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13 seats on theBoston City Council 7 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||
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 Composition of theBoston City Council by political party[a] | ||||||||||
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The2021 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.
CouncillorsAndrea Campbell,Annissa Essaibi George,Kim Janey, andMichelle Wu ran in themayoral election, whileMatt O'Malley did not seek re-election. CouncillorsRicardo Arroyo,Frank Baker,Kenzie Bok,Liz Breadon,Lydia Edwards,Michael F. Flaherty,Ed Flynn, andJulia 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).
Marty Walsh was elected to themayoralty ofBoston,Massachusetts, in the2013 and2017 elections.[1][2] On January 7, 2021,President-electJoe Biden announced that he would select Walsh to serve as theUnited 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 byKim Janey, who also served as president of theBoston City Council.[4][5]
The city council voted to move the primary election date from September 21 to September 14, in order to allowmail-in voting ballots for the general election an additional week of distribution time, which was approved by Mayor Janey.[6][7][8]
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.
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| District | Name | Entered office | Ran | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-large | Annissa Essaibi George | January 2016 | No | Defeated in mayoral election |
| Michael F. Flaherty | January 2014 | Yes | Re-elected | |
| Julia Mejia | January 2020 | Yes | Re-elected | |
| Michelle Wu | January 2014 | No | Electedmayor 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 |
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 themayoral 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 councillorsMichael F. Flaherty, who joined the city council in 2014, andJulia Mejia, who won election to the city council by one vote in the2019 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 SenatorElizabeth Warren's presidential and senatorial campaigns;Erin Murphy, a former teacher in theBoston Public Schools; Alex Gray, a policy analyst; and Nick Vance, a political action co-chair of theNAACP 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 |
CouncillorLydia Edwards, who was first elected to the city council in2017, 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 |
CouncillorEd 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 |
CouncillorFrank Baker, who was first elected in 2011, announced that he would run for reelection after initially wanting to leave politics, but theCOVID-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 |
CouncillorAndrea 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 theMassachusetts 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 byAyanna Pressley's campaign for a seat in theUnited 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 |
CouncillorRicardo 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 |
Kendra Hicks, an activist, announced in September 2020 that she would run against councilorMatt 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 |
CouncillorKim 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 includedTania Fernandes Anderson, director of a non-profit organization, andRoy Owens Sr., aperennial 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 |
CouncillorKenzie 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 |
CouncillorLiz 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 |
| 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 |
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| 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% |
