2021 Boston City Council election

The 2021 Boston City Council election was held on November 2, 2021. All thirteen councillors from the nine districts and four councillors at-large were up for election. Elections in Boston are officially nonpartisan.

2021 Boston City Council election

November 2, 2021

13 seats on the Boston City Council
7 seats needed for a majority
 
Party Democratic
Last election 13

Composition of the Boston City Council by political party[lower-alpha 1]

Incumbent President of the City Council

Matt O'Malley
Nonpartisan



Councillors Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi George, Kim Janey, and Michelle Wu ran in the mayoral election, while Matt O'Malley did not seek re-election. Councillors Ricardo Arroyo, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Lydia Edwards, Michael F. Flaherty, and Julia Mejia ran for re-election.

Background

Marty Walsh was elected to the mayoralty of Boston, Massachusetts, in the 2013 and 2017 elections.[1][2] On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he would select Walsh to serve as the United States Secretary of Labor.[3] Walsh resigned as mayor on March 22, after being confirmed as Secretary of Labor, and was replaced as acting-mayor by Kim Janey, who also served as president of the Boston City Council.[4][5]

The city council voted to move the primary election date from September 21, to September 14, in order to allow for another week mail-in voting ballots to be distributed for the general election and was approved by Mayor Janey.[6][7][8]

Incumbent status

DistrictNameEntered officeRunning
At-largeAnnissa Essaibi GeorgeJanuary 2016No
Michael F. FlahertyJanuary 2014Yes
Julia MejiaJanuary 2020Yes
Michelle WuJanuary 2014No
1Lydia EdwardsJanuary 2018Yes
2Ed FlynnJanuary 2018Yes
3Frank BakerJanuary 2012Yes
4Andrea CampbellJanuary 2016No
5Ricardo ArroyoJanuary 2020Yes
6Matt O'MalleyNovember 2010No
7Kim JaneyJanuary 2018No
8Kenzie BokJanuary 2020Yes
9Liz BreadonJanuary 2020Yes

Campaign

At-large

Michelle Wu, who had served on the city council since 2014, announced that she would run in the mayoral election on September 15, 2020.[9] Annissa Essaibi George, who had served on the city council since 2016, announced that she would run in the mayoral election on January 27, 2021.[10] Incumbent councillors Julia Mejia, who had won election to the city council by one vote in the 2019 election, and Michael F. Flaherty are running for reelection.[11]

Althea Garrison, the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature and former member of the city council, Ruthzee Louijeune, a lawyer who worked as senior counsel for Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential and senatorial campaigns, Alex Gray, a policy analyst, and Nick Vance, a political action co-chair of the NAACP in Boston, are running in the election.[12][13][14]

2021 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent) 41,299 15.0 62,242 17.4
Julia Mejia (incumbent) 38,765 14.1 61,709 17.3
Ruthzee Louijeune 33,425 12.2 54,601 15.3
Erin Murphy 22,835 8.3 42,831 12.0
David Halbert 16,921 6.2 42,561 11.9
Carla Monteiro 18,844 6.9 39,648 11.1
Bridget Nee-Walsh 15,118 5.5 27,424 7.7
Althea Garrison 16,810 6.1 24,194 7.0
Kelly Bates 12,735 4.6  
Alexander Gray 11,263 4.1  
Jon Spillane 11,155 4.1  
Said Abdikarim 7,725 2.8  
Domingos DaRosa 7,139 2.6  
Donnie Palmer Jr. 6,823 2.5  
Roy Owens Sr. 5,223 1.9  
James Colimon 4,671 1.7  
Nick Vance 3,943 1.4  
Write-ins 845 0.3 1,350 0.4
Total 274,694 100 359,294 100

Note: The primary result is uncertified

1st district

Lydia Edwards, who was first elected to the city council in 2017, announced that she would run for reelection and launched her campaign on February 26, 2021, at a virtual event.[17]

Candidates General Election
Votes %
Lydia Edwards
Write-in
Total TBD TBD

2nd district

Councillor Ed Flynn filed to run for reelection.[18]

Candidates General Election
Votes %
Ed Flynn
Write-in
Total TBD TBD

3rd district

Frank Baker, who was first elected in 2011, announced that he would run for reelection after initially wanting to leave politics until the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans.[19] Stephen McBride is running in the election.[20]

Candidates General Election[16]
Votes %
Frank Baker 8,464 63.1
Stephen McBride 4,956 36.9
Write-in
Total TBD TBD

4th district

Andrea Campbell, who had served on the city council since 2016, announced on September 24, 2020, that she would run for mayor.[21] Evandro Carvalho, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, announced that he would run in the election on October 19.[22] Leonard M. Lee Sr., a community organizer and member of the Boston Parks Commission, announced on February 3, 2021, that he would run in the election stating that he was inspired to run after a nineteen-year-old was killed by the police outside his home.[23] William Dickerson III, a former city council aide, Nikkia Jean-Charles, who was inspired by Ayanna Pressley's campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, Trina Ruffin, and Troy Smith are running in the election.[24] Joel Richards, a Boston Public School Teacher and Boston Teachers Union activist, is also running in the election.[25]

2021 Boston City Council district 4 election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Brian Worrell 2,498 25.5 7,442 61.8
Evandro Carvalho 1,835 18.7 4,597 38.2
Joel Richards 1,315 13.4  
Josette Williams 1,171 11.9  
Leonard Lee Sr. 974 9.9  
William Dickerson III 947 9.7  
Deeqo Jibril 455 4.6  
Troy Smith 423 4.3  
Jacob Urena 183 1.9  
Write-ins 24 0.2 TBD TBD
Total 9,801 100% TBD TBD

Note: The primary result is uncertified

5th district

Councillor Ricardo Arroyo is running for reelection and John White is also running in the election.[11][26]

Candidates General Election[16]
Votes %
Ricardo Arroyo 13,117 76.1
John White 4,109 23.9
Write-in
Total TBD TBD

6th district

Kendra Hicks, an activist, announced that she would run against councilor Matt O'Malley in the 2021 election.[27] O'Malley, who was first elected to the city council in 2010, announced that he would not seek reelection on December 2, 2020, so that he could focus on his family.[28]

2021 Boston City Council district 6 election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Kendra Hicks 9,236 50.2 13,907 55.9
Mary Tamer 7,984 43.4 10,974 44.1
Winnie Eke 1,188 6.5  
Write-ins 76 0.4 TBD TBD
Total 18,408 100% TBD TBD

Note: The primary result is uncertified

7th district

Kim Janey, who was serving as acting-mayor and who had served on the city council since 2018, announced on April 6, 2021, that she would run in the mayoral election.[29] Tania Fernandes Anderson, Angelina Camacho, Joao DePina, Marisa Luse, Santiago Rivera, and Lorraine Payne Wheeler are running in the election.[30]

2021 Boston City Council district 7 election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Tania Fernandes Anderson 2,014 26.7 7,017 73.3
Roy Owens Sr. 1,284 17.0 2,550 26.7
Angelina Comacho 1,256 16.6  
Brandy Brooks 741 9.8  
Lorraine Wheeler 697 9.2  
Santiago Rivera 568 7.5  
Marisa Luse 550 7.3  
Joao DePina 407 5.4  
Write-ins 34 0.5 TBD TBD
Total 7,551 100% TBD TBD

Note: The primary result is uncertified

8th district

Kenzie Bok, who was first elected in 2019, filed to run for re-election.[18]

Candidates General Election
Votes %
Kenzie Bok
Write-in
Total TBD TBD

9th district

Liz Breadon, who was first elected to the city council in 2019, is running for reelection against Michael J. Bianchi and entrepreneur Eric Porter.[11]

2021 Boston City Council district 9 election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Liz Breadon 5,050 71.7 7,223 71.9
Michael Bianchi 970 13.8 2,819 28.1
Eric Porter 768 10.9  
Write-ins 252 3.6 TBD TBD
Total 7,040 100% TBD TBD

Note: The primary result is uncertified

Campaign finance

Candidate Campaign committee
COH District
Frank Baker[31] $62,576.29 3rd
Kelly Bates[32] $61,737.76 At-large
Kenzie Bok[33] $44,227.40 8th
Lydia Edwards[34] $106,067.81 1st
Michael F. Flaherty[35] $252,075.21 At-large
Alexander Gray[36] $40,185.62 At-large
David Halbert[37] $63,828.57 At-large
Kendra Hicks[38] $76,456.51 6th
Julia Mejia[39] $101,899.46 At-large
Erin Murphy[40] $48,238.95 At-large
Ruthzee Louijeune[41] $129,825.33 At-large
Mary Tamer[42] $74,801.94 6th

Endorsements

At-large district

Flaherty endorsements
Halbert endorsements
Federal officials
Local officials
  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]
Organizations
Louijeune endorsements
Federal officials
State officials
Local officials
Organizations
Mejia endorsements
Federal officials
Local officials
  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]
Organizations
Monteiro endorsements
Federal officials
Local officials
  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]
Organizations
Murphy endorsements
Spillane endorsements
Local officials

1st district

Edwards endorsements

2nd district

Flynn endorsements
Organizations

4th district

Carvalho endorsements
Local officials
Organizations
  • UNITE HERE Local 26
  • Pipefitters Local 537
  • Plasterers’ & Cement Masons Local 534
  • Laborers Local 151
  • Laborers Local 223
  • IBEW Local 103
  • United Auto Workers Region 9A
  • North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • The Roofers and Waterproofers Local 33
  • The Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3
  • The Mass Retirees
Jibril endorsements
Organizations
  • Massachusetts Voters for Animals
  • Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
Richards endorsements
Organizations
Williams endorsements
Organizations
  • Mass NOW PAC
Worrell endorsements
Local officials
  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[46]

5th district

Arroyo endorsements

6th district

Kendra Hicks
Federal officials
Local officials
Organizations
Mary Tamer
Local officials

7th district

Anderson Fernandes endorsements
Organizations
Camacho endorsements
Local officials
  • Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins
  • State Representative Chynah Tyler
Organizations
  • Boston Teachers Union
  • North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Greater Boston Labor Council
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2222
  • Teamsters Union Local 25
  • The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 1445
  • Mass Voters for Animals
  • Mass NOW
  • Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus

8th district

Bok endorsements

9th district

Breadon endorsements
Organizations

Polling

General election

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[lower-alpha 2]
Margin
of error
Michael
Flaherty
Althea
Garrison
David
Halbert
Ruthzee
Louijeune
Julia
Mejia
Carla
Monteiro
Erin
Murphy
Bridget
Nee-Walsh
Undecided
Emerson College October 26–27, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 20% 37% 47% 48% 34% 39% 24%
Suffolk University October 15–17, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 30% 9% 16% 21% 29% 15% 18% 10% 35%
MassINC Polling Group October 6–12, 2021 501 (LV) ± 4.9% 20% 8% 12% 16% 21% 13% 16% 11% 47%

Notes

  1. Officially nonpartisan
  2. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". WBUR-FM. November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  2. "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". The Boston Globe. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  3. "Biden chooses Boston Mayor Walsh as Labor secretary". Politico. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
  4. "Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary, Resigns As Mayor Of Boston". WBZ-TV. March 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  5. "Kim Janey becomes Boston's acting mayor, makes history as first Black person, woman to hold the office". Boston.com. March 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  6. "Boston City Council to mull moving Sept. 21 preliminary election up a week". The Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  7. "Boston Pushing Preliminary Election Up One Week To Sept. 14". WGBH (FM). April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  8. "Janey signs ordinance moving preliminary election to Sept. 14". WHDH (TV). May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  9. "Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu Announces Run For Mayor". WBUR-FM. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  10. "Councilor Essaibi-George jumps into the mayoral fray". The Boston Globe. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  11. "The Boston mayoral race's unintended consequence: a City Council shakeup". The Boston Globe. June 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  12. "Transgender Conservative Althea Garrison Will Run For Boston City Council At-Large Again This Year". New Boston Post. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  13. "Mattapan native Ruthzee Louijeune joins at-large council race". Dorchester Reporter. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  14. "Garrison says she'll 'definitely be on the ballot' this year; The question is: which one?". Dorchester Reporter. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  15. "Unofficial Election Results". Boston.gov. October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  16. Waller, John (November 2, 2021). "2021 Boston City Council election results". Boston.Com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  17. "Councilor Edwards announces re-election campaign". East Boston Times-Free Press. February 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  18. "Five of Six Mayoral Candidates Take Nomination Papers on Day 1: Early Poll Shows Half of Voters Undecided, Wu With Highest Favorability". Beacon Hill Times. April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  19. "With 'everything up in the air,' says Councillor Baker, he has to run again". Dorchester Reporter. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  20. "Jones Hill man, 31, to seek District 3 council seat". Dorchester Reporter. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  21. "Andrea Campbell announces campaign to be Boston mayor". Boston.com. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  22. "City council race: Jacob Urena running for District 4". The Boston Scope. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  23. "Longtime activist Leonard Lee plans run for District 4 council". Dorchester Reporter. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  24. "Four new candidates join hopeful field in District 4". Dorchester Reporter. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  25. Pereira, Rebeca (July 26, 2021). "Richards touts new labor, progressive endorsements in District 4 race". Dorchester Reporter.
  26. "Candidates lining up for district races". Bay State Banner. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  27. "Kendra Hicks to Challenge O'Malley in Boston City Council Race". Jamaica Plain News. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  28. "Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley won't seek re-election next year". Boston.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  29. "Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey enters race to seek a full term". Boston.com. April 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  30. "Candidates line up in race for District 7". Bay State Banner. April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  31. "Frank Baker campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  32. "Kelly Bates campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
  33. "Kenzie Bok campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
  34. "Lydia Edwards campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  35. "Michael F. Flaherty campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  36. "Alexander Gray campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  37. "David Halbert campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  38. "Kendra Hicks campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  39. "Julia Mejia campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  40. "Erin Murphy campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  41. "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  42. "Mary Tamer campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  43. "City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty Announces Significant Endorsements in His Bid for Re-Election". South Boston Today. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  44. "The Lit Drop: Wu talks housing in Dot, unions endorse candidates". Dorchester Reporter. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  45. DeCosta-Kilpa, Nik (September 27, 2021). "Ayanna Pressley announces Boston City Council endorsements". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  46. Woodard, Tiana (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council race this week: Latest poll mirrors prelims, Andrea Campbell unveils endorsements, flier sparks racism allegations - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  47. "Union of Essential Workers Announces Endorsements for Boston City Council". SEIU 32BJ. 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  48. "Elizabeth Warren endorses at-large Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune". The Boston Globe. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  49. "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign endorsed by Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz". Jamaica Plain Gazette. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  50. "District 8 Councilor Bok Endorses Jon Spillane and Ruthzee Louijeune for At-Large City Council: Cite Affordable Housing Experience and Commitment as Crucial for Next Council – The Boston Sun". The Boston Sun. July 22, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  51. "2021 Endorsements". Sierra Club. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  52. "Hunt endorses Murphy's bid for city council at-large". Dorchester Reporter. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  53. "Endorsements". Boston Democratic Socialists of America. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  54. Miller, Joshua Rhett (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council candidate slammed over 'full-blown racist' campaign flyer". New York Post. Retrieved October 26, 2021.

Further reading

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