This archive report was first published on 11 September 2021.
On September 11, 2021, Boston's mayoral election took a significant turn, marking a shift from traditional ethnic rivalries to policy-based campaigns. According to recent census data, Boston is growing, while its percentage of non-Hispanic white residents is declining, dipping from 47 percent in 2010 to less than 45 percent now.
Michelle Wu, a progressive candidate, has benefited from a young, energized base, dubbed the 'Wuniverse,' which has fueled her campaign. However, she could encounter headwinds in the general election due to her positions on housing and development, such as her support of rent control.
Historian Jason Sokol notes that Boston's mayors have traditionally relied on turnout from ethnic enclaves, rather than building a multiethnic coalition. This has resulted in a lack of vision and governance from the city's leaders.
The results of the preliminary election could guide the city into very different matchups for a November general election, including one that pits Ms. Wu against Ms. Essaibi George, who draws her core support from white neighborhoods.
Kim Janey, a Black candidate, fears that the battle between the two Black candidates could lead to a decline in the city's Black population, which is gradually waning due to the rising cost of housing.
