Councilor Pressley: 'Girls rock and women can rule'

The four incumbent candidates for Boston's at-large city council seats all won their re-election bids Tuesday, with former city council member Michael Flaherty trailing closely behind Stephen Murphy, according to the unofficial results posted on the city's web site. 

Ayanna Pressley, the lone woman on the council, won the most votes, with 21.42 percent. She was followed by Felix Arroyo with 20.26 percent, John Connolly with 18.74 percent and Murphy with 15.26 percent. Flaherty received 14.73 percent. 

By 10:30 p.m., the city was reporting 100 percent of the results from Boston's 254 voting precincts. To see the tally, check the city's election web site. 

District races

In District 3, which represents Dorchester, Frank Baker bested John O'Toole, reportedly by 1,100 votes. Baker will replace Maureen Feeney, the district councilor (and one of two women on the current council) who opted to not seek re-election.  

It was also a close-call in the District 2 race. Suzanne Lee collected 4,978 but incumbent Bill Linehan pulled ahead (barely) with 5,065 votes. 

In District 7, incumbent Tito Jackson is holding a strong lead over challenger Sheneal Parker, with about 80 percent of the vote so far. The district largely covers Roxbury.

And in District 4, incumbent Charles Yancey has what seems like an insurmountable lead over challenger J.R. Rucker. 

Councilors in the remaining six district races ran unopposed. 

Victory parties

At-Large incumbent Ayanna Pressley greeted a crowd of supporters Tuesday night at Tavolo in Dorchester, including Gov. Deval Patrick and his wife. Many pundits had predicted she would was vulnerable in this year's election, but Pressley collected the highest number of votes around the city. 

"We had 500 boots on the streets today," she said. "I am so humbled. I can't believe what we have accomplished. The whole city was represented on that sidewalk."

Pressley said her win was an important one for maintaining diversity on the council. She is the lone woman serving now. "Girls rock and women can rule," she told the crowd Tuesday night.