Boston elections 2023

With field set for November elections, familiar political battle lines take shape

Several general election matchups feature a candidate claiming the progressive lane, in many cases linked with Mayor Michelle Wu, versus an opponent seen as more moderate, some of whom have won the support of former mayor Martin J. Walsh.

In historic rebuke, embattled incumbent Councilors Ricardo Arroyo and Kendra Lara lose reelection bids
Arroyo and Lara, two of the most influential and outspoken progressive voices on the City Council, became the first incumbent councilors in at least four decades to be eliminated in the first round of voting.

What to watch for in Tuesday’s Boston City Council’s preliminary elections
Residents headed to the polls Tuesday in the first round of voting this fall for Boston City Council, with two dramatic reelection contests drawing unusual attention to the off-year municipal race.

The basics

Boston city council prelim district 5 result

See the unofficial results from the Boston City Council preliminary elections

These unofficial results from the city of Boston show how Bostonians voted.

Nov. 7: General election day

District 5 Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo and District 6 Councilor Kendra Lara both were voted down in the preliminary election.

YVONNE ABRAHAM

In Boston, incumbency loses some of its power

On Tuesday night, two incumbent city councilors — both beset by controversy — were knocked out of their races in the preliminary election, each of them bested by two challengers, who will now face each other in November.

Embattled Boston City Council incumbents Arroyo and Lara seek reelection Tuesday

Here is everything you need to know to vote in this year’s municipal elections in Boston.

Boston City Council preliminary election day is today. Here’s what to know before you vote.

City Councilor Kendra Lara landed a key endorsement Saturday, as members of the Jamaica Plain Progressives voted to support her in Tuesday’s election, despite a June car crash that revealed the councilor had not held a valid driver’s license for a decade.

JP Progressives endorse Kendra Lara for re-election in District 6

City Councilor Kendra Lara presented findings Thursday that she was not speeding and only driving 27 miles per hour during her June 30 crash, in which she crashed into a home in Jamaica Plain.

Kendra Lara releases report saying she was driving the speed limit at time of crash

Clockwise from top left: Boston City Council District 3 candidates John FitzGerald, Jennifer Johnson, Barry Lawton, Matthew Patton, Rosalind Wornum, Ann Walsh, and Joel Richards.

In Dorchester, these seven hopefuls are vying to take Councilor Frank Baker’s place in District 3

64d54331d1f04059f4bd866910district7 - District 7 Composite.

Meet the candidates in Roxbury’s District 7 Boston City Council race

The City Council in May approved a new council district map with changes to some district boundaries.

Use the city’s My Neighborhood locator to identify your district and current councilor.

More Boston elections headlines

Enrique Pepén is a candidate for District 5 of the City Council.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu endorses Enrique Pepén for City Council, snubbing Ricardo Arroyo

Her choice to back Pepén is a blow to the incumbent councilor, a onetime Wu ally.

Clockwise from top left: City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo and challengers Enrique Pepén, Jean-Claude Sanon, and Jose Ruiz.

In Boston’s District 5, controversy swirls around the incumbent, as three challengers vie for the City Council seat

The dynamic in the race for Boston City Council District 5 is simple: Ricardo Arroyo, a progressive incumbent hounded by controversy over the last year, is battling for a third term against three challengers attempting to unseat him.

From left, District 6 candidates Ben Weber, William King, and Kendra Lara.

Embattled Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara faces two challengers in reelection bid

Kendra Lara is competing with IT director William King and labor attorney Benjamin Weber in the Sept. 12 preliminary election for District 6.

Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank multiple candidates on a ballot instead of selecting just one.

A new ranked-choice voting coalition just launched. This time, it’s targeting the Boston City Council.

The Ranked Choice Boston coalition proposes using ranked-choice voting in both the general and preliminary elections.

Boston city councilors gathered for a noon meeting.

‘It’s a clown show’: Boston city councilors make reelection push after chaotic term

After a chaotic term, the Boston City Council is on the ballot this fall, with a slate of races that are as much about competence and cooperation as they are about ideology.

City Councilor Kendra Lara attended a residency hearing in Boston Municipal Court in Boston.

Election authorities rule in Boston Councilor Kendra Lara’s favor in residency case

Objectors who challenged that Lara lives in her council district failed to meet the burden of proof showing that she lived outside her constituency, Boston election authorities found Tuesday.

EDITORIAL

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo listened to colleague Frank Baker last year. During this council term, a number of meetings have devolved into squabbles and several councilors, including Arroyo, have been accused of ethical lapses.

Boston’s City Council is rich in embarrassments. It doesn’t need to be.

If you liked the bad old days of Boston politics, then maybe this crop of city councilors is for you. If not, the election season is a great time to tell them: knock it off.

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara left West Roxbury District Court after her arraignment following her recent car accident.

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara is facing criminal charges. Will it cost her an election?

As she runs for a second term, receiving the same backing from two years ago is an open question.

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