Wu dominates Boston preliminary election as she and Kraft move to November face off

Boston voters overwhelmingly supported incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu in Tuesday's preliminary election. Meanwhile, chief rival Josh Kraft will also advance to November's ballot.

The Associated Press called the race for Wu just 18 minutes after polls closed. With 100% of precincts reporting, Wu finished with 72% of the vote, to Kraft's 23%. That dwarfed the other two mayoral candidates Domingos DaRosa and Robert Cappucci. The top two vote getters in the nonpartisan preliminary election advance to the next round.

"Voters across our city left no doubt. In Boston, wins can't be bought," Wu said before supporters Tuesday night. "They're built day after day by showing up and getting results. Over the last five months of this campaign, we held nearly 500 events to connect to our communities. Knocked on 80,000 doors across every neighborhood, made 200,000 calls. And won by a margin money can't buy."

Fewer than 15% of of registered voters in Boston turned out as of 6 p.m., two hours before polls closed, according to the city's Election Department.

Wu had outrun Kraft in polling throughout the election season, with one survey last week giving her a 50-point lead.

Speaking with supporters Tuesday night, Kraft vowed to "push forward harder, louder, and stronger than ever" as he campaigns toward the general election in November.

" We know the road ahead is not going to be easy, but neither is life in Boston right now for too many families," he said. "That's why I'm in this, despite what has been reported in the pages of the media. It's clear that the only poll that matters is in November."

The race is on track to be the most expensive in Boston history. Through August, Kraft, a philanthropist and son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, raised $6.8 million (with roughly $5.5 million of that coming from his own bank account). Wu, meanwhile, has collected $1.8 million, according to state campaign finance records.

Money has been one of the key issues in the campaign — namely how much Kraft has spent on the campaign and where his money comes from. Wu has criticized Kraft for not releasing his tax returns and providing only a summary of his $6.3 income.

They've also clashed over the rebuilding of White Stadium. Kraft claims the plan hurts neighbors and the price is skyrocketing, while Wu says it's over budget but not by that much. And bike lanes have been a hot topic, with Kraft says the Wu administration installed too many, without solid planning.

Voters will decide whether to give Wu a second term or go with newcomer Kraft on Nov. 4. Voter registration for that election closes on Oct. 25.