Michelle Wu is elected new Mayor of Boston

  In a historic election where two female candidates of color squared off for the first time for the Boston mayoral seat, Michelle Wu edged out Anissa Essaibi George during Tuesday’s election to become the first woman elected Mayor in Boston’s history.

The unofficial results citywide had Wu receiving 91,239 votes to Essaibi George’s 50,879 votes.

In Jamaica Plain’s Ward 11 and 19 Precincts, with some outstanding mail-in ballots still being tabulated, Wu received 9,458 to Essaibi George’s 1,770 votes. 

  “So one of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor in Boston,” Wu said of her historic win at Tuesday night’s victory party in the South End. “They have been and they will again someday, but not tonight. On this day, Boston elected your mom because from every corner of our city, Boston has spoken. We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone. We’re ready to be a Boston that doesn’t push people out, but welcomes all who call our city home. We’re ready to be a Boston where all can afford to stay and to thrive. And yes, Boston is ready to become a Green New Deal city.”

  Wu said her campaign was a continuation of Boston’s historic activism and community, and showed residents what’s possible when Bostonians push for what they deserve.

  “And what we deserve is a Boston where all of us are seen, heard, treasured, and valued — a Boston for everyone,” she said. “We’re ready for every child to go to a school connected to the full resources of our communities and their full potential, for every resident from the Forbes Building to Georgetown Homes to be protected from soaring rents and displacement; for a thriving Boston business community grounded in a thriving Black business community; for every Bostonian experiencing homelessness, mental health, substance use at Mass. Ave and Melnea Cass Boulevard and across our city and beyond to have dignity, treatment, and housing.

  She added, “We are ready for every Bostonian to know that we don’t have to choose between generational change and keeping the streetlights on; between tackling big problems with bold solutions and filling our potholes; to make change at scale and at street level. We need, we deserve, both. All of this is possible. …These things are possible. And today, the voters of Boston said all these things are possible, too. I want to be clear: It wasn’t my vision on the ballot. It was ours, together. Over 10 years in City Hall, and in every neighborhood, connecting with all of our residents I’ve seen and experienced just how big an impact local government makes in people’s lives. And I’ll never stop fighting to make our systems work for all of us.”

  Essaibi George congratulated Wu during her concession speech, saying “I want her to show the city how mothers get it done.” She also thanked all of her supporters and said “you know I love this city more than anything, and I know that you do too.” Referencing her bright pink campaign color, she told supporters to “find a way to keep painting this city pink.”

  In the District 6 Council race, Kendra Hicks beat Mary Tamer for Matt O’Malley’s seat. Hicks garnered 13,907 votes districtwide to Tamer’s 10,974.

  In Tuesday’s At-Large race, incumbent City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Julia Mejia retained their seats and will be joined on the council by newcomers Ruthzee Louijeune and Erin Murphy.

  Citywide, Flaherty topped the At-Large ticket with 62,242 votes followed by Mejia who received 61,709 votes. Louijeune finished third with 54,601 votes and Murphy rounded out the field with 42,841. 

 In Jamaica Plain, the unofficial results had Mejia topping the ticket with 7,275 votes. While some votes remain outstanding, a look at the unofficial numbers had Jamaica Plain voters supporting Louijeune with 6,730 votes, Dave Halbert with 5,591 votes and Carla Monteiro with 4,717 votes. However, Halbert and Monteiro did not make it into one of the top four spots citywide. 

  For the first ballot question relating to amending the city charter to provide the City Council with more power related to the city’s budget process, the proposal received 81,885 “yes” votes to adopt the amendment, and 39,657 people voting “no.”

  The second question asked whether or not an electrical substation should be built in East Boston “near homes, parks, playgrounds, jet fuel storage, and in a flood risk area…” for which 101,953 people voted “no,” and 19,787 people voted “yes.”

  The third and final question asked whether the school committee, which is currently appointed, should be changed to an elected committee, for which 99,088 people voted “yes,” and 26,847 people voted “no.”

With additional reporting by Lauren Bennett

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