified for five of the 22 wards: 4, 8, 9, 16, and 18. The recounts were scheduled after the board reviewed and certified the petitions submitted by the candidates.
Officials’ and candidates’ rationale
Recount petitions emphasize ensuring that every ballot was properly counted and preserving public confidence in election results. Afonso believes the recount is crucial for ensuring that every ballot was properly counted, and other candidates have pushed for recounts given the narrow margins. Candidates have framed the recounts as necessary for transparency and fairness in the elections; the margin between Afonso and Culpepper reflects the competitiveness of the race, with Afonso stating that this recount is essential for the democratic process.
What happens next
Election staff will conduct the recounts at the Boston Election Department at City Hall beginning at 9 a.m. The review will cover the certified wards listed by the Boston Board of Election Commissioners. Outcomes of the recounts could affect final ballot placement for the general election, particularly in District 7 where the seat is vacant and the mayoral race where candidate withdrawal has already altered the field.
Context and background
The recounts follow a closely contested preliminary cycle in Boston municipal races. The District 7 field included multiple contenders and narrow vote separations. The mayoral recount request comes amid a campaign where one candidate has withdrawn, which has left the incumbent listed alone on the general election ballot unless other procedural actions change the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the recounts take place?
A: The recounts will take place at 9 a.m. at the Boston Election Department, located at City Hall.
Q: How many recounts are being held and for which races?
A: The Boston Election Department will hold two recounts on Saturday.
A: The recounts are for the mayoral race and the District 7 City Council race.
Q: Who requested the recounts?
A: The recounts were requested by candidates Domingos DaRosa and Mavrick Afonso, respectively, who finished third in each of their races.
Q: What are the certified wards for each recount?
A: The Boston Board of Election Commissioners certified recount petitions for Afonso in four of the six wards in District 7: 4, 9, 12, and 13.
A: DaRosa’s recount petitions were certified for five of the 22 wards: 4, 8, 9, 16, and 18.
Q: How close were the District 7 vote totals?
A: In the District 7 race, Said “Coach” Ahmed received 1,155 votes, Miniard Culpepper got 1,102 votes, and Afonso finished with 1,082 votes.
A: Afonso finished third by just 20 votes, trailing second-place candidate Miniard Culpepper in a tight 11-way race.
A: The preliminary votes were close, with fifth-place finisher Abdikarim only 28 votes behind Afonso, underscoring the tightly contested nature of the election.
Q: What is the status of the mayoral race ballot placement?
A: As it stands, Mayor Michelle Wu would be the only candidate listed on the general election ballot due to Kraft’s withdrawal.
A: DaRosa received 2,409 votes but needed at least 3,000 votes to qualify for the general election ballot, as per state law.
Q: Why is the District 7 seat vacant?
A: The District 7 seat has been vacant since July following the resignation and conviction of Tania Fernandes Anderson.
A: Anderson was sentenced to one month in prison related to her federal corruption charges.
Quick reference table
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Recount date and time | Saturday, 9 a.m. |
| Location | Boston Election Department, City Hall |
| Races with recounts | Mayoral race; District 7 City Council race |
| Mayoral recount petitioner | Domingos DaRosa |
| DaRosa vote total | 2,409 votes (needed at least 3,000 to qualify) |
| Mayoral field note | Josh Kraft withdrew after losing by a 49-point margin to Mayor Michelle Wu |
| District 7 recount petitioner | Mavrick Afonso |
| District 7 certified wards for Afonso | 4, 9, 12, and 13 |
| DaRosa certified wards | 4, 8, 9, 16, and 18 |
| District 7 vote counts (top three) | Said “Coach” Ahmed: 1,155; Miniard Culpepper: 1,102; Mavrick Afonso: 1,082 |
| Margin between Afonso and Culpepper | 20 votes |
| Additional close margin | Fifth-place Abdikarim was 28 votes behind Afonso |
| District 7 vacancy | Vacant since July after resignation and conviction of Tania Fernandes Anderson |
| Sentence for Anderson | One month in prison related to federal corruption charges |
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Additional Resources
- Boston Herald: Boston to hold recounts for mayoral, District 7 City Council races
- Boston Globe: Boston election recount Saturday
- Boston.com: Close District 7 Boston City Councilor race could go to a recount
- Boston.com: Hoping to join Wu on ballot, third-place mayoral candidate pursues recount
- Wikipedia: Boston
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