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Before Josh Kraft signed up for the Boston mayor’s race, he was known for being a nice guy doing spadework in the city’s nonprofit sector, and at his family’s New England Patriots Foundation. Seven months later, insiders still regard him as a nice guy, but one who isn’t built for a bare-knuckle mayoral campaign, even if his bank account is.
That became more apparent in the initial electoral results from Tuesday night, when Kraft punched his ticket to the November election, but still lost to Mayor Michelle Wu by 49 points as voters winnowed the field of candidates to two from four. “Let me be clear: we are still in this race,” Kraft told supporters inside the ironworkers union hall in South Boston. “I believe in life there’s always a path, it’s just hard work and sweat equity,” he said, speaking to reporters immediately after.
He’s been learning on the job. One Kraft story has already entered Boston political lore: When asked during a June mayoral forum which ward he lives in, he sheepishly admitted he didn’t know. Wu, who was seated next to him, held up three fingers, informing him it was Ward 3.
That’s also where Wu happened to be hours before Tuesday’s polls closed, delivering pizzas to North End election workers and fielding questions from reporters asking about her response to the latest volley from the Trump administration on immigration. Behind her were top allies who represent the area in the Legislature: Sen. Lydia Edwards and Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, who each took turns holding the mayor’s baby, Mira. (Michlewitz is also her godfather.)
Even the North End’s storied cannoli shops had taken sides: Modern Pastry had Kraft signs in its windows, while Wu recently filmed a campaign stop at Mike’s Pastry, located across the street. (Preliminary results showed Wu winning the neighborhood on Tuesday, including the precinct Kraft lives in.)
Several blocks away, at an unrelated event at the UMass Club, a former incumbent declined to say who got his vote but acknowledged the difficulty of ousting a reigning mayor. Marty Walsh, who also served in the Biden administration, had a close relationship with the Krafts when he was in City Hall, while he and Wu have continued the historical tradition of mayors and their predecessors taking a dislike to each other.
Walsh defended Kraft and his run for mayor, and recalled when City Councilor Tito Jackson ran against him in 2017. “That was important because it forced the administration to reevaluate what we're doing, see what's working, what's not working, [and] allow us the opportunity, after a new election, to reset,” Walsh told MASSterList.
He argued the son of billionaire Robert Kraft had been unfairly mischaracterized. “He's his own person,” Walsh said. “And I think hopefully in the next six weeks, they can stick to the issues.”
“I don’t see why he’d get out” of the race after losing the preliminary by double digits, Walsh continued, saying he closed his own gap when he first ran for mayor in 2013.
Asked whether he believes the general election will be more competitive than the prelim, Walsh said, “I hope, I hope. It’s good for Boston.”
What stood out to you about the election results? Drop me a line: [email protected]
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MassDOT is rushing a secretive 35-year lease with Applegreen, despite inflated numbers, weak financials, and better alternatives. KPMG flagged serious flaws, yet the deal moves forward. Public oversight is missing, and $900M in rent is at risk. Legislators must act now. Before signing away public assets for decades, the MassDOT Board must pause and review. Learn more.
HAPPENING TODAY
9:00: Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng celebrate the renaming of the Lynn ferry. | 379 Blossom St., Lynn
10:00 | Transportation for Massachusetts, Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Todd Smola, and Sen. Julian Cyr hold a briefing on micro-transit. Jennifer Smith of Commonwealth Beacon will moderate a panel discussion about the challenges and successes of micro-transit in different areas of the state. | Room 428, State House, Boston
11:30 | Harpoon Brewery co-founder Dan Kenary and Polar Beverages CEO Ralph Crowley have a “ballpark chat” about brand building, navigating shifting consumer trends and leadership at the annual New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association Expo. | Polar Park, Worcester
12:00 | M&T Bank CEO René Jones is the featured speaker at the Boston College Chief Executives Club luncheon, which will include a chat with Eastern Bank Executive Chair Robert Rivers. | Georgian Room, Hilton Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza, Boston
2:00 | Gov. Maura Healey visits UMass Memorial Medical Center and hosts a press conference to highlight her DRIVE Initiative. She is joined by new Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Dr. Eric Dickson and UMass Chancellor Michael Collins. | UMass Memorial Medical Center Ambulatory Care Center, 55 N Lake Ave., Meditation Room, 6th Floor
REMAINS OF THE PRELIM
COUNCIL INCUMBENTS: The four incumbents who hold the Boston City Council’s at-large slots fared well in the September preliminary, with Ruthzee Louijeune, a former Elizabeth Warren aide, topping the ticket. Henry Santana won fourth place, with former councilor Frank Baker close behind him and coming in fifth. A total of eight candidates will be on the November ballot. – Boston.com
REST OF THE STATE: Preliminary elections weren’t held just in Boston. Voters went to the polls in Springfield, Haverhill and Lowell. Springfield had three races that cut down the number of candidates to two each. – MassLive and Western Mass. Politics & Insight
Boston is at an economic crossroads. The vitality of its downtown business district, drained by the COVID-19 epidemic, continues to slowly rebound but has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Commercial property values have declined, creating the potential for major budget challenges for the most property-tax dependent big city in America. With Boston’s financial underpinnings at risk, what is the strategy and vision for Boston’s future, particularly for its major business districts? Join business and community leaders to explore challenges and opportunities ahead. Register here!
NEWS NEXT DOOR
HOME PRICES: Massachusetts home prices continue their ascent, with one in seven municipalities now having a median exceeding $1 million. – Boston Business Journal
TUFTS TUITION: Tufts University is waiving the cost of full tuition for U.S. undergraduates from households making less than $150,000, the school announced. – WBUR
IN DEFENSE OF THE SEAPORT: Columnist Scott Kirsner rises to defend Boston’s Seaport neighborhood, saying it’s time to “stop dissing” the area after toymaker Hasbro says it’s moving 700 jobs there. – MassLive
GUN PERMIT SUIT: New Hampshire is leading a 25-state challenge to a ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that required nonresident gun owners visiting the Bay State to get a temporary firearm permit. – Eagle-Tribune
ENVIRO REGS: Environmental review time for housing projects would be cut to 30 days from one year, under proposed regulations from the Healey administration. – Boston Herald
IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN: Liam Skinner, the superintendent of Lowell Public Schools, said the community is bracing for increased numbers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the area. – GBH News
CAMPING BAN: The Pittsfield City Council sent its proposed public camping ban to the city’s board of health for a review. – Berkshire Eagle
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Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and Zoning, City of Somerville
General Counsel, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General
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