BOSTON — The city’s younger and more diverse population could throw this year’s race wide open, political observers said.

BOSTON — The decision not to seek a sixth term was the most difficult one of his life, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said — not an overstatement for a man who spent his entire life in Boston politics.

A look at Boston Mayor Thomas Menino through the years. Menino announced Thursday he would not run for reelection.

BOSTON — A recent Boston Globe poll showed 49 percent of Boston residents have met Mayor Menino. Have you?

Reactions to reports that Mayor Thomas M. Menino will not be seeking a 6th term re-election.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, a political giant who has led the city for 20 transformative years, won’t seek an unprecedented sixth term in office.

BOSTON — In the ad, Gabriel Gomez introduces himself in Spanish and discusses his service as a Navy SEAL.

BOSTON — The banner said “Steve Lynch says: Go Habs! And Go Canadian Dirty Oil.”

BOSTON — The Boston Globe poll found that while the mayor holds a 74 percent approval rating, fewer than half said they want him to run again.

NEEDHAM, Mass. — All five candidates vying for John Kerry’s former U.S. Senate seat participated in their first debates.

BOSTON — While the two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate have mostly voted along similar lines, they have differed on some major issues like abortion and the Affordable Care Act.

BOSTON — Barbara Anderson said Winslow is a true fiscal conservative. She also praised him for being a supporter of gun rights, gay marriage and abortion rights.

BOSTON — Winslow said he never gave money to a Democrat if there was a Republican in the race.

BOSTON — On the Democratic side, the poll finds Ed Markey with an 11-point lead over Stephen Lynch, though overall voters have a more favorable impression of Lynch.