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What to know about all 4 candidates on Boston's mayoral preliminary election ballot
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's politics newsletter, Mass. Politics. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
We’re back to break down the Boston mayoral race!
Thousands of residents will hit the polls this Tuesday to vote in the city’s preliminary election. The contest will decide which two mayoral candidates advance to the general election on Nov. 4 (as well as whittle down the crowded field for Boston City Council).
It’s been more than 75 years since an incumbent Boston mayor has lost a bid for reelection. However, first-term Mayor Michelle Wu is facing three candidates — including a historically well-funded challenge by former nonprofit leader Josh Kraft — in what’s shaping up to be Boston’s most expensive political race ever.
Here’s what you should know about the four mayoral hopefuls in order of how they'll appear on the ballot:
Michelle Wu:
In 2021, Wu became the city’s first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor of Boston. The Roslindale resident — raised by Taiwanese immigrants in Chicago — first moved to the Boston area to attend Harvard and went on to make a name for herself on the City Council, successfully pushing for progressive policies like paid parental leave for municipal workers and restrictions on Airbnb.
- In her first term, the 40-year-old mother of three often says she has invested more in making housing affordable than any other administration in Boston’s history, and highlights her efforts to add fare-free Boston bus lines. However, she has faced criticism from some housing developers who say her affordability and clean energy policies are too strict and weathered controversies ranging from the expansion of bike lanes to the troubles around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. More recently, Wu has experienced a surge in visibility – and perhaps popularity amongst Democrats – for her high-profile clashes with the Trump administration, especially when it comes to defending Boston’s law limiting local police cooperation with federal deportation efforts.
Josh Kraft:
Kraft entered the race in February, saying he was inspired to do so after three decades of public service with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, including 12 years as its president and CEO. The 58-year-old is the third son of Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution. But he has tried to define himself as his own man in the race.
- The self-described “bluedog Democrat” has taken aim at what he sees as Wu’s “failed push for mandatory rent control” (instead he suggests an opt-in approach), and rollout of bike lanes that’s created a “mess of flex posts, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, traffic lanes.” (He says he’d pause bike lane projects altogether if elected, and do a new analysis). But they do share anti-Trump sentiments: he often speaks in defense of the city’s immigrants, and against mass deportation efforts. But Kraft — who’s lived most of his life outside of Boston (in Chestnut Hill) before buying a condo in the North End in 2023 — has faced criticism over his understanding of the city and its working families, his financial relationship to the family business, and preparedness for the job. He’s never held public office before.
Robert Cappucci
Over the last 50 years, Cappucci has run for office 13 times: Congress, state representative, Boston mayor, city councilor, and school committee — which he won twice in the ‘80s (right before it became an appointed committee). Now, the 80-year-old Navy veteran and retired Boston police officer is taking another shot at the mayor’s office.
- An East Boston native, Capucci is officially a Democrat — but has taken by far the most conservative positions of anyone on Tuesday’s ballot. He introduces himself at forums as a devout Catholic who’s willing to work with President Trump. As mayor, he says he’d close methadone clinics, push to repeal Boston’s law limiting police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has floated an idea to send Boston Public Schools’ “problem” students into the police academy’s physical training program.
Domingos DaRosa
DaRosa, a Hyde Park resident, launched his fourth campaign for public office with a slogan aimed at his opponents' deep pockets: “For the people – not the money.” The 48-year-old father of four immigrated from Cape Verde to Boston when he was a baby. As an adult, DaRosa has worked as a city lifeguard, Pop Warner president and football coach, and he now owns a property maintenance company.
- The outspoken candidate may be best known for a 2020 stunt in which he placed used needles in front of then-Gov. Charlie Baker’s home to protest a lack of action on the addiction crisis spilling out at Mass and Cass. He is critical of the Wu administration’s plans to rebuild White Stadium in Franklin Park through a public-private partnership with a professional women’s soccer team – preferring, instead, a lower-cost option for the stadium to be used only by BPS students. He says education – and the “failing” state of Boston Public Schools – is his top priority. Ultimately, the independent is leaning on his relatability: in this race, he's the only renter, immigrant and gun violence survivor, and he says that, like a lot of Bostonians, he's struggled to pay his bills. A frequent criticism from voters and political insiders is, for all his passion, DaRosa is light on specific policy plans.
Who should you vote for? Up to you. How should you vote? We’ve got you covered. Check out our full guide on Boston's preliminary election for the details on polling locations, City Council candidates, what to do if you still have a mail-in ballot, and much more.
Correction: A previous version of this story had an incorrect date for the general election. We regret the error.
