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Mayors

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Faces Off Against Trump's Attacks in Local Election

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, the first woman and person of color elected to lead the city, is facing a challenge from Josh Kraft, a fellow Democrat and the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. However, Wu's biggest opponent may be President Donald Trump, who has been cracking down on Democratic cities. Wu has led the race by a wide margin, with an Emerson College survey published on September 5 finding the incumbent ahead of Kraft by more than 50 points. As the election approaches, Wu's pushback against Trump's scrutiny of the city has driven much of her momentum with voters.

Key Takeaways:

  • Michelle Wu, the incumbent Boston mayor, is facing a challenge from Josh Kraft, a fellow Democrat, but her biggest opponent may be President Donald Trump, who has been cracking down on Democratic cities.
  • Wu has led the race by a wide margin, with an Emerson College survey published on September 5 finding the incumbent ahead of Kraft by more than 50 points.
  • Wu's pushback against Trump's scrutiny of the city has driven much of her momentum with voters, with a 30% uptick in people who planned to vote for her between February and September polls.
  • Wu focused on local issues, including improving housing affordability, but her support has been driven by her defense of Boston's sanctuary city policy and her pushback against Trump's administration.
  • Josh Kraft, the challenger, positioned himself as a business-friendly candidate, focusing on local issues such as opposing bike lanes and renovating White Stadium, but his campaign has been overshadowed by Wu's defense of the city against Trump's attacks.
  • Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, stated that Kraft would need a "tremendous performance" in the primary to turn the tide of the race.

Statistics:

  • Wu has a 50+ point lead over Kraft in the most recent Emerson College survey.
  • 30% of voters planned to vote for Wu between February and September polls.
  • Trump's administration has been scrutinizing Democratic cities, including Boston, since Wu's election in 2021.
  • The city's sanctuary city policy has been a key issue in Wu's campaign, with Wu defending it against Trump's administration.
  • The lawsuit against Wu and the city by the Department of Justice follows similar cases against New York City, cities in New Jersey, and Los Angeles.

Sources:

  • Emily Murphy, "Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to face challenge from Josh Kraft in mayor's race," USA TODAY, September 4, 2024
  • Spencer Kimball, interview with USA TODAY, September 5, 2024
  • Emerson College Polling, "Boston Mayoral Election Poll," September 5, 2024
  • Mary Anne Marsh, interview with USA TODAY, September 5, 2024

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