Kraft‘s Campaign Suspension Paves Way for Wu’s Expected Second โฃTerm as Boston Mayor
BOSTON – Josh Kraft’s decision to suspend his โcampaign for boston mayor significantly increasesโค teh likelihood of Mayor Michelle Wu securing a second term โคin the November election,though voters are hoping โคtheโฃ remaining campaign โperiod will focus on key local โissues.
Kraft, son of Newโค Englandโ patriots owner Robert Kraft, announced โขhis decision during an exclusive interview with NewsCenter 5’s Maria Stephanos onโ Thursday, just days after a decisive loss in the September 9th preliminary election. The โBoston Election Department confirmed Kraft’s formal withdrawal of his nomination on Friday.
Despite โKraft’s considerable โฃinvestment – spending $8 millionโ over eight months – he lost the preliminary election by 49%. Political analyst Virginia Buckingham noted Kraft became an easyโค target due to perceivedโฃ connections to the Trump campaign and hisโ father’s public profile, allowing Mayor Wu to effectively position him as a political opponent.
“He didn’t make a case for why we should get rid of Mayor Wu. I think she’s doing as good a job โขas can be expected,” said resident Jacob Beizer.
According to โthe Election โฃDepartment,โฃ any candidate hopingโค to move from third place to the general election ballot would have needed to secure at leastโ 3,000 votes in theโค preliminary election. Community activist Domingos DaRosa received 2,409 votes, โฃfalling short of this requirement.
Kraft intends to redirect $3 million ofโข his campaign funds to organizations addressing the challenges in the Mass and โฃCass area.
Looking ahead to a potential second term for Wu, residents are voicing their priorities. In Charlestown, there are calls for improvements to local parks. โฃ”The parks,especially the parks over there,really need some help,” Beizer stated.
Meanwhile, voters โin Roslindale, Mayor Wu’s neighborhood, are advocating for increased housing โadvancement to address rising costs. โคDrew Love argued, “the more we build, the more theseโ prices canโ come down โฃor โat least become more realisticโ and more affordable forโ working people.”
Political analyst maryโข Ann Marsh commentedโ that โคKraft’s decision to suspend his โฃcampaign allowsโ him โto conclude his bidโ on a moreโข positive note, given the significant financial investment and substantial loss in the preliminary election.
