Wu allies set to sweep at-large council race
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All four of Boston's incumbent at-large city councilors are on track to hold their seats after yesterday's election, leaving a friendly council intact for the start of Mayor Michelle Wu's second term.
Why it matters: Wu, who was uncontested, will likely have another cooperative council majority that should back her agenda on housing, climate and education over the next four years.
Current Council President Ruthzee Louijeune led the field of eight at-large candidates according to early results.
- Julia Mejia, sometimes a Wu critic, seemed to have the votes to secure her fourth term.
- Erin Murphy, who wants to continue as a check on Wu, also had enough votes to keep her seat, coming in third according to the early results.
- Henry Santana, a former Wu staffer and one of her closest council allies, survived a competitive challenge for fourth place.
State of play: Frank Baker, the former Dorchester councilor who positioned himself as an independent voice, finished fifth, according to Mayor Wu, and will not return to City Hall.
Of note: Pastor and attorney Miniard Culpepper appears to have won the open District 7 seat in Roxbury, defeating track coach Said Ahmed in the race to replace convicted former Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson.
- Culpepper's high-profile endorsements from Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey helped boost his campaign.
- He'll face immediate pressure to restore trust after Anderson's corruption scandal.
What's next: Wu's second term starts in January, when the panel will select a new council president to shepherd legislation through the body.
- Expect housing affordability, the Mass. and Cass drug crisis and federal funding cuts to be at the top of the to-do list.
The bottom line: Wu's active campaigning for allies paid off, but Murphy's strong showing signals an appetite for some moderate voices to challenge the mayor.