The 2025 Boston mayoral race is shaping up as one that is going to draw national attention.
Incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu has already been in the national spotlight of late following her testimony before Congress earlier this year about Boston’s status as a sanctuary city. And one of her opponents, Josh Kraft, is well known for his efforts in the community and as the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
But they’re just two of the four candidates who will be facing off in September’s preliminary election to see who will get the two spots on the ballot in November’s municipal election. Community organizer Domingos DaRosa and former Boston police officer Robert Cappucci have also thrown their hats in the ring.
Here’s a closer look at everything you need to know about the candidates and key issues before you vote:
Key dates
Aug. 30 — Voter registration deadline for preliminary election
Aug. 30, 31, Sept. 1-5 — Early voting (sites and times to be determined)
Sept. 9 — Preliminary election (polls open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Oct. 25 — Voter registration deadline for municipal election
Oct. 25-31 — Early voting (sites and times to be determined)
Nov. 4 — Municipal election (polls open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.)
Here’s information on how to register to vote, how to find your polling location, and how to vote by absentee ballot.
The candidates
Getty Images
Getty Images
Michelle Wu, incumbent, former City Councilor: The former Boston City Councilor was elected mayor in 2021, becoming the first woman and the first person of color to be elected to the position. She rose to national prominence this year when she was called to testify before Congress about Boston’s “sanctuary city” status, receiving praise from many on the left for the way she stood up to leading Republican lawmakers.
Josh Kraft, president of the New England Patriots foundation: The son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft is the head of Kraft Family Philanthropies and previously worked for 12 years as CEO of the Boys & Girls Club in Boston. He currently serves as board chairman of the Eastern Massachusetts chapter of the National Urban League.
Domingos DaRosa, community organizer: The community activist ran unsuccessfully for Boston City Council in 2017, 2019 and 2021. He has served as a Pop Warner president and football coach for three decades. He has been outspoken on the issues of drugs and homelessness in the city.
Robert Cappucci, former Boston police officer and businessman: The Navy veteran has run for office 13 times over the last half century, including Congress, state representative, mayor, city councilor ans school committee. He has worked as a substitute teacher and a Boston police officer and is today retired.
Polling
The up-to-date Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll, released on July 21, shows Wu leading Kraft by a 60% to 30% margin. Wu leads across age groups and racial demographics and among Democrats, while Kraft leads with Republicans and independents.
DaRosa and Capucci received 3% and 1% support, respectively, in the recent poll.
Another 7% of likely voters remain undecided.
Fundraising
Wu and Kraft have both raised over $1 million in donations, according to The Boston Globe, with Kraft also putting $2 million of his own money into his campaign.
Through June’s filings, the Globe said Kraft had raised $3.2 million, including his $2 million contribution, and Wu $1.3 million. Kraft had received money from 1,900 donors, and Wu over 11,000.
The Globe is also tracking where those donations came from, by geographic location, and how much money has come from Political Action Committees. The Globe is not keeping track of donations to the other two candidates.
The issues
Housing: Recent polling has shown that housing is the best issue among voters in this year’s mayoral race as rents and home prices continue to skyrocket. Both Wu and Kraft agree that housing is too expensive, and Wu has touted the housing she has added during her administration. But Kraft said new housing isn’t being built quickly enough to address what he calls a “housing emergency.”
Schools: Kraft has attacked Wu on the quality of Boston Public Schools, and released his own plan calling for the addition of more exam schools and a partially-elected School Committee and a switch from one to two superintendents.
Public safety: The intersection of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue, or “Mass and Cass,” has become a major sticking point in the mayoral election. Kraft has slammed Wu’s handling of the situation and said he would establish a campus to provide addiction recovery, mental health services and housing support.
Rats and sanitation: Bostonians have complained that rats are running wild in the city, leading city councilors to come up with a plan to address the issue through a “rodent action plan.” Wu has ordered departments to join forces to come up with ways to make it harder for rats to find homes in Boston, and some have even discussed hiring a “rat czar” to help discount with the issue.
Tax returns: Wu has sought to paint Kraft as a wealthy outsider, publicly calling on him to release his tax returns. While he did recently release a two-page summary, he has declined to release the full documents. Kraft reportedly earned $6.3 million in 2024.
White Stadium: Possibly one of the most hotly-contested issues of the campaign has been Wu and Kraft’s war of words over the plan to turn White Stadium into the home for the city’s new professional women’s soccer team, Boston Legacy FC. Kraft has said the cost of the project has skyrocketed, though Wu has denied that claim.
Bike and bus lanes: Kraft has attempted to make Wu’s push for bike lanes an issue in the campaign, but it hasn’t gained too much traction with voters. Kraft released a transportation plan in July that included plans to pause new bike lane construction and audit existing bike lanes.
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