| | |  | BY LISA KASHINSKY | GLASS CEILING SHATTERED — Michelle Wu swept to victory in the Boston mayor’s race last night, ending two centuries of electing white men and ushering in a new era of progressive politics in the historically parochial and patriarchal Hub. The 36-year-old daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Wu will become the city’s first elected female mayor, its first elected mayor of color and its first Asian-American mayor when she takes office in just two weeks. Wu’s more than two-dozen-point victory adds credence to the Sen. Elizabeth Warren protégé's progressive vision for Boston as a city with a Green New Deal and a fare-free public transit system even as some of her aims face roadblocks on Beacon Hill and beyond. She triumphantly declared last night that Boston is “absolutely” a proving ground for progressive policies. “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,” Wu told her jubilant supporters. “We said these things are possible. And today, the voters of Boston said all these things are possible, too.” Wu’s win offers one of the clearest pictures yet of the changing political tides in Boston — particularly when juxtaposed with her rival, fellow City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. The daughter of Arab and Polish immigrants ran a more moderate campaign and won the city’s whiter, more conservative pockets. This year those neighborhoods weren't nearly enough to boost Essaibi George. “This race may technically be over, but the work is not done,” Essaibi George told her supporters. “I promise you I’m never going to stop fighting for the city that I love. I am never going to stop fighting for the people that I love.” GOOD WEDNESDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Wu’s victory was a predictable end to a somewhat unpredictable night in municipal races across the state. SPICER FALLS IN FRAMINGHAM — Yvonne Spicer , Framingham’s first mayor and the first popularly elected Black female mayor in Massachusetts, is out after just one term after losing by a wide margin to former city councilor Charlie Sisitsky. NOT-QUITE SOCIALIST SOMERVILLE — Democratic socialists eyeing a takeover of the Somerville City Council fell short of their goal. Boston Democratic Socialists of America-backed incumbents J.T. Scott and Ben Ewen-Campen, and newcomers Willie Burnley Jr. and Charlotte Kelly, all won. But Tessa Bridge, Becca Miller and Eve Seitchik did not. Progressive City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne defeated City Councilor Will Mbah, another progressive, to become the city’s first new mayor in nearly two decades. BAKER’S MIXED BAG — Gov. Charlie Baker went 0 for 2 last night, at least in mayor’s races where he cut videos for candidates. Baker-backed GOP state Rep. Jim Kelcourse lost his bid to unseat Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, per the Daily News of Newburyport. Baker's other video recipient, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, was unseated by former city councilor Greg Verga. Other mayoral candidates backed by the Baker-affiliated Massachusetts Majority PAC offered mixed results last night. Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan won reelection, for instance, while Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux defeated PAC-backed challenger Todd McGhee. TODAY — Baker is billed as the special guest at a fundraiser for state Rep. Donald Wong at 6 p.m. in Saugus. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and state and local officials make a MassWorks grant announcement at 9 a.m. in Medway. The Boston City Council meets at noon. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: lkashinsky@politico.com. | |
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|  | THE RACE FOR CITY HALL |
| – “Michelle Wu wins historic Boston mayor’s race, marking a new era for the city,” by Emma Platoff and Milton J. Valencia, Boston Globe: “[Michelle Wu’s] victory is a triumph of a new Boston over the establishment, a powerful endorsement of the often irreverent style she has brought to a staid city government. Courting a city attached to its traditions, she presented an unapologetic, novel agenda that has already needled many longtime leaders: free public transportation, an entirely new approach to downtown development, rent control, and a municipal-level Green New Deal.” – More from the Boston Herald’s Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan: “Because there is no sitting mayor, Wu will take office in just two weeks, on Nov. 16. … Wu’s been reticent about who’s on her transition team, besides naming the leader, local education activist Mariel Novas. She’s also declined to talk about who would be in her cabinet. She told reporters that those conversations would begin Wednesday and announcements would be on their way soon.” – “Progressives win big in Boston on an otherwise tough night for the left,” by Maya King and Lisa Kashinsky, POLITICO: “Michelle Wu cruised to victory in Boston’s mayoral election Tuesday night, bringing an end to two centuries of white male leadership in the city and delivering a major win for progressives in a year — and an election night — that otherwise brought sporadic triumphs and some big losses for the left.” – “In Michelle Wu’s win, Asian American political power,” by Stephanie Ebbert and Elizabeth Koh, Boston Globe: “Michelle Wu’s historic election as the next mayor of Boston not only writes a new chapter for the city’s history, but also turns a page for the country’s Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Though they represent the nation’s fastest-growing portion of the electorate, they remain significantly underrepresented in political office. Wu now enters a slim echelon of Asian American politicians who have won executive political office amid scant representation at the highest levels of government.” – “Here’s what Annissa Essaibi George said in her concession speech to Michelle Wu,” by Nik De-Costa Klipa, Boston.com: “‘Don’t ever forget I’m from Boston.’ That’s how Boston mayoral candidate Annissa Essaibi George kicked off her concession speech Tuesday night, with election results indicating that residents had delivered a commanding win to her City Council colleague and general election rival Michelle Wu.” – “Governor Charlie Baker, Senator Elizabeth Warren among Mass. officials congratulating Michelle Wu on historic win,” by Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe. Baker, who didn’t endorse in the mayor’s race, said his administration looks forward to working with Wu’s. – “Keller @ Large: Deep-Seated Problems Await New Boston Mayor Michelle Wu,” by Jon Keller, WBZ: “Wu’s winning coalition was clearly drawn to her branding as a big-thinker with sweeping plans … But as Annissa Essaibi George noted, her ability to deliver on those lofty promises will be severely constrained by Beacon Hill’s control over MBTA funding and rent control policy, and, now that the voters have approved a ballot question empowering greater city council control over the budget, by her former colleagues there.” – “New Boston City Council takes shape,” by Tiana Woodard, Danny McDonald and Katie Redefer: “several incumbents held their seats, while some newcomers were also successful, including Tania Fernandes Anderson, a Cape Verdean immigrant who will be the first Muslim to serve on the council in the city’s history. In the citywide race for the council’s four at-large spots, incumbents Michael Flaherty and Julia Mejia secured another term, and were the top two vote-getters in the field. Ruthzee Louijeune, a lawyer who represented Bostonians facing eviction and foreclosure and served as senior counsel on Elizabeth Warren’s presidential and US Senate campaigns, secured the third spot, according to the city’s unofficial count. Erin Murphy, a Boston Public Schools teacher, appeared to come in fourth… With 100 percent of precincts reporting, [Brian] Worrell had 61 percent of the vote to [Evandro] Carvalho’s 38 percent [in District 4]. Perhaps the most heated district race this year was in District 6, where first-time candidates Kendra Hicks and Mary Tamer battled to succeed incumbent Matt O’Malley, who announced his retirement last year. Hicks defeated Tamer Tuesday night 55 percent to 44 percent…” | | ON THE STUMP |
| – THE VICTORY SPEECH: “One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor in Boston. They have been, and they will again someday, but not tonight,” Wu declared to cheers. “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.” – THE CONCESSION SPEECH: “I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu,” Essaibi George said. “She is the first woman, the first person of color and as an Asian-American the first elected to be mayor of Boston. I know this is no small feat, you know this is no small feat. I want her to show the city how mothers get it done — and I’m going to teach her to say it the right way.” | | WHAT CITY HALL IS READING |
| – “Boston City Council Prepares For Post-Election Musical Chairs,” by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: “When Boston's new mayor is sworn in on Nov. 16, she will trigger a temporary political shuffle to hold spots until January, when the next crop of city councilors is sworn in. … The city charter dictates such vacancies are filled by referring back to the previous at-large election results and asking the defeated candidates to serve, beginning with the fifth-place finisher. In this case, that's none other than Alejandra St. Guillen — the candidate who, after a rare recount, lost to Councilor Julia Mejia by one vote. ‘I'm definitely very open to it,’ St. Guillen, 44, said of the temporary role. ” – “Boston voters overwhelming support elected school committee in ballot question results,” by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: “Boston voters showed overwhelming support for a non-binding ballot question that asks if the city should change its school committee from an appointed to an elected model.” – “Boston Election 2021: Voters support Question 1 on new City Council budget process,” by Alison Kuznitz, MassLive: “Boston elected officials are poised to wield a greater power of the purse — with voters on Tuesday supporting a binding ballot question that [would] overhaul the way city councilors and the mayor negotiate the budget process.” | | THE LOCAL ELECTIONS ROUNDUP |
| – THE FIRSTS: Boston isn’t the only city where mayoral candidates broke barriers. Jennifer Macksey will become North Adams’ first female mayor, per the Berkshire Eagle’s Greta Jochem. Joshua Garcia will become Holyoke’s first Latino mayor, per the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s Dusty Christensen. – “Incumbent mayors fall in Framingham, Gloucester, Westfield,” by Shira Schoenberg and Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: “Several incumbent mayors across Massachusetts – in Framingham, Gloucester, and Westfield – took a drubbing Tuesday night, losing their seats to challengers. Newcomers also scored victories in open mayoral contests in Lawrence, Lynn, Holyoke, Somerville, and North Adams.” – Other incumbents held on to their seats, including Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Haverhill Mayor Jim Fiorentini , Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle and Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty. – “Sciarra rolls to victory in Northampton mayor’s race,” by Brian Steele, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Gina-Louise Sciarra will serve as Northampton’s 45th mayor after beating Marc Warner by more than 3,300 votes. Voters in Tuesday’s city election chose Sciarra, the City Council president, to replace Mayor David Narkewicz, who did not seek reelection after 10 years in office and endorsed Sciarra as his successor.” – “DePena wins Lawrence mayoral race,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “Broadway businessman and former City Councilor Brian DePena became the city’s next mayor in Tuesday’s election. … DePena earned 6,093 votes to interim Mayor Kendrys Vasquez’s 5,358 votes. Vasquez earned the most votes in the city’s preliminary election in September followed by DePena.” – “Reardon wins mayor's race in Newburyport,” by Heather Alterisio, Newburyport Daily News: “In a major turnaround from the preliminary election, Sean Reardon won the race for mayor Tuesday with unofficial results showing him finishing 22 votes ahead of Charlie Tontar.” – “Belsito, Snow face off in 4th Essex race,” by Michael Cronin, Salem News: “Democrat Jamie Belsito of Topsfield and Republican Robert ‘Bob’ Snow of Rowley won their respective primaries for election to former state Rep. Brad Hill’s seat.” | | TODAY'S SPECIAL (ELECTION) |
| – FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Anthony D’Ambrosio will launch the first television ad of his campaign for the state Senate seat vacated by former state Sen. Joe Boncore. D’Ambrosio, a Revere School Committee member, says it’s “time for a new generation of outsiders to upend business as usual on Beacon Hill” in the 30-second spot, titled “ Unafraid,” which will air on cable and through various social media outlets with a mid-five-figure buy, per his campaign. D’Ambrosio is running against Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards in the special Senate election. Edwards won reelection to the City Council last night. | | FEELING '22 |
| – “First responders picket state vaccine mandate outside Charlie Baker fundraiser,” by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: “First responders clad with signs and yelling chants denouncing a vaccine mandate for state and city workers formed a picket line outside of a swanky Back Bay restaurant where Gov. Charlie Baker and supporters held a fundraiser inside.” | | THE LATEST NUMBERS |
| – “Reports of breakthrough COVID cases in Massachusetts rose slightly last week as overall cases declined,” by Noah R. Bombard, MassLive: “Massachusetts reported 1,066 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, the lowest report of new cases since Aug. 5. … The number of COVID cases among fully vaccinated individuals ticked up this week with 3,192 breakthrough cases in the seven-day period ending Oct. 30. That represents about 39% of newly reported cases during the same seven-day period — up slightly from 36% last week.” | | FROM THE HUB |
| – “Man Arrested At Mass And Cass Denied Treatment, Sent To Worcester Jail With Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak,” by Tori Bedford, GBH News: “A man arrested during a clearing of the homeless encampment at the Mass and Cass corridor in Boston was denied medical treatment for substance use disorder and instead was detained overnight in a correctional facility in Worcester that has an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.” | | MAPMAKER, MAPMAKER |
| – “New congressional maps split communities, reunite others,” by Christian M. Wade, CNHI/Eagle-Tribune: “For more than a decade Andover has been divided between two congressional districts, which has created confusion for voters and political candidates in the town and logistical challenges for local election officials. But that would change under proposed congressional maps rolled out by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Redistricting on Monday, which would unite the town under the 6th Congressional District now represented by Seth Moulton.” | | WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING |
| – “Supreme Judicial Court begins search for next chief justice of trial court,” by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: “The Supreme Judicial Court has begun its search for a new chief justice of the trial court to replace Chief Justice Paula Carey, who is retiring in January.” – “Massachusetts has started tracking toxicology kits with rape kits; total of 1,189 rape kits administered to survivors in fiscal 2021, report says,” by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: “Massachusetts in fiscal 2021 became the first state in the U.S. to include the tracking of toxicology kits within its sexual assault evidence kit tracking system, according to a newly released report. A total of 1,189 sexual assault evidence kits, also known as rape kits, were administered to survivors and entered into the Track-Kit tracking system in fiscal 2021. Of those kits, 194 were administered to individuals 15 and younger, according to an annual summary report released by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.” | | MEANWHILE IN MAINE |
| – “Maine voters reject transmission line that would bring clean energy to Mass.,” by Sabrina Shankman, Boston Globe: “In what appears to be a stunning setback to Massachusetts’ climate goals, Maine voters on Tuesday rejected a referendum on a transmission line that would bring hydroelectric energy from Canada to the Bay State.” SPOTTED – Gov. Charlie Baker among the pols at Santarpio's for the traditional Election Day lunch. Tweet. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former Gov. Mike Dukakis, current gubernatorial hopeful Danielle Allen, who is 50; Martine David, Medford City Councilor Zac Bears, Insider’s Jake Lahut, Barbara Zheutlin, Rowan Morris, managing director at Guggenheim Partners and David Case. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | |
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