Wu, Essaibi George win historic Boston mayoral preliminary

campaign+signs+boston+election+2021+September+15

Alyssa Fell

City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George came out victorious in Boston’s preliminary mayoral election.

The votes are in, and City Councilors Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George are the winners of Tuesday’s preliminary election to determine who will vie to become Boston’s next mayor come November.

After a delayed vote tally, Wu and Essaibi George claimed victory late Tuesday night, with Wu well ahead, securing 33.4% of the vote to Essaibi George’s 22.5% as of 12 p.m. Wednesday, with 100% of precincts reporting. 

City Councilor Andrea Campbell and Acting Mayor Kim Janey conceded late Tuesday night.  

“It’s not the result we wanted, it’s not the result we expected, but we have something to be extremely proud of,” Campbell said in her concession speech. “I believe fiercely that we are victorious tonight, and I’ll tell you why: We kept this campaign about the issues that matter most to Bostonians, providing action and solutions that will make our city more affordable, safer, more equitable and just, and where opportunity exists for every single resident of the city of Boston.” 

Janey did not give a concession speech but instead released a statement. 

“While we are still waiting on some results, it appears that we have come up short in the election,” she said in the statement. Janey congratulated Wu and Essaibi George on their victories and promised to assist in the transition. 

“ I am also committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the next Mayor, so that SHE will be able to hit the ground running,” Janey said in the statement.

The city’s former Chief of Economic Development John Barros pulled in well behind the four female candidates, with 3% of the vote as of Wednesday, compared to Campbell’s 19.7% and Janey’s 19.5%. 

With preliminary victories behind them, Wu and Essaibi George will go head to head on Election Day set for Nov. 2, and the city will have a chance to chose its first elected non-white, non-male mayor.

Things are already heating up between the two candidates, considered to be the most ideologically opposite out of all those who ran in the preliminary. In her victory speech, Essaibi George made a point of highlighting the distinctions between Wu and herself. 

“Let me be very clear about this:The mayor of Boston cannot make the T free. The mayor of Boston cannot mandate rent control,” said Essaibi George, taking a shot at two policies Wu’s campaign has advocated for.