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2021 Boston City Council election

2021 Boston City Council election
← 2019 November 2, 2021 2023 →
13 seats on the Boston City Council
7 seats needed for a majority
 
Party Democratic
Last election 13
Composition of the Boston City Council by political party[a]
Incumbent President of the City Council

Matt O'Malley
Nonpartisan



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The 2021 Boston City Council election was held on November 2, 2021. All thirteen councillors from the nine districts and four councillors at-large were up for election. Elections in Boston are officially nonpartisan.

Councillors Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi George, Kim Janey, and Michelle Wu ran in the mayoral election, while Matt O'Malley did not seek re-election. Councillors Ricardo Arroyo, Frank Baker, Kenzie Bok, Liz Breadon, Lydia Edwards, Michael F. Flaherty, Ed Flynn, and Julia Mejia ran for re-election; all eight were successful. Five new members were elected to the council; two at-large and three from districts (4, 6, and 7).

Background

Marty Walsh was elected to the mayoralty of Boston, Massachusetts, in the 2013 and 2017 elections.[1][2] On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he would select Walsh to serve as the United States Secretary of Labor.[3] Walsh resigned as mayor on March 22, after being confirmed as Secretary of Labor, and was replaced as acting-mayor by Kim Janey, who also served as president of the Boston City Council.[4][5]

The city council voted to move the primary election date from September 21 to September 14, in order to allow mail-in voting ballots for the general election an additional week of distribution time, which was approved by Mayor Janey.[6][7][8]

Incumbent status

The council members at the time of both the preliminary election and general election are listed below. The table further indicates if each incumbent ran for re-election, and if so, whether they were re-elected or not.

See also: 2021 Boston mayoral election
Matt O'Malley, acting council president at the time of the election
District Name Entered office Ran Result
At-large Annissa Essaibi George January 2016 No
—
Michael F. Flaherty January 2014 Yes
Re-elected
Julia Mejia January 2020 Yes
Re-elected
Michelle Wu January 2014 No
Elected Mayor of Boston
1 Lydia Edwards January 2018 Yes
Re-elected
2 Ed Flynn January 2018 Yes
Re-elected
3 Frank Baker January 2012 Yes
Re-elected
4 Andrea Campbell January 2016 No Defeated in mayoral election
5 Ricardo Arroyo January 2020 Yes
Re-elected
6 Matt O'Malley ‡ November 2010 No
—
7 Kim Janey † January 2018 No Defeated in mayoral election
8 Kenzie Bok January 2020 Yes
Re-elected
9 Liz Breadon January 2020 Yes
Re-elected
† City council president and acting Mayor of Boston
‡ Acting city council president

Campaign

At-large

Two of the four incumbents did not seek re-election. Michelle Wu, who joined the city council in 2014, announced on September 15, 2020, that she would run in the mayoral election.[9] Annissa Essaibi George, who joined the city council in 2016, announced on January 27, 2021, that she would run in the mayoral election.[10] Incumbent councillors Michael F. Flaherty, who joined the city council in 2014, and Julia Mejia, who won election to the city council by one vote in the 2019 election, ran for reelection.[11]

Other candidates in the election included: Althea Garrison, the first openly transgender person to serve in a state legislature and former member of the city council; Ruthzee Louijeune, a lawyer who worked as senior counsel for Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential and senatorial campaigns; Erin Murphy, a former teacher in the Boston Public Schools; Alex Gray, a policy analyst; and Nick Vance, a political action co-chair of the NAACP in Boston.[12][13][14]

The top eight vote-getters in the primary election advanced to the general election.

2021 Boston City Council at-large election
Candidate Primary election[15] General election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Michael F. Flaherty (incumbent) 41,509 15.0 62,603 17.4
Julia Mejia (incumbent) 38,919 14.1 62,058 17.3
Ruthzee Louijeune 33,546 12.1 54,898 15.3
Erin Murphy 22,938 8.3 43,076 12.0
David Halbert 17,012 6.1 42,765 11.9
Carla Monteiro 18,911 6.8 39,876 11.1
Bridget Nee-Walsh 15,191 5.5 27,591 7.7
Althea Garrison 16,906 6.1 25,078 7.0
Kelly Bates 12,787 4.6  
Alexander Gray 11,320 4.1  
Jon Spillane 11,217 4.1  
Said Abdikarim 7,767 2.8  
Domingos DaRosa 7,011 2.5  
Donnie Palmer Jr. 6,861 2.5  
Roy Owens Sr. 5,265 1.9  
James Colimon 4,693 1.7  
Nick Vance 3,968 1.4  
Write-ins 873 0.3 1,350 0.4
Total 276,694 100 359,294 100

1st district

Councillor Lydia Edwards, who was first elected to the city council in 2017, announced that she would run for reelection and launched her campaign on February 26, 2021, at a virtual event.[17] Edwards was unopposed.

Candidates General Election[18]
Votes %
Lydia Edwards 10,558 97.3
Write-in 296 2.7
Total 10,854 100

2nd district

Councillor Ed Flynn filed to run for reelection.[19] He ran unopposed.

Candidates General Election[20]
Votes %
Ed Flynn 15,029 98.3
Write-in 257 1.7
Total 15,286 100

3rd district

Councillor Frank Baker, who was first elected in 2011, announced that he would run for reelection after initially wanting to leave politics until the COVID-19 pandemic changed his plans.[21] Stephen McBride also ran in the election.[22]

Candidates General Election[23]
Votes %
Frank Baker 8,518 62.9
Stephen McBride 4,972 36.7
Write-in 62 0.5
Total 13,552 100

4th district

Councillor Andrea Campbell, who joined the city council in 2016, announced on September 24, 2020, that she would run for mayor.[24] Evandro Carvalho, who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, announced on October 19 that he would run in the election.[25] Leonard M. Lee Sr., a community organizer and member of the Boston Parks Commission, announced on February 3, 2021, that he would run in the election, stating that he was inspired to run after a nineteen-year-old was killed by the police outside his home.[26] Other candidates included: William Dickerson III, a former city council aide; Nikkia Jean-Charles, who was inspired by Ayanna Pressley's campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives; and Joel Richards, a Boston Public School teacher and Boston Teachers Union activist.[27][28] The top two vote-getters in the primary election advanced to the general election.

2021 Boston City Council District 4 election
Candidate Primary election[29] General election[30]
Votes % Votes %
Brian Worrell 2,502 25.4 7,464 61.6
Evandro Carvalho 1,838 18.7 4,611 38.1
Joel Richards 1,320 13.4  
Josette Williams 1,173 11.9  
Leonard Lee Sr. 974 9.9  
William Dickerson III 948 9.6  
Deeqo Jibril 458 4.7  
Troy Smith 427 4.3  
Jacob Urena 185 1.9  
Write-ins 24 0.2 41 0.3
Total 9,849 100 12,116 100

5th district

Councillor Ricardo Arroyo ran for reelection; John White also ran in the election.[11][31]

Candidates General Election[23]
Votes %
Ricardo Arroyo 13,175 75.7
John White 4,127 23.7
Write-in 95 0.5
Total 17,397 100

6th district

Kendra Hicks, an activist, announced in September 2020 that she would run against councilor Matt O'Malley.[32] O'Malley, who joined the council in 2010, announced on December 2, 2020, that he would not seek reelection, so he could focus on his family.[33] Two other candidates also ran for the seat; the top two vote-getters in the preliminary election advanced to the general election.

2021 Boston City Council District 6 election
Candidate Primary election[34] General election[35]
Votes % Votes %
Kendra Hicks 9,265 49.9 13,987 55.8
Mary Tamer 8,024 43.2 11,017 43.9
Winnie Eke 1,196 6.4  
Write-ins 76 0.4 81 0.3
Total 18,561 100% 25,085 100

7th district

Councillor Kim Janey, who was serving as acting-mayor and joined the council in 2018, announced on April 6, 2021, that she would run in the mayoral election.[36] Candidates for the seat included Tania Fernandes Anderson, director of a non-profit organization, and Roy Owens Sr., a perennial candidate in council elections.[37] The top two vote-getters in the preliminary election advanced to the general election.

2021 Boston City Council District 7 election
Candidate Primary election[38] General election[39]
Votes % Votes %
Tania Fernandes Anderson 2,038 26.72 7,062 73.0
Roy Owens Sr. 1,300 17.05 2,562 26.5
Angelina Comacho 1,263 16.56  
Brandy Brooks 747 9.80  
Lorraine Wheeler 703 9.22  
Santiago Rivera 570 7.47  
Marisa Luse 552 7.24  
Joao DePina 410 5.38  
Write-ins 43 1.46 45 0.5
Total 7,626 100% 9,669 100

8th district

Councillor Kenzie Bok, who joined the council in 2020, filed to run for re-election.[19] She was unopposed.

Candidates General Election[40]
Votes %
Kenzie Bok 7,038 97.9
Write-in 151 2.1
Total 7,189 100

9th district

Councillor Liz Breadon, who joined the council in 2020, ran for reelection against Michael Bianchi and entrepreneur Eric Porter.[11] The top two vote-getters in the preliminary election advanced to the general election.

2021 Boston City Council District 9 election
Candidate Primary election[41] General election[42]
Votes % Votes %
Liz Breadon 5,075 71.7 7,304 71.4
Michael Bianchi 977 13.8 2,844 27.8
Eric Porter 774 10.9  
Write-ins 253 4.5 88 0.9
Total 7,079 100% 10,236 100

Campaign finance

Candidate Campaign committee
COH District
Frank Baker[43] $62,576.29 3rd
Kelly Bates[44] $61,737.76 At-large
Kenzie Bok[45] $44,227.40 8th
Lydia Edwards[46] $106,067.81 1st
Michael F. Flaherty[47] $252,075.21 At-large
Alexander Gray[48] $40,185.62 At-large
David Halbert[49] $63,828.57 At-large
Kendra Hicks[50] $76,456.51 6th
Julia Mejia[51] $101,899.46 At-large
Erin Murphy[52] $48,238.95 At-large
Ruthzee Louijeune[53] $129,825.33 At-large
Mary Tamer[54] $74,801.94 6th

Endorsements

At-large district

Flaherty endorsements

Organizations

Gray endorsements

State officials

Halbert endorsements

Federal officials

Local officials

  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[58]

Organizations

Louijeune endorsements

Federal officials

State officials

Local officials

Organizations

Mejia endorsements

Federal officials

Local officials

  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[58]

Organizations

Monteiro endorsements

Federal officials

Local officials

  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[58]

Organizations

Murphy endorsements

State officials

Spillane endorsements

Local officials

1st district

Edwards endorsements

Organizations

2nd district

Flynn endorsements

Organizations

4th district

Carvalho endorsements

Local officials

Organizations

  • UNITE HERE Local 26
  • Pipefitters Local 537
  • Plasterers’ & Cement Masons Local 534
  • Laborers Local 151
  • Laborers Local 223
  • IBEW Local 103
  • United Auto Workers Region 9A
  • North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • The Roofers and Waterproofers Local 33
  • The Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen Local 3
  • The Mass Retirees
Jibril endorsements

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Voters for Animals
  • Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus
Richards endorsements

Organizations

Williams endorsements

Organizations

  • Mass NOW PAC
Worrell endorsements

Local officials

  • Andrea Campbell, Boston City Councilor from the 4th district and 2021 Boston mayoral candidate[58]

5th district

Arroyo endorsements

Organizations

6th district

Kendra Hicks

Federal officials

Local officials

Organizations

Mary Tamer

Local officials

7th district

Anderson Fernandes endorsements

Organizations

Camacho endorsements

Local officials

  • Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins
  • State Representative Chynah Tyler

Organizations

  • Boston Teachers Union
  • North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
  • Greater Boston Labor Council
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 2222
  • Teamsters Union Local 25
  • The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union 1445
  • Mass Voters for Animals
  • Mass NOW
  • Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus

8th district

Bok endorsements

Organizations

9th district

Breadon endorsements

Organizations

Polling

At-large

General election

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[b] 		Margin
of error 		Michael
Flaherty 		Althea
Garrison 		David
Halbert 		Ruthzee
Louijeune 		Julia
Mejia 		Carla
Monteiro 		Erin
Murphy 		Bridget
Nee-Walsh 		Undecided
Emerson College[67] October 26–27, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.3% 45% 20% 37% 47% 48% 34% 39% 24% –
Suffolk University[68] October 15–17, 2021 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 30% 9% 16% 21% 29% 15% 18% 10% 35%
MassINC Polling Group[69] October 6–12, 2021 501 (LV) ± 4.9% 20% 8% 12% 16% 21% 13% 16% 11% 47%

Notes

  1. ^ Officially nonpartisan
  2. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. ^ "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". WBUR-FM. November 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston". The Boston Globe. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Biden chooses Boston Mayor Walsh as Labor secretary". Politico. January 7, 2021. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021.
  4. ^ "Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary, Resigns As Mayor Of Boston". WBZ-TV. March 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Kim Janey becomes Boston's acting mayor, makes history as first Black person, woman to hold the office". Boston.com. March 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  6. ^ "Boston City Council to mull moving Sept. 21 preliminary election up a week". The Boston Globe. April 19, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Boston Pushing Preliminary Election Up One Week To Sept. 14". WGBH (FM). April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "Janey signs ordinance moving preliminary election to Sept. 14". WHDH (TV). May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu Announces Run For Mayor". WBUR-FM. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Councilor Essaibi-George jumps into the mayoral fray". The Boston Globe. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "The Boston mayoral race's unintended consequence: a City Council shakeup". The Boston Globe. June 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Transgender Conservative Althea Garrison Will Run For Boston City Council At-Large Again This Year". New Boston Post. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Mattapan native Ruthzee Louijeune joins at-large council race". Dorchester Reporter. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "Garrison says she'll 'definitely be on the ballot' this year; The question is: which one?". Dorchester Reporter. January 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "2021-09-14 City Councilor At-Large" (PDF). Boston.gov. September 14, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021-11-02 City Councilor At-Large" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Councilor Edwards announces re-election campaign". East Boston Times-Free Press. February 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "City Councillor District 1" (PDF). boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Five of Six Mayoral Candidates Take Nomination Papers on Day 1: Early Poll Shows Half of Voters Undecided, Wu With Highest Favorability". Beacon Hill Times. April 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  20. ^ "City Councillor District 2" (PDF). boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "With 'everything up in the air,' says Councillor Baker, he has to run again". Dorchester Reporter. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  22. ^ "Jones Hill man, 31, to seek District 3 council seat". Dorchester Reporter. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Waller, John (November 2, 2021). "2021 Boston City Council election results". Boston.Com. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  24. ^ "Andrea Campbell announces campaign to be Boston mayor". Boston.com. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  25. ^ "City council race: Jacob Urena running for District 4". The Boston Scope. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "Longtime activist Leonard Lee plans run for District 4 council". Dorchester Reporter. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "Four new candidates join hopeful field in District 4". Dorchester Reporter. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  28. ^ Pereira, Rebeca (July 26, 2021). "Richards touts new labor, progressive endorsements in District 4 race". Dorchester Reporter.
  29. ^ "2021-11-02 City Councilor District 4" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
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  31. ^ a b c "Candidates lining up for district races". Bay State Banner. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  32. ^ "Kendra Hicks to Challenge O'Malley in Boston City Council Race". Jamaica Plain News. September 9, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  33. ^ "Boston City Councilor Matt O'Malley won't seek re-election next year". Boston.com. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  34. ^ "2021-09-14 City Councilor District 6" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "2021-11-02 City Councilor District 6" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
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  37. ^ "Candidates line up in race for District 7". Bay State Banner. April 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
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  39. ^ "2021-11-02 City Councilor District 7" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  40. ^ "City Councillor District 8" (PDF). boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  41. ^ "2021-09-14 City Councilor District 9" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  42. ^ "2021-11-02 City Councilor District 9" (PDF). Boston.gov. November 2, 2021.
  43. ^ "Frank Baker campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  44. ^ "Kelly Bates campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
  45. ^ "Kenzie Bok campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021.
  46. ^ "Lydia Edwards campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  47. ^ "Michael F. Flaherty campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  48. ^ "Alexander Gray campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  49. ^ "David Halbert campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  50. ^ "Kendra Hicks campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  51. ^ "Julia Mejia campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  52. ^ "Erin Murphy campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  53. ^ "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  54. ^ "Mary Tamer campaign finance". Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021.
  55. ^ a b "City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty Announces Significant Endorsements in His Bid for Re-Election". South Boston Today. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  56. ^ a b c d e "The Lit Drop: Wu talks housing in Dot, unions endorse candidates". Dorchester Reporter. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  57. ^ a b c d e DeCosta-Kilpa, Nik (September 27, 2021). "Ayanna Pressley announces Boston City Council endorsements". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  58. ^ a b c d e Woodard, Tiana (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council race this week: Latest poll mirrors prelims, Andrea Campbell unveils endorsements, flier sparks racism allegations - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  59. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Union of Essential Workers Announces Endorsements for Boston City Council". SEIU 32BJ. 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  60. ^ "Elizabeth Warren endorses at-large Boston City Council candidate Ruthzee Louijeune". The Boston Globe. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  61. ^ "Ruthzee Louijeune campaign endorsed by Sen. Sonia Chang-Díaz". Jamaica Plain Gazette. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  62. ^ a b "District 8 Councilor Bok Endorses Jon Spillane and Ruthzee Louijeune for At-Large City Council: Cite Affordable Housing Experience and Commitment as Crucial for Next Council – The Boston Sun". The Boston Sun. July 22, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  63. ^ a b c d e "2021 Endorsements". Sierra Club. June 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021.
  64. ^ "Hunt endorses Murphy's bid for city council at-large". Dorchester Reporter. June 29, 2021. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021.
  65. ^ "Endorsements". Boston Democratic Socialists of America. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  66. ^ Miller, Joshua Rhett (October 19, 2021). "Boston City Council candidate slammed over 'full-blown racist' campaign flyer". New York Post. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  67. ^ Emerson College
  68. ^ Suffolk University
  69. ^ MassINC Polling Group

Further reading
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