Mayor Wu kicks off reelection campaign in South End

It’s official: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is running for a second term.

Speaking to supporters at the South End's Cyclorama Saturday afternoon, the 40-year-old Democrat described the accomplishments of her administration’s work so far, and said she has more work to do investing in the city's schools, continuing to improve public safety, and standing up to challenges from Washington.

"Four years ago none of us could have imagined what these past three months have looked like," Wu said. "Today it's not just our country and our democracy that are under attack, it's communities like ours — our lives, and our livelihoods, our identities and our independence. It feels like everything that makes Boston, Boston is being threatened by an administration that is clearly threatened by who we are as a city."

In her speech, Wu touted her first term's record — describing her efforts to fight off state receivership of the Boston public schools, improve transportation for seniors, expand access to the city's arts institutions, and reduce deadly violence.

The location of the campaign launch was symbolic for Wu. The Cyclorama was built in 1884 to house a painting by artist Paul Dominique Philippoteaux that depicted a panoramic scene from the Battle of Gettysburg. In her speech, Wu imagined what it must have been like for Bostonian's to enter the space back then.

"It was a 360-degree immersive painting that showed every detail of the moment that became the turning point in the Civil War and led to President Lincoln's immortal call for a new birth of freedom — that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." Wu said. " So in this space and for generations across our city, Boston has always been in the middle of the battle for freedom and for our future."

Wu’s bid for a second term comes after her recent push into the national spotlight. In March, she was among four mayors who testified in front of the U.S. House Oversight Committee. They were asked about policies that restrict local law enforcement's cooperation with federal immigration officials. The appearance came shortly after President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan told an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference that he would bring “hell” to Boston.

“Today, one in four Boston residents were born outside of the United States … All of them chose this country, and chose Boston, as home, because they believed in the American Dream,” Wu said to the House Oversight committee.

Later that month she doubled down on the message in her annual State of the City address, where she previewed plans to build new homes downtown, expand her office-to-housing conversion efforts and create new school programs.

Shortly before her official campaign launch, Wu spoke to a crowd of thousands who had marched from Boston Common to City Hall Plaza as part of a set of protests around the country against the Trump administration.

"We need each other and the country needs Boston right now," Wu said, interspersing her speech with the rallying cry "hands off Boston." "Boston has never and will never back down to bullies. This is our city and you will not break us."

The mayoral race is still wide open. Josh Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is challenging her for the job. Kraft has cited housing as a major priority, saying he’ll reign in spiraling rents in the city. He has also criticized Wu’s plan for White Stadium. Conversely, Wu has expressed concern over Robert Kraft's plans to build a stadium right across the Mystic River for his other team — the New England Revolution.

While never mentioning Kraft by name in her campaign speech, Wu took a sharp dig at the political newcomer.

"Now is not the time for a mayor who needs on-the-job training,” Wu said to laughs and cheers from her supporters. “I'm not done yet. Now is certainly not the time to hand the keys over to billionaires or developers. Boston doesn't need a mayor who has to recuse themselves from conflicts of interest. We need a mayor whose only interest is Boston.”

In response, Kraft's campaign issued a statement deriding the speech as "lofty claims" and "victory laps on national issues."

"Bostonians are looking for is someone who is connected to their concerns and challenges and is focused on helping them," Kraft said in a statement.

Wu was dealt a victory this week when a superior court judge ruled the partial demolition of White Stadium can continue despite a lawsuit from a conservancy group. The renovation, a private-public partnership with a professional women’s soccer team, is expected to cost nearly $200 million — nearly half of which would be paid by the city. The project has generated controversy but Wu argues it will serve local student athletes.

Next week Wu plans to put her annual budget proposal before the city council, according to her office. In a letter to councilors earlier this month, Wu said the city receives more than $300 million in federal funding, and that it is watching the impact of federal tariffs. She said this year's budget "must reflect fiscal discipline to protect Boston’s community and economy in the face of federal uncertainty." She said she plans to eliminate roles that have been vacant for a long time, will not be adding new positions, and will look to make unspecified non-staff cost cuts.