Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Runs Unopposed for Reelection

Boston, September 23, 2025

News Summary

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will run unopposed in the upcoming reelection after her challengers failed to qualify for the ballot. Wu’s victory in the preliminary election led her to be the only candidate meeting ballot requirements. As the first Asian and female leader of Boston, Wu is seeking a second four-year term amid ongoing debates surrounding immigration, housing, and public safety. The recent election saw a voter turnout of 21%, with Wu securing 72% of the preliminary vote, while opponents Josh Kraft and Domingos DaRosa fell short.

Boston

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu will run unopposed in the November reelection after challenger failed to qualify. The result follows the preliminary election and a recount that left no other candidate meeting ballot requirements for the general contest.

Key developments

She is the first Asian and female leader of Boston, seeking a second four-year term in office. Wu leads a citywide administration that has faced national scrutiny on immigration and policing issues while continuing local priorities on housing and public safety.

Josh Kraft, a nonprofit leader and son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, had been expected to face Mayor Wu in the general election, but Kraft dropped out after losing significantly to Wu in the preliminary election. Domingos DaRosa, a community activist born in the Cape Verde Islands, finished third in the preliminary tally. After a recount, Domingos DaRosa did not garner the necessary 3,000 votes to qualify for the ballot in November.

Election numbers and turnout

Voter turnout for the preliminary election was approximately 21%, with over 93,000 ballots cast. Wu received 72% of the vote in her first reelection campaign, compared to Kraft’s 23%. Those results and the recount left Wu as the sole qualified candidate for the November ballot.

Campaigns, funding and reactions

Kraft spent millions of his own money on his campaign and was critical of Wu’s housing policies. DaRosa ran on a platform emphasizing affordable housing, public safety, and youth empowerment, and criticized the political system for favoring candidates with more visibility and funding.

Wu publicly expressed gratitude for the level of voter support she received and signaled a focus on mobilizing voters for her campaign and for City Council candidates. Following the preliminary election results, Wu asserted that campaign finance and spending did not determine the outcome in Boston. Meanwhile, Kraft emphasized that he would continue to campaign aggressively despite the preliminary results.

Legal and federal context

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Wu, the city, and its police department over the city’s sanctuary city policies. The lawsuit and other clashes with the federal government have made immigration enforcement and sanctuary policy a recurring battleground between the mayor’s office and the federal administration. Wu has pushed back against federal accusations that the city is not doing enough to handle illegal immigration and condemned the lawsuit as an attack on the city by the Trump administration.

Experts and democratic concerns

A political science professor observed that uncontested races are not ideal for democratic competition while also acknowledging that Wu benefited from strong voter support. The last time a Boston mayor ran unopposed was Thomas Menino in 1997.

What happens next

With no qualified challenger on the November ballot, the mayoral contest will proceed with Wu as the only listed candidate. City election officials will carry out normal election administration for the general election, and campaigns will continue to organize volunteers and outreach for other municipal races, including City Council seats.

Background detail

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu smiles after voting at a polling place in Roslindale neighborhood on September 9, 2025. The preliminary election clarified vote shares and triggered recount procedures that ultimately determined ballot eligibility for November.

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At-a-glance election facts

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

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Boston BPDA Approves New Zoning Regulations for Housing
Boston Police Seek Public’s Help in Donation Fraud Case
Former Boston Employee Sues Mayor Over Allegations of Retaliation
Josh Kraft Suspends Boston Mayoral Campaign After Loss
Michelle Wu Dominates Boston Mayoral Preliminary Election
Massachusetts Golf Courses Swing Into Sustainability and Scenic Style
RSCMEA Endorses Mayor Michelle Wu for Reelection
Boston Mayoral Preliminary Election Approaches
Former Boston City Councilor Sentenced for Fraud

Additional Resources

• Boston Globe: Mayor Election Wu vs Kraft
• USA Today: Michelle Wu Faces Patriots Heir
• Emerson College Polling: Wu Holds 50-Point Lead
• New York Times: Wu in Preliminary Election
• MassLive: Wu Takes First Place in Preliminary Election
• Wikipedia: Boston
• Google Search: Boston mayor election 2025
• Google Scholar: Boston mayor election
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston
• Google News: Boston mayor Michelle Wu

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.