Michelle Wu Announces Candidacy For Boston Mayor

BOSTON — City Councilor Michelle Wu will run for mayor of Boston, confirming what has long been rumored for months and even leaked this month — by the incumbent.

Wu, the daughter of immigrants, announced her intentions in a video released in three languages: English, Mandarin and Spanish.

"We’re in an unprecedented time as Boston faces a pandemic, an economic crisis, and a national reckoning on systemic racism," Wu said. "To meet this moment, we need leadership that matches the scale and urgency of our challenges."

Wu said Boston needs a shake up from how business has been done since Walsh was elected in 2013. The city has never had a female or nonwhite mayor.

"Business as usual has been failing Bostonians since well before the pandemic, and COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities across our city," Wu said. "In this moment of crisis, it’s not only possible but necessary to reimagine community-based leadership with the vision and conviction to act."

"We can build wealth in all our communities, value public education, plan for our neighborhoods, invest in housing we can afford and transportation that serves everyone, truly fund public health for safety and healing, and deliver on a city Green New Deal for clean air and water, healthy homes, and the brightest future for our children."