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What to expect in Boston's preliminary election, from mayor's race margins to City Council candidates
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It's preliminary municipal election day. Polls are open until 8 p.m. in Boston (as well as Greenfield and parts of Haverhill, Lowell and Springfield). And the big question may be less about who advances, than it is by how much. Here's what to watch for:
Preliminary expectations: Boston voters will decide which two candidates advance to the November mayoral election. As WBUR's Eve Zuckoff reports, challenger Josh Kraft is hoping for a closer result than recent polls might suggest. Last week, an Emerson College survey found incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu leading Kraft among likely Boston voters 72% to 22%. That came after a previous poll in July put Wu's lead around 30 percentage points. But yesterday, Kraft announced two new endorsements: former Boston city councilor and mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George and Dianne Wilkerson, a former state senator and longtime activist in Boston's Black community. "Polls don't decide elections. People do," Kraft told reporters yesterday. Last week, he told WBUR's Morning Edition his goal is to "show significant momentum" in today's election (if such a thing exists in politics). But regardless of the margin tonight, Kraft pledged to keep running. "What do you think? Of course I'm going to stay in the race," he told Eve.
- Meet the candidates: If you've been tuning out politics news all summer, Eve has the basics on all four mayoral candidates and their platforms — yes, four! While they've been perhaps overshadowed by Wu and Kraft's name recognition, the race also features two other mayoral hopefuls: Domingos DaRosa and Robert Cappucci (one of whom reportedly stole the show at a forum last week).
- Down the ballot: Residents across Boston also get to decide which eight candidates for the four at-large City Council seats will advance to the general election. The 10-person field includes all four incumbents, as well as former District 3 councilor Frank Baker, who stepped down in 2023. Click here for more on where the at-large candidates stand on issues, from education to housing to taxes.
- Farther down the ballot: The only open council seat this year is District 7, following Tania Fernandes Anderson's arrest and resignation. Eleven candidates are running for the Roxbury-centric seat. Boston.com has a good overview of most of the candidates' policy positions, and Scope shares their plans for boosting businesses in the neighborhood.
- Behind the scenes: Secretary of State Bill Galvin is taking a more hands-on approach to this election in Boston, after over a dozen voting locations in the city ran out of ballots last November. WBUR's Zeninjor Enwemeka has more here on the differences voters may notice, including the increased use of "Poll Pads."
Meanwhile: Gov. Maura Healey is declining to put her hand on the scales of the Boston mayor's race. While the governor has endorsed incumbent mayors in Newburyport and Somerville this cycle, she declined to back Wu or Kraft ahead of today's election. " I'm gonna let the voters decide that tomorrow," Healey told reporters yesterday at the State House. " We'll see what happens."
- Go deeper: The Boston Globe has more here (paywall) on the not-always-totally-aligned political history between the Democratic governor and mayor.
In other news:
It's official: After over 100 years in Rhode Island, Hasbro is moving its headquarters — and at least 700 jobs — to Boston. The toy-making company announced the move yesterday, which had been rumored for nearly a year. In a press release, Hasbro said it will move its toys, board games and licensing businesses, as well as the majority of its corporate services, to its new home in the Seaport by the end of 2026.
- Where exactly? Hasbro says its new building will be at 400 Summer St., across from the Menino Convention Center (near the big stairs). The company says it will occupy seven of the building's 16 floors.
- What's in it for them? State House News Service reports Hasbro could get up to $14 million in tax credits, if it relocates the 700 jobs it says it will. Hasbro also said the move should help them "accelerate innovation" and "attract top talent."
P.S.— Is it too early for Christmas music? Because tickets for this year's Holiday Pops go on sale today at 10 a.m. The Boston Pops' annual tradition of festive shows runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 30. It features 44 performances, six kids' matinees, live-scored screenings of holiday movies and two new brunch concerts at Boston Symphony Hall. In addition, the orchestra is planning a handful of traveling shows at other venues in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
