2021 Boston Mayoral Election

Throughout the campaign, Wu—young a Progressive—argued for bold change in Boston, such as free public transit, rent control and climate change action. Moreover she attained the support of notable Massachusetts Progressives such as Ayanna Pressley and Ed Markey in her campaign.

By contrast, Esaibi-George—the candidate for Middle income moderate white voters in her native Dorchester, Roxbury, and South Boston—mostly campaigned her ability to do the day-to-day work of being Boston's mayor: focusing on the lives of Social workers, education, & Public safety while tying herself to Marty Walsh

In doing so, cataloguing Michelle Wu as an "abstract" and "Academic" Progressive who wouldn't work as well as her in the job, noting that Wu's plans for transportation and the environment were 'unrealistic,' unrelated to the day-to-day duties of mayor or straight up bad for the city.

Beyond the two second round candidates, the other two major candidates in the preliminary round—Cambell and Janey—lamented the fact that no African American candidate would end up facing Wu in the general. 

In this instance, per Campbell, acting mayor Janey received multiple arrows for dissatisfaction in the city, with Cambell likewise eating into her support among African American voters.

With that context, and with the Boston African American establishment endorsements mostly going to Janey, as well as her position as acting mayor, some voters saw this election as a potential watershead to Give Afro-Bostonians their first mayor—a moment not meant to be.