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Michelle Wu
2021 - Present
2026
3
Michelle Wu is the Mayor of Boston in Massachusetts. She assumed office on November 16, 2021. Her current term ends on January 5, 2026.
Wu is running for re-election for Mayor of Boston in Massachusetts. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025. She advanced from the primary on September 9, 2025.
While Wu has held nonpartisan office, media outlets reported that she is a Democrat.[1][2]
Biography
Michelle Wu earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University in 2007 and a J.D. from Harvard University Law School in 2012. Wu's career experience includes working with WilmerHale Legal Services, with the Medical-Legal Partnership at Boston Medical Center, for former Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, and as a statewide constituency director on Elizabeth Warren's campaign for U.S. Senate.[3][4]
2025 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the September 9, primary election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election, found here.
Incumbent Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft defeated two other candidates in the nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, on September 9, 2025. The general election is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
Wu was first elected in 2021, when she defeated Annissa Essaibi George 64%-35.6%. The last incumbent mayor to lose a re-election bid was James Michael Curley in 1949. [5][6]
Wu and Kraft led in media attention and campaign fundraising.[7] Robert Cappucci and Domingos DaRosa also ran. While mayoral elections in Boston are nonpartisan, Wu, Kraft, and Cappucci all wrote that they were Democrats on their Organization Statements filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.[8][9][10] DaRosa did not write a partisan affiliation.[11]
Wu was previously a member of the Boston City Council. She also worked for former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.[12] Wu ran on her record. Her campaign website said, "Since taking office, she has invested more in making housing affordable than any other administration in Boston’s history. In her first full year as mayor, gun violence fell to the lowest level on record—and has continued to fall every year since. She promised a summer job to every BPS student who wanted one—and delivered, and has expanded Universal Pre-K to serve more children and families than ever before."[13] U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D), U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D) endorsed Wu.[14]
Kraft was the head of Kraft Family Philanthropies, former CEO of the Boys & Girls Club in Boston, former president of the New England Patriots Foundation, and the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.[15][16] Kraft's campaign website said, "I love this city, but I have serious concerns about its future and many issues need attention. Lack of access to housing that regular people can afford, which is forcing many people to leave the city. Boston Public Schools that are failing our kids and families. Poorly planned bike and bus lanes that are changing our neighborhood streets and creating gridlock all across the city. The humanitarian crisis and public safety concerns at Mass and Cass need to be addressed."[17] The International Longshoremen’s Association endorsed Kraft.[18]
On May 15, a coalition of the city's Democratic Ward Committees hosted a candidate forum. Wu, Kraft, and DaRosa all participated.[19][20] During the forum, candidates spoke about housing, public transportation, public safety, the city's fiscal health, and the mayor's role in responding to the policies of the Trump Administration. Click here to watch the forum.
While Wu and Kraft both said they opposed the Trump Administration's immigration policies, they differed on several other issues, including housing, transportation, and the renovation of Boston's White Stadium.
Wu said her administration created more than 11,000 housing units, including 5,400 affordable units, with another 4,000 affordable units in progress, and implemented new affordability requirements.[19] Kraft said he would reverse the Wu administration requirements, which he said were blocking the construction of 26,000 housing units, increase the number of Boston residents who qualify for income-restricted housing units, and create an opt-in rent control plan that would include property tax breaks for participating landlords.[21][6]
Wu said she would prioritize reducing dependence on cars. Wu highlighted her record on public transportation, including working with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to eliminate slow zones, as well as increasing ridership with fare-free bus lines, installing speed humps, and using technology to reduce congestion.[13] Kraft said he wouldn't prioritize reducing dependence on cars and instead would focus on fixing roads and sidewalks, as well as temporarily pause bike lane construction to conduct an audit on the efficiency of proposed bike lanes.[22]
Another topic that the candidates differed on was the renovation of Boston's White Stadium. Wu had led the city's effort to renovate the stadium, saying calling it an investment "into Black and Brown communities, into our students, and into the Boston Public Schools." Wu also promoted an agreement between the city and Boston Legacy FC, a new professional women's soccer team, to share use of the stadium.[23] Kraft criticized the stadium renovation as too expensive, said he would cancel the contract with the soccer team, and create a new plan for the stadium "at a fraction of the cost."[23]
The filing deadline for this election was May 20, 2025.
Elections
2025
See also: Mayoral election in Boston, Massachusetts (2025)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Mayor of Boston
Incumbent Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft are running in the general election for Mayor of Boston on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Josh Kraft (Nonpartisan) | ||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Boston
Incumbent Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft defeated Robert Cappucci and Domingos DaRosa in the primary for Mayor of Boston on September 9, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 65.3 | 9,895 | |
| ✔ | Josh Kraft (Nonpartisan) | 29.6 | 4,483 | |
| Robert Cappucci (Nonpartisan) | 3.2 | 481 | ||
| Domingos DaRosa (Nonpartisan) | 2.0 | 299 | ||
| Total votes: 15,158 | ||||
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Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
We provide results for polls that are included in polling aggregation from FiveThirtyEight and RealClearPolitics, when available. No polls were available for this election. To notify us of polls published in this election, please email us.
Election campaign finance
Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Click here to access those reports.
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[24][25][26]
If available, this section includes links to online resources tracking satellite spending in this election. To notify us of a resource to add, email us.
Endorsements
Wu received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D)
- State Sen. Michael Rush (D)
- State Rep. Daniel Hunt (D)
- State Rep. John Moran (D)
2021
See also: Mayoral election in Boston, Massachusetts (2021)
General election
General election for Mayor of Boston
Michelle Wu defeated Annissa Essaibi George in the general election for Mayor of Boston on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 64.0 | 91,794 | |
| Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 35.6 | 51,125 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 595 | ||
| Total votes: 143,514 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Boston
The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Boston on September 14, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 33.4 | 36,060 | |
| ✔ | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 22.5 | 24,268 | |
| Andrea Campbell (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 21,299 | ||
| Kim Janey (Nonpartisan) | 19.5 | 21,047 | ||
| John Barros (Nonpartisan) | 3.2 | 3,459 | ||
| Robert Cappucci (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 1,185 | ||
| Jon Santiago (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.3 | 368 | ||
| Richard Spagnuolo (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 286 | ||
| Total votes: 107,972 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2019
See also: City elections in Boston, Massachusetts (2019)
General election
General election for Boston City Council At-large (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Boston City Council At-large on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 20.7 | 41,664 | |
| ✔ | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 17.0 | 34,109 | |
| ✔ | Michael Flaherty (Nonpartisan) | 16.6 | 33,284 | |
| ✔ | Julia Mejia (Nonpartisan) | 11.2 | 22,492 | |
| Alejandra St. Guillen (Nonpartisan) | 11.2 | 22,491 | ||
| Erin Murphy (Nonpartisan) | 8.4 | 16,867 | ||
| Althea Garrison (Nonpartisan) | 8.1 | 16,189 | ||
| David Halbert (Nonpartisan) | 6.6 | 13,214 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 704 | ||
| Total votes: 201,014 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Boston City Council At-large (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the primary for Boston City Council At-large on September 24, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 19.4 | 26,663 | |
| ✔ | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 13.8 | 19,020 | |
| ✔ | Michael Flaherty (Nonpartisan) | 13.7 | 18,788 | |
| ✔ | Alejandra St. Guillen (Nonpartisan) | 8.7 | 11,929 | |
| ✔ | Julia Mejia (Nonpartisan) | 7.9 | 10,817 | |
| ✔ | Althea Garrison (Nonpartisan) | 7.1 | 9,737 | |
| ✔ | Erin Murphy (Nonpartisan) | 6.8 | 9,398 | |
| ✔ | David Halbert (Nonpartisan) | 4.8 | 6,547 | |
| Martin Keogh (Nonpartisan) | 4.5 | 6,249 | ||
| Jeffrey Ross (Nonpartisan) | 3.7 | 5,084 | ||
| Priscilla Flint-Banks (Nonpartisan) | 3.0 | 4,103 | ||
| Domingos DaRosa (Nonpartisan) | 2.1 | 2,843 | ||
| Michel Denis (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 2,113 | ||
| William King (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 1,811 | ||
| Herb Alexander Lozano (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 1,511 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 767 | ||
| Total votes: 137,380 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2017
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, held elections for mayor and city council on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on September 26, 2017. All 13 seats on the city council were up for election. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 23, 2017.
The following candidates ran in the general election for four at-large seats on the Boston City Council.[27]
| Boston City Council, At-large General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michelle Wu Incumbent |
24.47% | 65,040 |
| Ayanna Pressley Incumbent |
21.64% | 57,520 |
| Michael Flaherty Incumbent |
19.44% | 51,673 |
| Annissa Essaibi George Incumbent |
17.14% | 45,564 |
| Althea Garrison | 6.87% | 18,253 |
| Domingos DaRosa | 4.38% | 11,647 |
| William King | 3.30% | 8,773 |
| Pat Payaso | 2.30% | 6,124 |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 1,230 |
| Total Votes | 265,824 | |
| Source: City of Boston, "Official At-Large Election Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Endorsements
Wu received the following endorsements in 2017:[28]
- Massachusetts Women's Political Committee
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Massachusetts
- Sierra Club
- StreetsPAC Mass
- MA Voters for Animals
- Chinese Progressive Political Action
- Greater Boston Young Democrats
- AFSCME Council 93
- AFT 66 / BTU
- ATU 589
- Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen 3
- Floorcoverers Local 2168
- Greater Boston CLC
- Heat/Frost Insulator Workers Local 6
- UNITE HERE 26
- IAFF 718
- IBEW 2222
- IBT 122
- Ironworkers Local 7
- NERCC
- SEIU 1199
- SEIU 888
- UA 12
- UFCW 1445
- UNITE-HERE NEJB
- BPPA
- Senator Joseph Boncore (D)
- Senator Will Brownsberger (D)
- Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz (D)
- Senator Sal DiDomenico (D)
- Senator Linda Dorcena Forry (D)
- Senator Michael Rush (D)
- Representative Evandro C. Carvalho (D)
- Representative Nick Collins (D)
- Representative Ed Coppinger (D)
- Representative Dan Cullinane (D)
- Representative Russell Holmes (D)
- Representative Kevin Honan (D)
- Representative Daniel J. Hunt (D)
- Representative Adrian Madaro (D)
- Representative Elizabeth Malia (D)
- Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D)
- Representative Michael Moran (D)
- Representative Byron Rushing (D)
- Representative Daniel Joseph Ryan (D)
- Representative Jeffrey Sánchez (D)
- Representative Angelo Scaccia (D)
- Representative Chynah Tyler (D)
2015
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, held elections for city council on November 3, 2015. A primary election took place on September 8, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 19, 2015. All 13 city council seats were up for election. Annissa Essaibi George and incumbents Michael Flaherty, Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Wu won the four at-large seats. Incumbent Stephen J. Murphy was defeated.[29][30]
| Boston City Council At-large, General election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ayanna Pressley Incumbent |
24.2% | 31,783 |
| Michelle Wu Incumbent |
22.0% | 28,908 |
| Michael Flaherty Incumbent |
20.2% | 26,473 |
| Annissa Essaibi George |
17.9% | 23,447 |
| Stephen J. Murphy Incumbent | 14.9% | 19,546 |
| Write-in votes | 0.86% | 1,131 |
| Total Votes | 131,288 | |
| Source: City of Boston, "November 3, 2015 - Municipal Election," accessed December 7, 2015 | ||
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2021
Michelle Wu completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wu's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I am living the stakes of the challenges that our city currently faces. I’m a Boston Public Schools mom, a caregiver, daughter of immigrants, and regular MBTA rider. But I also know what’s possible through city government in Boston. In my eight years as an At-Large Councilor representing the entire city, I’ve delivered on progressive change through building coalitions for fearless leadership. In partnership with community, we’ve passed groundbreaking legislation and stood up for Bostonians to tackle seemingly impossible challenges. I have a track record of building coalitions to empower organizing and activism. From municipal legislative pushes, to statewide conversations on public transportation, to empowering grassroots organizing through Democratic ward committees, I’ve had an impact on building activism through shifting the political ecosystem.
This moment is a call to action. To me, that means thinking big about how to build a more resilient, healthy, and fair Boston, and then having the courage and political will to fight for all of our families. We can make real investments in education, food access, and good jobs. We can build wealth in our communities by closing the racial wealth gap and supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurship.
Our policy platform is more than a vision. It’s a promise to Boston residents—a commitment to take on our hardest challenges, and to center our efforts on the pursuit of racial, economic, and climate justice.
- Each day I am reminded that the only way to act with the scale and urgency that this moment demands is to make government as accessible and transparent as possible, so that democracy, community, and advocacy drives everything that we do together.
Closing the racial wealth gap. Boston is one of the most unequal cities in the country, but we have the resources to tackle disparities in home ownership, business ownership, and educational access as the foundation for creating generational wealth in BIPOC communities.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Wu's campaign website stated the following themes. See Wu's website for hyperlinks within her themes.
| “ |
Our policy platform is more than a vision. This moment is a call to action. To me, that means thinking big about how to build a more resilient, healthy, and fair Boston, and then having the courage and political will to fight for all of our families. We can make real investments in education, food access, and good jobs. We can build wealth in our communities by closing the racial wealth gap and supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurship. Our policy platform is more than a vision. It’s a promise to Boston residents—a commitment to take on our hardest challenges, and to center our efforts on the pursuit of racial, economic, and climate justice. Whether it’s as basic as fixing administrative processes or as broad as writing new legislation, using policy to change systems has been at the core of my time in public service. In partnership with community, we’ve shaped some of the most impactful policy discussions in our city. Over my seven years on the City Council, I’ve authored and passed legislation to deliver for families across the city, from guaranteeing paid parental leave, language access, and healthcare equity, to ramping up renewable energy and reforming city contracting. Each day I am reminded that the only way to act with the scale and urgency that this moment demands is to make government as accessible and transparent as possible, so that democracy, community, and advocacy drives everything that we do together. Housing Affordability Safe, healthy, accessible, affordable housing is a human right. Yet in Boston, a stable home has become a luxury not everyone can afford. Only about one-third of Boston residents own their own home, and half of Boston’s renters are rent-burdened. As COVID-19 devastated communities already struggling with displacement and rising rents, tens of thousands of Boston families are living in fear of the impending evictions crisis. Michelle will fight for resources to create truly affordable housing and end chronic homelessness, zoning reforms to prioritize fair housing and affordable homes for families, protections to stabilize tenants, and ways to expand permanent affordability, such as community land trusts. Michelle will prioritize housing stability for Boston families. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Take bold action to deliver housing justice in Boston Housing is a human right. Yet in Boston, a stable home has become a luxury not everyone can afford. Only about one-third of Boston residents own their own home, and half of Boston’s renters are rent-burdened. At the city level, Boston has the power to meet this moment and dismantle the legacy of systemic racism in our racial wealth gap and displacement crisis. We also must stabilize families in the near term by working with advocates across the state and neighboring municipalities to lift the ban on rent control. Read Michelle's full plan to deliver housing justice for Bostonians. Building Boston’s future around affordable housing Housing is the cornerstone of health, racial justice, economic and educational opportunity, and long-term stability. We can increase access to affordable housing by investing in and expanding social and cooperative housing, prioritize housing for low-income individuals and residents experiencing homelessness, and grow the supply of housing while focusing on housing stability. The City should work to expand permanent affordability through community land trusts and help more families purchase homes. Combating the housing crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic Due to the stresses of the pandemic, renters are struggling to afford to stay housed. We must commit to providing immediate support to families through rental relief and a moratorium on evictions. A crisis of this magnitude will have dramatic ripple effects: a reduction in educational attainment, employment and lifetime savings, and a higher incidence of a lifetime of health issues. Planning for community resiliency, not displacement As Boston’s residents face the effects of an impending housing crisis and the threat of displacement, we must consider pathways to resiliency. We need to create a true city planning department that does right by the people of Boston, including by preserving opportunities for seniors and people with disabilities to live at home. Read more about Michelle’s ideas for city planning and check out her plan to fix our broken development system. Stabilizing the rental market and protecting tenants As the pandemic continues to shake the rental market, tenants are contending with continued uncertainty. We must take action to stabilize the short-term rental market and ensure tenants’ right to counsel. We need to protect tenants against displacement, rising housing prices, and public safety issues by closing commercial loopholes. Addressing homelessness We need to create long-term, stable, accessible, supportive housing for people currently experiencing homelessness, going beyond providing short-term shelter to address the root cause of housing instability: affordability. We must also recognize that housing is a public health issue, and coordinate community partnerships to provide people experiencing homelessness with mental health care, treatment for substance abuse disorders, and other wrap-around services. City services must recognize the particular needs of working families, LGBTQ youth, people with disabilities, and other communities living in unstable housing. Confronting Boston’s legacy of racism and housing discrimination Discriminatory practices like redlining and exclusionary zoning have resulted in disproportionately high rates of housing instability in communities of color and Black communities all over the country. We know this very well in Boston; the difference in life expectancy in Back Bay is 30 years higher than it is in Roxbury, where COVID-19 infection rates are among the highest in the city. This is a direct manifestation of the legacy of structural racism in policy and practice. We must amend Boston’s zoning code to affirmatively further fair housing. Implementing Boston’s Green New Deal (GND) Michelle has proposed a groundbreaking plan to implement the GND at the municipal level, which includes a housing agenda built around environmental sustainability, racial and socioeconomic integration, and safeguards against displacement. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Closed corporate loopholes for short-term rentals Visited nearly every emergency shelter in the city and held a hearing to examine resources needed to serve unhoused LGBTQ youth Advocated for rental relief and a moratorium evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent individuals from being pushed into homelessness Education Equity As a Boston Public Schools parent, Michelle knows personally how our schools are at the very heart of our community and our future in the City of Boston. In this moment, school communities are facing unprecedented upheaval and uncertainty. Boston students, teachers, and families deserve a system that is responsive to their needs and provides the type of support that enables everyone to succeed. Our system should be structured and led by anti-racist policies that undermine structural inequities rather than perpetuate them. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Implementing a comprehensive Community Vision for Boston's Students and Families Michelle’s eight-part plan lays out how she’ll bring bold change to Boston Public Schools (BPS) to ensure it serves every school community — with the urgency of a BPS mom. Her approach to Boston schools dramatically expands the services available in schools to address the whole child’s needs, makes the system easier for families to navigate, and commits to a Green New Deal for BPS so every child can learn in a healthy, safe environment. Planning for a safe reopening and equitable recovery from COVID-19 in every school In the midst of a global pandemic, our students, educators, and families have had to navigate massive shifts in education. As we move forward, we can’t afford to focus exclusively on reopening schools. We must take a long-term approach to an equitable recovery by listening to our experts - educators, students, and families. We need to combat the effects of the pandemic that occurred during school closures - learning loss, increased incidence of trauma, and adverse mental health effects, among others - and work to create long-term solutions in our schools. Read Michelle’s community-driven report on planning reopening and equitable recovery from COVID. Closing the early education and child care gap High-quality early education and care prepares children for a lifetime of opportunities, eases the burden on working families, and properly values the providers who help set the foundation for our children’s lives. But despite years of promises, a massive early education and care gap has persisted in Boston—and the pandemic has only underscored this reality. Read Michelle's bold plan to close the early education and child care gap so children, families, and care providers can thrive. Valuing and trusting our educators Teachers are experts and professionals. To provide the best possible education to our children, we must listen to and empower our educators to use their expertise in planning and in practice. We need to ensure meaningful opportunities for ongoing professional development, and offer appropriate support to teachers navigating during and after the pandemic. Creating safe, inclusive, and anti-racist schools At the same time our communities are grappling with COVID-19, we’re also in the midst of a reckoning with a long history of racial injustice. In line with this movement, we must eliminate school segregation and practices that maintain inequities in our communities. This means making our schools safe for all students by embedding anti-racism in the fabric of our schools, demilitarizing our schools, addressing the school-to-prison pipeline, and eliminating surveillance of undocumented students. Investing equitably in schools and students for mental and behavioral health If we want to serve our students equitably, we need to take a whole child approach to meeting student needs. This means addressing mental health as well as physical well-being. All students in BPS should be able to access guidance and care from a well-staffed support team of nurses, mental health counselors, and guidance counselors. Supporting ALL learners and their families Prior to the pandemic, we knew that Boston had a long way to go in serving students equitably. In particular, the state’s review of BPS found that services for English language learners and students with disabilities were in complete disarray. We must tackle the barriers facing these populations of learners head on, ensuring equitable access to high quality curriculum and instruction while differentiating student supports. Investing in healthy and sustainable school facilities As community hubs, our schools are crucial sites of learning and development. Teachers and students alike deserve access to environments conducive to teaching and learning. Particularly during a global pandemic, we need to invest in schools’ longevity and health by updating ventilation systems, prioritizing cleanliness, and modernizing infrastructure. Adopting and funding a community schools model Our schools need to support students within their home and neighborhood context, creating partnerships to combat underlying needs like food and housing insecurity. To enable every child in the city to receive a well-rounded education, the City should partner with local nonprofits and cultural institutions to implement robust arts and culture programming in the Boston Public Schools. Expanding vocational education opportunities In a city as diverse as Boston, we must recognize the necessity of providing high quality vocational education opportunities to students. In order to make good-paying jobs more accessible, we need to create more direct pipelines to opportunities in trades and other industries that do not require a four-year degree. Guaranteeing universal early education and childcare All children should have the chance to get a head start through universal affordable, high-quality early education. This includes increasing access to community-based and on-site workplace child care. Ensuring safe, reliable transportation for our students Michelle is fighting for transportation policies built on economic, racial, and climate justice, from dedicated bus lanes, to pedestrian safety, fare-free transit, safe cycling infrastructure, and easing traffic congestion. In order to promote healthy, connected communities and ensure that every student can safety access educational opportunities, we need to make our streets safer and invest in transportation as a public good. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Improved access to local, fresh food in Boston’s public schools Held a hearing on improving access to vocational education, which would increase access to good jobs that do not require a four-year degree. Held a community panel and townhall to facilitate a collaborative planning process around a safe K-12 reopening and equitable recovery from COVID, centering the voices of students, teachers, parents, and other community members. Submitted a letter to the BPS School Committee regarding school reopening during the pandemic, sharing community-generated solutions and sharing our recommendations for a safe reopening and equitable recovery. Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Black and brown communities, through institutional racism and discriminatory policies such as redlining and segregation, have been systematically denied the rights and access to build generational wealth. In Boston, the median net worth of a white family is $247,500, while the median net worth of a Black family is just $8. The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the racial wealth gap even more. Michelle has been fighting for shared prosperity through aligning city contracting to close the racial wealth gap and policies for racial and economic justice. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Fighting the root causes of wealth inequality Addressing the root causes of the racial wealth gap means rewriting the rules that shape our political and economic systems and rethinking who gets to write the rules in the first place. From home ownership to business creation, quality education, and transportation access, communities of color in Boston continue to face barriers to economic security reinforced through policy over generations. While we work to implement concrete policies that build wealth and power among Black and Latinx residents, immigrants, and other underserved communities, we must also shift the rules, practices, and norms that have enabled racial inequities to persist since our City’s founding. Require equitable City contracting We need to make full-scale investments in building healthy, resilient communities by aligning public spending with the City’s goals to reduce income inequality and build wealth in our neighborhoods. By harnessing government spending as a force for community economic development, the City can reverse longstanding disparities by zip code and race through investing in businesses owned by people of color, women, and Boston residents. Promoting home ownership and housing justice Safe, healthy, affordable housing is a human right and the cornerstone of health, racial justice, and economic and educational opportunity, but Black families have long been locked out of this key opportunity to build wealth by State-sanctioned disinvestment and predatory lending. Read more about Michelle’s commitment to housing justice. Attract and invest in Black businesses Black-owned businesses empower Black communities in Boston to build wealth, but their success is stymied by historic disinvestment. Black-owned businesses face systemic exclusion from access to capital, technical assistance, government contracts, and other resources that allow businesses to thrive, and during the pandemic, the structure and administration of small business relief programs have made Black-owned businesses particularly vulnerable to closure. The City must take steps to correct these historic inequities by connecting Black business-owners with capital, technical assistance, and professional support, while ensuring Black entrepreneurs have the resources they need to start new successful businesses. Read more about how Michelle will champion an economy built for the success of small businesses. Supporting young professionals of color Boston’s business ecosystem, with business ownership that is far less diverse than the city’s population, does not provide Black professionals and other entrepreneurs of color with the business and social networks they need to thrive. These networks are critical for business owners to obtain information, clients, mentors, financing, and other resources, while withstanding discrimination from lenders, networks, and potential clients. Boston must improve business networks targeted specifically for young professionals of color to improve small business resource access for all residents across all neighborhoods. Planning for a safe and equitable COVID-19 recovery The burden of the pandemic has not been borne equally. We can only build a stronger Boston if we center communities of color in our recovery from COVID-19, from ensuring transparency in how emergency funding is being directed to the fighting for safe workplaces and fair wages for our essential workers. Expanding participatory budgeting Closing the racial wealth gap requires us to reimagine power in Boston. Participatory budgeting can help us rewrite the rules around who has a say in how money is spent by the City, leading to more equitable investments aligned with community needs and ensuring that the city works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Implementing Boston’s Green New Deal (GND) Michelle has proposed a groundbreaking plan to implement the GND at the municipal level, which would mitigate the threat of climate change by eliminating the violence of poverty and economic inequality, closing the racial wealth gap, and dismantling structural racism in Boston. Climate justice is racial and economic justice. Read Michelle’s plan. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We’ve Done Together So Far Authored and passed legislation to increase equity in city contracting Advocated for transparency and accountability for emergency city spending during the COVID-19 pandemic Exercised oversight authority to obtain data and reports on city contracting Transportation Safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation is the foundation for shared prosperity and health. We need proactive city leadership to fix our broken transportation system: Boston currently has the worst traffic in the country, and Black bus riders spend 64 more hours on average each year on stalled buses than white riders. Michelle is fighting for transportation policies built on economic, racial, and climate justice, from dedicated bus lanes, to pedestrian safety, fare-free transit, safe cycling infrastructure, and easing traffic congestion. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Ensuring pedestrian safety Boston’s streets should be safe for all road users, but too often residents who have been sounding the alarm on dangerous speeding hotspots don’t see safety improvements until after a tragedy occurs. We must ensure access to traffic calming infrastructure improvements citywide, maintain crosswalks and pedestrian-friendly signal timing, and expand sidewalks during the pandemic to allow for safe distancing. Taking on traffic Boston has been ranked as having the worst rush-hour traffic in the country, and our transportation infrastructure has not kept pace with the growing population and number of commuters. We must take action to empower commuters with reliable, safe multimodal options and public transit, evaluate congestion pricing, and manage curbside space for pick up and drop off from ride-hailing vehicles and delivery trucks that slow traffic and block bike lanes and sidewalks when parked. Building a safe, connected, low-stress cycling network Boston is committed to increasing our share of commuting trips by bike to move more people on our streets and reach our climate and public health goals, but to do this, cycling must be safe and connected. We must accelerate progress in building protected cycling infrastructure with a focus on equity, so every neighborhood has access to safe cycling options. Improving bus service Although the MBTA is a state agency, buses run on municipal roads, so city government can play a big role in making bus service more reliable and equitable. We must speed up the design and implementation of dedicated bus lanes in our most congested corridors, expand transit signal priority, and evaluate the location and condition of bus stops. Championing fare-free transit Transportation affects every aspect of our lives and how people connect with healthcare, education, and economic opportunity. If we are serious as a city and a Commonwealth about closing the racial wealth divide, advancing climate justice, and empowering communities, we need to remove barriers to public transportation as a public good. Fighting for equity and transportation justice Our transportation agenda should be built around access for all of our neighbors, including residents with disabilities, youth, and seniors, and prioritize safety and service to all of our neighborhoods, especially environmental justice communities. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Advocated for safe streets infrastructure improvements during the pandemic Brought together thousands of MBTA riders to oppose fare hikes, securing protections to shield bus riders, seniors, and youth from fare increases Shortened rush hour travel times with dedicated bus lanes Expanded free MBTA passes for Boston students Released a Boston Youth Transportation report Advocated for fixing issues facing multimodal commuters Changed the conversation on fare-free transit, inspiring regional progress Elevated the need for safe, protected cycling infrastructure Hosted the first-ever Boston City Council policy briefing series, focused on transportation Planning and Development Shaping development across the city for equity and resiliency is one of the most powerful roles of city government. But without comprehensive planning and responsive zoning, Boston’s development decisions are based on special approvals and exceptions after a complex and opaque public process. Not only do we fall short in transparency and accountability, but we are missing out on the potential to harness development to address our growing crises of unaffordability, climate vulnerability, inequality, and traffic. Michelle is committed to overhauling our development processes to empower planning that prioritizes the stability and resiliency of our communities. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Creating a true city planning department The current development process in Boston is only making existing challenges worse. We need to create a city planning department that articulates a long-term vision for community resiliency and empowers all voices, rather than a select few. We must return assets to City oversight, end urban renewal areas, and empower a planning department to create a master plan for updated zoning with clear, consistent rules. Reforming the Boston zoning process to meet community needs Our City’s zoning code hasn’t been comprehensively updated since 1965, and the complicated process disproportionately benefits the wealthy and well-connected with the resources to pursue zoning exceptions and waivers. The zoning process must be made more transparent, accountable, and equitable in order to bring private development into alignment with community needs for stable housing, safe streets, open space, reliable transportation, food access, and a healthy environment. Designating green affordable overlay districts The status quo of development in Boston continues to exacerbate racial and economic disparities across our neighborhoods. Designating green overlay districts for affordability and resiliency with anti-displacement protections can support the sustainable development of healthy and accessible housing for all, meeting our climate goals while prioritizing the stability of neighborhood residents. Ending urban renewal Urban renewal powers enable the Boston Planning and Development Agency to bypass community oversight, based on outdated maps drawn more than fifty years ago that do not reflect our communities’ needs. The City should wind down the BPDA’s urban renewal powers by its current expiration date in 2022 as part of a broader effort to move past the department’s legacy of displacement and neighborhood destruction and build transparency and accountability to community members. Requiring corporate tax break accountability Boston’s approach to economic development should benefit all residents, but our current Tax Increment Financing program received a score of zero in transparency from Good Jobs First. Instead of giving tax breaks to bad actors, we should support companies that hire locally and provide full-time jobs with livable wages and good benefits. Companies should publicly report the number and type of jobs created so that Boston residents and city government can hold accountable these private corporations and larger institutions that receive public benefits and services. Auditing development commitments to ensure public benefit Private developers must be held to their commitments under community benefits agreements to ensure a transparent and predictable process. These commitments should be negotiated in close consultation with community members and strictly upheld through regular audits to ensure that our City is not leaving money on the table for affordable housing, climate mitigation measures, and other public benefits. Implementing Boston’s Green New Deal (GND) Michelle has proposed a groundbreaking plan to implement the GND at the municipal level, which includes a focus on just and resilient development by creating affordable green overlay districts and standard community benefits agreements. MICHELLE’S RECORD What We’ve Done Together So Far Released a report on Fixing Boston’s Broken Development Process: How & Why to Abolish the BPDA, laying out the city-level steps that would unwind this agency and create the pathway to community-centered, accountable planning Filed corporate tax break accountability ordinance Authored and passed legislation to protect natural resource areas and empower the Boston Conservation Commission to require resiliency and green infrastructure in development. Advocated for oversight to restore trust in ZBA and development approvals process Negotiated limiting urban renewal to a six-year extension, expiring in 2022 Small Business Small businesses are the backbone of Boston’s economy, serving as cultural hubs in our neighborhoods, economic engines for families across the city, and one of the most important ways to build wealth in our communities. As a former small business owner, Michelle has been standing up for entrepreneurs and breaking down barriers so locally-owned businesses can thrive, starting with streamlining processes for small business permitting and licensing, and reforming city contracting and procurement to align with our goals to close the racial wealth gap and support worker cooperatives. Michelle will help build Boston’s economic recovery to center local small businesses, their workforce, and the communities they serve. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Fighting for our locally-owned businesses during and after the pandemic Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges as they struggle to pay rent, serve their customers, keep their workers safe, and navigate reopening and recovery. We must work with entrepreneurs and advocates to ensure that those with the most need have access to relief and services. Aligning City contracting to help close the racial wealth gap and support community wealth-building We need to get the most value out of taxpayer dollars by directing them back into the community and ensuring that businesses owned by people of color, women, and Boston residents have a fair shot at winning City of Boston contracts. Streamlining small business permitting and licensing Boston should have a welcoming, convenient, and smooth process to open small businesses and wrap-around services to grow and expand a business in our city. We must create a customer service-focused environment for City processes, with clear timelines and accessible, efficient communications. Strengthening Boston’s Main Streets and legacy businesses Our neighborhood businesses anchor our communities, but small businesses are facing commercial gentrification with increasing rents across the city. In recent years, too many of Boston’s legacy businesses, critical to the economy and character of our neighborhoods, have been shuttered. As the stresses of COVID present an unprecedented threat, we need to fight for a pandemic recovery plan that builds on the strength of these mainstay businesses. Supporting entrepreneurs of color In combating historical economic exclusion, we need to better equip entrepreneurs of color with programming and resources to promote their success. Creating specialized supports for restaurants Restaurants have been hit especially hard during the pandemic with government-mandated shutdowns and restricted capacity adding to the stresses on an industry with already tight profit margins. Boston should work closely to connect federal, state, and local resources to neighborhood restaurants and work to rebuild the local restaurant scene with technical assistance, place-making, programming, and publicity. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Advocated for an equitable recovery from COVID-19, including a focus on small businesses, especially those owned by immigrants and people of color Ensured oversight on how small business relief funds were allocated and on emergency City spending during the pandemic Authored and passed legislation to align city spending with closing the racial wealth gap and building wealth in Boston communities Authored and passed legislation to create jobs and opportunity for local food producers and food businesses by prioritizing local purchasing for City food procurement Authored and passed legislation removing barriers for businesses to host live music Authored and passed legislation ending the ban on BYOB in Boston Issued recommendations for streamlining small business permitting and licensing Filed legislation to protect small business districts from the expansion of chain stores Public Health Boston boasts world-class hospitals and serves as a hub of medical innovation and industry, but the thriving health care economy has not always translated to adequate care for all of our residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and widened Boston’s deep health disparities by race and neighborhood, further afflicting communities already burdened with exposure to gun violence and environmental hazards, and further destabilizing residents struggling with homelessness and the opioid epidemic. Michelle is fighting for the access and resources to ensure the health of every family and the resilience of our public health infrastructure. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Managing the COVID-19 pandemic and creating resiliency to future threats The next mayor will be responsible for ushering the city through the ongoing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reshaped every aspect of our lives. Leadership during this crisis means creating a robust system of testing, contract tracing, and public health outreach built on science and grounded in public trust and transparency. Ending health disparities in health care access and outcomes Michelle is committed to rooting out discrimination in all of its forms. Racism is a public health crisis in Boston, from tragic disparities in Black maternal health to the epidemic of gun violence that disproportionately harms Black and brown communities. The fight for equality includes ensuring linguistically and culturally competent care, access to gender affirming services, and health policy that centers people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Implementing a citywide plan to address homelessness, substance use, and mental health The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Boston's homelessness, substance use, and mental health crises, with opioid-related overdose deaths increasing by 20% in 2020 alone as social isolation, mental health challenges, financial precarity and housing instability have deepened. Across Massachusetts, the highest increase in opioid-related deaths has been among Black men, and the crisis has been worsened by the prevalence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that’s up to 100 times stronger than morphine. Boston residents deserve compassionate care, urgent action, and accountability. These intersectional barriers and complexity of broken systems must be transformed. Overhauling Boston’s public health infrastructure Boston can be the healthiest city in the country for all of our residents by investing in our community health providers and partnerships, tackling chronic and underlying health issues in the population, and expanding access to outreach and preventative care. Prioritizing mental health and trauma supports As the world continues to grapple with the physical health and economic effects of COVID-19, mental health is becoming another pressing health crisis just beneath the surface of the pandemic, with additional barriers to care for communities of color. Michelle believes in ending the stigma of mental illness by sharing the complexities of our stories and fighting to make care accessible to every family. Investing in substance use prevention, treatment, & recovery services We need to take a compassionate, evidence-based approach to substance use disorder that is grounded in principles of harm reduction and not criminalization. Our families deserve a renewed commitment to ending the opioid epidemic and the underlying corporate greed, economic stressors, and mental health crisis that feed its devastation. Creating a local, healthy, and sustainable food system and fighting food insecurity Access to nutritious food can help power healthy families, and investments in local, community-oriented food production and distribution are the building blocks for fighting food insecurity and creating a sustainable food system. We should be rethinking food access from beginning to end, starting with corporatized food production processes that compromise workers’ rights and leave our food supply chain vulnerable to disruption. Through robust community partnerships, equitable food procurement practices, and support for small businesses like bodegas and family-owned restaurants, we can better serve our communities. Grounding public safety in a commitment to public health In all of our public safety priorities, from ending gun violence and domestic violence to reforming our crisis response infrastructure, Boston must lead with trust as the foundation for public health. Building wellness in our city requires setting a new standard for accountability and community oversight in policing, which means we must also reject surveillance technology and practices that threaten civil rights and disproportionately harm Black and brown neighborhoods and families. Fighting for environmental justice and ensuring all Bostonians live with clean air and water, and healthy homes Leaders must use this moment to confront the interlocking threats of ecological degradation and environmental racism and call for solutions that will generate green jobs, fight wealth inequality, and build more livable cities. Our families deserve clean air, unpolluted water, and toxic-free buildings. From fighting the urban heat island effect and restoring our tree canopy, to combating pollution, we should build an inclusive, green public health agenda. MICHELLE’S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Authored and passed legislation securing inclusive health care access for all City employees, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity Authored and passed legislation guaranteeing paid parental leave for all City employees, inclusive of all family types Authored and passed a Good Food Purchasing Policy for the city to require an emphasis on local production, healthy and nutritious foods, environmental sustainability, fair labor, and humane animal welfare practices Authored and passed legislation prohibiting the use of discriminatory face surveillance technology by Boston law enforcement or any other city agencies Advocated for measures to address the disproportionate exposure to air pollution for communities of color, including highlighting that Chinatown is the most polluted community in the state Filed legislation to reform Boston’s crisis response to expand the infrastructure of trained public health professionals Public Safety Whether in our schools or on our streets, public safety should be built around restorative justice and community trust. From ending gun violence and domestic violence, to reforming our crisis response infrastructure, building wellness in our city means dismantling racism in our institutions and setting a new standard for accountability and community oversight. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Reimagining and grounding public safety in public health A national and citywide reckoning with racial injustice has created fertile ground for the reimagining of public safety as public health. It’s time to re-evaluate our City’s responses to trauma and allocation of resources. We must improve agency coordination and simplify access to resources, divert 911 calls regarding homelessness and mental health issues to public health professionals, improve street teams’ infrastructure, and expand partnerships with hospitals to spread public health information. Read more about Michelle’s plans for public health here. Dismantling racism in policing It is all too clear that our city’s public safety structures have not kept all of us safe, particularly our Black residents. We must take concrete steps to dismantle racism in law enforcement by demilitarizing the police, banning weapons like tear gas and rubber bullets and practices like no-knock warrants that endanger our residents of color. We must also establish an independent civilian review board with subpoena power to investigate police misconduct and close the loopholes in the body camera program in order to build trust between BPD and our communities. We must also dismantle ableism in policing and ensure that Bostonian’s have access to emergency services that can provide the appropriate mental health support, particularly for those with disabilities. Rebuilding the culture and structure of the Boston Police Department Delivering public safety through a lens of public health and community trust requires urgent action to rebuild the culture and structure of the Boston Police Department. We must deliver structural changes that go beyond announcements or goals, and instead are embedded in the collective bargaining agreements with the City. We need a contract that gets to the root of the cultural and systemic reforms we need — full transparency and true accountability for misconduct, reducing wasteful overtime spending to reinvest those funds in neighborhood-level services, and removing the functions of traffic enforcement and social services from the department’s purview. Supporting our youth The surest way to combat community violence is by creating opportunity. We need to invest in our youth by ensuring access to paid summer jobs and opportunities during the school year. We also need to elevate youth voices and let young people lead the way in reimagining public safety in their own communities. That starts with meeting youth demands to remove police from Boston Public Schools and ensuring all students have access to trauma services, counselors, and other wrap-around services. Combating violence in our communities Our public safety structures must address the realities of domestic violence, gun violence, and violence against LGBTQ people, especially nonbinary residents, including by coordinating the medical, counseling, and social support services that survivors need to recover and thrive. Cracking down on hate crimes Hate crimes against immigrants, people of color, LBGTQ+ residents, and Jewish and Muslim residents have been increasing in recent years, and they are too often compounded by cultural and linguistic barriers that can keep survivors from seeking and receiving help. We must eradicate the discrimination, intolerance and bullying that seed these despicable hate crimes, fighting the ideologies that sanction and encourage hate and working for every community space to be safe and welcoming. Ending racial disparities in our criminal legal system We must rethink our criminal legal system with a data-driven, progressive approach that moves away from the carceral approach to minor non-violent offenses that disproportionately impacts immigrants and residents of color. Our public safety system must work in collaboration with community partners to implement evidence-based diversionary alternatives to arrest, detention, prosecution and incarceration that promote safer and healthier communities. Reforming our criminal legal system also requires ending the failed, racially discriminatory war on drugs; dismantling the discriminatory gang database; and investing in re-entry services for formerly incarcerated people. Aligning public safety with an agenda for safe streets and transit justice Rethinking our streets and transportation systems is urgent for public health and safety – particularly during the pandemic. By investing in public transportation and reallocating street space to pedestrians, cyclists, and people who use mobility aids, we can work toward a pandemic recovery that is more equitable and safer for all residents. Addressing underlying causes of crime and criminalization Too many of our neighbors, especially in communities of color, are living with untreated trauma. We need to prevent violence by making equitable investments in our neighborhoods and interrupt the cycles of violence by providing survivors with supportive services. At the same time, we must dismantle other systems of violence inflicting trauma upon Black residents and communities of color, including housing instability, food insecurity, transit injustice, mass incarceration, and the climate crisis. By thinking holistically about public safety through a public health lens and redirecting funding into education, housing, health care, and other basic needs, we can alleviate the trauma caused by over-policing while investing in a safer and more equitable future. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We’ve Done Together So Far Authored and passed legislation banning the use of racially discriminatory facial recognition technology Filed legislation for alternative crisis response from trained public health professionals Passed a resolution calling for increased state funding for youth jobs Conducted oversight on the militarization of BPD Convened a youth-led community forum to reimagine public safety in Boston Economic Justice & Workers' Rights Economic justice starts with a commitment to worker power, workplace safety, and livable wages. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, standing up for labor rights has life and death consequences. Boston’s economy and our economic recovery should be built on good, green jobs, made truly accessible when we tackle the struggles facing working families, from lack of affordable child care options to housing insecurity. Michelle is focused on confronting wealth inequality and building economic prosperity through a commitment to labor rights. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Building worker power Workers must have real negotiating power as we rebuild our city’s economy and shape our collective future. Boston must proactively affirm the right of all workers to organize and bargain collectively for their rights, including by aggressively enforcing existing procurement standards that give preference to union vendors. At the same time, we must also support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives that build wealth and power in underserved communities. Establishing a Cabinet-Level Chief of Worker Empowerment To ensure a just and equitable recovery from COVID-19, our commitment to working Bostonians must go beyond paying lip service to essential workers, to include structural changes at the City level to close gaps, elevate the dignity of work, and advance the well-being of all Boston workers and their communities. As Mayor, Michelle will create a Cabinet-level Chief of Worker Empowerment with oversight and resources to advance working Bostonians in both the private and public sectors. Protecting essential workers during COVID-19 The pandemic has provided us with the opportunity to recognize the dignity of all workers, including essential workers who risk their lives on a daily basis to keep our city running. Boston must protect the physical health of workers during COVID-19 by modernizing our buildings’ ventilation systems and guaranteeing access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for all workers. We must also prevent retaliation against workers who report unsafe working conditions that heighten the risk of contracting COVID-19. Fighting for livable wages and benefits Boston must ensure that all workers earn a living wage and adequate paid family and medical leave to provide for themselves and their families. That includes undocumented workers, who are an essential part of our city’s economy, but are too often denied these same tenets of worker justice and confronted with employer retaliation. The pandemic has revealed the inadequacy of paltry sick leave policies that force workers to choose between their health and their paycheck. Whether dealing with COVID-19, a broken bone, or elder care responsibilities, we must ensure that all workers have the freedom to take care of their loved ones without losing a paycheck. Tackling wage theft Wage theft undermines the security and well-being of Boston workers, especially from low-income and immigrant communities, the service sector, and other workers, taking advantage of those who haven’t been informed of their rights or lack the legal or financial resources to defend them. By prohibiting vendors with past workplace safety or wage theft violations from doing business with the City, Boston can send a clear signal to all businesses that they must uphold and enforce labor laws and workplace protections. Guaranteeing a Fair Work Week Boston’s service sector workers—including the essential workers that we have depended on throughout the pandemic—experience routine schedule instability and unpredictability. These unpredictable schedules create hardship and stress for workers and their families, who are more likely to experience hunger, poor sleep quality, and higher levels of stress. All employers doing business in the City of Boston must provide their workers with schedules that are predictable and flexible, with enough hours for families to make ends meet, and enough leisure time to participate in family and community life. Combating wealth inequality and creating corporate and institutional accountability Boston’s approach to economic development must benefit all residents. Instead of giving tax breaks to bad actors, we should support companies that hire locally and provide full-time jobs with livable wages and good benefits. Companies should publicly report the number and type of jobs created so that Boston residents and city government can hold accountable these private corporations and larger institutions that receive public benefits and services. Ensuring equitable access to public goods like transportation and education Our city’s transit system is powered by and for essential workers, and the pandemic has underscored the need for workers to be able to move safely and affordably around the city – now, and in the future. Meanwhile, inequities in the Boston Public School system continue to perpetuate racial and socioeconomic disparities across the city, while teachers, administrators, and other school staff are facing the challenges of a safe reopening and equitable recovery for K-12 schools. We must invest in the transportation and education systems that workers depend on to build resilience during and after the pandemic. Championing economic empowerment for all Bostonians Fighting for worker dignity means confronting and dismantling the ways that people of color, women, immigrants, undocumented people, disabled people, and LGBTQ individuals often face additional barriers to employment and unequal payment and treatment at work. A commitment to economic empowerment means safeguarding wages and rights in the workplace, but our local government should also align spending and priorities to uproot the causes of wealth inequality and close the racial wealth gap. To build a strong and just city, we must also invest in youth employment opportunities, affordable child care, and support for small businesses, building on a robust network of community organizations and partnerships. Implementing Boston’s Green New Deal (GND) Michelle has proposed a groundbreaking plan to implement the GND at the municipal level, which includes creating green jobs with livable wages, good benefits, and strong worker protections to build a clean, just economy. By partnering with organized labor, workers centers, and technical schools and educators, Boston can ensure that these workforce development pathways are accessible for residents of all backgrounds. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We've Done Together So Far Filed legislation to require a Fair Work Week for workers at city-contracted companies Authored and passed legislation guaranteeing parental leave for city workers Authored and passed legislation guaranteeing equity in health care coverage for city workers, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity Advocated for a Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights Climate Justice With bold leadership and vision, Boston has the potential to be a worldwide beacon for climate action and environmental justice. In partnership with community activists and organizations, Michelle has proposed the first comprehensive of its kind, laying out an ambitious policy roadmap for delivering the kinds of structural changes we need in order to provide our kids a future built on sustainable energy, good jobs, and healthy, connected communities. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Implementing a Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery Climate justice is racial and economic justice. Cities can lead the charge to mitigate the threat of climate change, eliminate the violence of poverty and economic inequality, close the racial wealth gap, and dismantle structural racism. Read Michelle’s plan. Protecting public health with clean air and water City residents face serious health risks of living near sources of pollution—from East Boston residents dealing with jet fuel pollution near the airport, to Chinatown residents living by highways filled with polluting cars and trucks. Boston should take measures to mitigate and eliminate pollution. And as a coastal city, we can play a major role in safeguarding our ocean resources to protect marine biodiversity and improve water quality. Combating climate change is a key part of creating safe communities and promoting public health. Fighting for environmental justice communities Communities of color, low-income and working-class families, and immigrant communities are more likely to see environmental hazards and face exposure to pollution, urban heat island effect, flooding, and other impacts of climate change. Policies to combat environmental racism and ensure resiliency must focus on community stabilization to ensure people benefit from green investments in their neighborhoods without fear of displacement. As we take action on climate change, Boston’s decision-makers must adopt a procedural justice framework that lifts up the voices, ideas and power of historically marginalized communities into processes for setting agendas and implementing policies. Improving quality of life through better buildings and sustainable transit Buildings and transportation together account for a large portion of our carbon footprint. Retrofitting our buildings with solar panels, high-efficiency heaters, and stormwater infrastructure will make buildings safer and more comfortable for residents, students and workers, while also cutting down on utility costs for renters and homeowners. And creating multimodal transportation systems that enable residents to leave traffic- and pollution-inducing fossil fuel-powered vehicles behind will not only reduce our emissions, but also improve air quality, ease traffic congestion, and allow all Boston residents to benefit from active transportation. Accelerating decarbonization The window to reverse the destructive momentum of climate change is closing quickly, and Boston is vulnerable to intense heat waves and destructive coastal flooding. We must commit to citywide carbon neutrality by 2040, with 100% of our energy coming from renewable sources by 2030, and a net-zero municipal footprint by 2024. These firm commitments demonstrate leadership to the nation while modeling a science-driven climate action plan that centers the safety and well-being of historically marginalized and impacted environmental justice communities. Creating green jobs and workforce development Michelle’s plan to implement the GND at the municipal level includes the creation of green jobs that pay livable wages, offer good benefits, and maintain strong worker protections to build a clean, just economy. By partnering with organized labor, workers centers, and technical schools, Boston can ensure that these workforce development pathways are accessible for residents of all backgrounds. Building a sustainable economy is key to championing economic justice and workers' rights. Expanding Boston’s green spaces We must ensure all residents have access to the natural spaces that build ecosystem resilience while improving public health. Urban forests provide shade and protect against heat waves, mitigate exposure to air pollutants, and improve our mental health, while also sequestering carbon in the soil. And beyond its environmental benefits, urban agriculture also promotes community engagement in public space, allowing residents to grow food that is nutritious and culturally relevant. Boston must work to expand its urban tree canopy and its network of urban farms to ensure all residents can enjoy the benefits of these green spaces. MICHELLE'S RECORD What We’ve Done Together So Far Released a comprehensive local plan for a Boston Green New Deal and Just Recovery Authored and passed legislation expanding protections for natural resource areas and requiring resilient development Authored and passed legislation for Community Choice Energy to increase renewable energy for Boston residents and small businesses, empowering the largest green municipal aggregation in the state Removed barriers for condo owners to install electric vehicle charging stations Banned single-use plastic bags in Boston Passed a resolution calling for Massachusetts to divest from fossil fuels Authored and passed legislation shifting our public food procurement to agricultural producers that employ regenerative production systems that reduce emissions and protect our water, soil, and biodiversity Arts & Culture Growing up, the arts were central to Michelle’s immigrant family, grounding her in culture, heritage, and community. In her time as City Councilor, Michelle has served as Chair of the Arts, Culture & Special Events committee and helped oversee the formation of several of Boston’s cultural districts, as well as the Boston Creates plan. As Mayor, Michelle will be a champion for Boston’s diverse, vibrant arts and cultural sector that stretches across each of our city’s neighborhoods. POLICY PRIORITIES How We Will Lead Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our local artists and arts institutions—from Boston’s world renowned museums to grassroots nonprofit organizations—have struggled to survive, often cobbling together resources from the city, state, and private partners to sustain local jobs and create meaningful cultural experiences for Boston residents and tourists alike. The challenges cut across the entire city: a lack of affordable rehearsal, studio and performance space; unstable labor conditions for artists in the gig economy or employed in contract work; racial segregation that perpetuates inequities; and a siloed approach to public policy that fails to build on artists’ contributions to civic life. As Boston emerges from the pandemic, Michelle will invest in our arts and culture sector, recognizing that arts are central not only to our economic recovery, but also our psychological and emotional healing. Empowering artists to help communities heal Boston should ensure that every neighborhood sees new, innovative art that engages community members in placemaking, healing, activism, storytelling, and relationship building—starting immediately this summer.
Implementing a sustainable, equitable revenue source for the arts The health and vibrancy of our arts and culture sector underpins our community, economy, and growth. Yet Boston consistently underperforms compared to its peer cities in terms of public investment in the arts.
Reforming PILOT to stabilize arts and cultural institutions Boston is the only major city to request payment from cultural organizations through its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program for nonprofit, tax-exempt institutions. This unusual PILOT structure means that together, seven of Boston’s arts and cultural organizations actually pay more money to the City of Boston than the entire arts sector receives from the City in the form of arts and culture grants
Expanding access to cultural institutions through a Boston Municipal ID Many of Boston’s larger arts institutions have launched programs to expand access to lower-income Boston residents, for whom full admission fees serve as an obstacle to enjoying arts and culture. The City should invite its museums and larger arts organizations to commit to further democratizing admission by launching a new municipal ID program, expanding access for residents who are undocumented, experiencing homelessness, lack government ID that matches their gender identity, or otherwise unable to apply for state and federally issued IDs.
Creating space for arts and culture Across Boston, studio, rehearsal and performance space is increasingly scarce—either unavailable or unaffordable to most local artists and smaller organizations.
Infusing arts leadership across City government All City services and programs would benefit from the creative thinking, storytelling skills, and holistic worldview that artists have to offer. Artists have deep ties to their local communities, and Boston should employ artists as key strategists and connectors in pursuing our shared goals of racial justice, climate resilience, and civic engagement across all public policy.
Guaranteeing arts funding as foundational school funding Arts programming is linked to higher student attendance and family engagement, and the benefits are even higher for students with individualized education plans or students who had been chronically absent. Boston Public Schools has made progress in expanding arts education to all K-8 students—but at the high school level, more than one-third of students receive no art programming, and in the 2020-21 school year, at least ten high schools had no full-time arts educator.
MICHELLE'S RECORD What We’ve Done Together So Far Authored and passed legislation to make it easier for businesses to host live acoustic performances and support Boston musicians Successfully pushed the City to commission a study exploring municipal ID as a tool to help those with difficulty obtaining a government-issued ID access museums, libraries, and other municipal institutions Led the effort on Boston City Council to designate Little Saigon in Fields Corner as a cultural district by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as a center of Vietnamese cultural, artistic and economic activity Advocated for resources for creatives and artists during COVID-19[31] |
” |
| —Michelle Wu's 2021 campaign website[32] | ||
2019
Michelle Wu did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Wu's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[33]
Economic mobility
- Excerpt: "The promise of the American Dream is that in this country, no matter where you were born or who your parents are, if you work hard you can find opportunities for your family to thrive. In a time of national uncertainty and growing inequality, Boston should be the city to deliver on that promise. We need to achieve affordability and shared prosperity through a strong local economy and empower residents to be civically engaged."
Racial equity
- Excerpt: "We are at our strongest as a city and a society when we draw on every talent in the community and include every voice in decisionmaking. For a city of opportunity, it is unacceptable to see stark racial disparities reflected in education, employment, criminal justice and health outcomes. We need to foster safe and healthy communities and ensure high quality education for all our students."
Climate justice
- Excerpt: "The impacts of climate change range from disruptive to destructive, and they grow more urgent each season. As weather patterns change due to greenhouse gas emissions, it’s not enough to be resilient, to wait for the next hurricane or flood or drought and then marshal relief efforts. We need to create livable streets and plan for inclusive and sustainable infrastructure."
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Mayor of Boston |
Officeholder Mayor of Boston |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ NPR, "Michelle Wu is Boston's first female and first person of color elected mayor," November 2, 2021
- ↑ Washington Post, "Michelle Wu makes history as first person of color and woman to be elected Boston mayor," November 3, 2021
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 27, 2021
- ↑ Boston.gov, "Michelle Wu," accessed December 10, 2021
- ↑ CBS News, "Keller: Wu looks to play "Trump card" against Kraft, who has an uphill climb in the polls," July 30, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Boston.com, "Mayoral race primer: What to know about the issues that divide Wu and Kraft," April 8, 2025
- ↑ Welcome to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Mayoral Depository Year-to-Date Reports," accessed August 26, 2025
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Michelle Wu Candidate Committee Organization Statement," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Josh Kraft Candidate Committee Organization Statement," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Robert Cappucci Candidate Committee Organization Statement," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance, "Domingos DaRosa Candidate Committee Organization Statement," accessed August 28, 2025
- ↑ Washington Post, "Michelle Wu makes history as first person of color and woman to be elected Boston mayor," November 3, 2021
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Michelle Wu 2025 campaign website, "Meet Michelle," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Michelle Wu 2025 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ NBC Boston, "Your guide to the 2025 Boston mayoral election," August 15, 2025
- ↑ Josh Kraft 2025 campaign website, "About Josh Kraft,' accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Josh Kraft 2025 campaign website, 'Josh Kraft on Policy," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Boston Herald, "Josh Kraft scores first major endorsement in his bid for Boston mayor," March 19, 2025
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 YouTube, "Boston Democratic Ward Coalition 2025 Mayoral Debate," May 15, 2025
- ↑ Boston.com, "Boston mayoral race: 5 takeaways from the first candidate forum as Wu and Kraft meet onstage," May 19, 2025
- ↑ Josh Kraft 2025 campaign website, "Housing Access & Affordability Plan," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ Josh Kraft, 'Josh’s Plan to Improve a Transportation System Stuck in the Past for a City Ready to Move Forward," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 MassLive, "White Stadium has taken over Boston’s mayoral race. Here’s what the candidates have to say," August 18, 2025
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed December 12, 2021
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," December 12, 2021
- ↑ City of Boston, "Election Department Certifies Candidates For Municipal Election," June 5, 2017
- ↑ East Boston Times-Free Press, "Wu Campaign Announces State Legislative Endorsements," October 13, 2017
- ↑ City of Boston, "General Election Candidate List," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ City of Boston, "Unofficial Election Results," November 3, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Michelle Wu's 2021 campaign website, "On The Issues," accessed October 20, 2021
- ↑ Michelle Wu campaign website, "Michelle's Policy Agenda," accessed October 27, 2017
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Kim Janey |
Mayor of Boston 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Boston City Council At-large 2014-2021 |
Succeeded by - |
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