2023 Boston City Council election explained

Election Name:2023 Boston City Council election
Flag Image:Flag of Boston.svg
Type:legislative
Ongoing:yes
Previous Election:2021 Boston City Council election
Previous Year:2021
Next Election:2023 Boston City Council election
Next Year:2025
Seats For Election:13 seats on the Boston City Council
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Last Election1:13
Map Size:250px
City Council President
Before Election:Ed Flynn
Before Party:Nonpartisan politician

The 2023 Boston City Council election was held on November 7, 2023, with primaries occurring on September 12, 2023. All thirteen councillors from the nine districts and four councillors at-large were up for election. Elections in Boston are officially nonpartisan.

Two councillors, Michael F. Flaherty and Frank Baker, did not seek re-election. Of the 11 members of the council seeking re-election, nine were successful,[1] while Ricardo Arroyo (District 5) and Kendra Lara (District 6) were defeated.[2] [3]

Election schedule

Key dates relating to the election were as follows:

September 2
Last day for registration for primary election
September 5Last day to request mail ballot for primary election
September 12Preliminary election
October 28Last day for registration for general election
October 31Last day to request mail ballot for general election
November 7General election
[4] [5]

Summary

The council members at the time of both the preliminary election and general election are listed below. The table further indicates if each incumbent ran for re-election, and if so, whether they were re-elected or not.

DistrictIncumbentRanResult
At-largeMichael F. FlahertyNo
Ruthzee Louijeunebgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
Julia Mejiabgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
Erin Murphybgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
1Gabriela Colettabgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
2bgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
3Frank BakerNo
4Brian Worrellbgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
5Ricardo Arroyobgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=pink
6Kendra Larabgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=pink
7Tania Fernandes Andersonbgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
8Sharon Durkanbgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
9Liz Breadonbgcolor=lightgreenYesbgcolor=lightgreen
Council President

Results

At-large

2023 Boston City Council at-large election
CandidateGeneral election[6]
Votes%
Ruthzee Louijeune (incumbent)44,47920.31
Erin Murphy (incumbent)43,38319.81
Julia Mejia (incumbent)39,65618.10
Henry Santana34,01415.53
Bridget Nee-Walsh26,67412.18
Shawn Nelson10,4484.77
Clifton Braithwaite10,2364.67
Catherine Vitale8,5033.88
Write-ins1,6573.88
Total219,050100

District 1

Lydia Edwards, who won the District 1 seat in the 2021 general election, resigned from the Council at the end of April 2022 and was later elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Gabriela Coletta won a special election in May 2022 to serve the remainder of Edwards' term.[7] Incumbent Coletta then ran unopposed for election to a full term.[8]

2023 Boston City Council District 1 election
CandidatesGeneral Election
Votes%
Gabriela Coletta (incumbent)5,72595.62
Write-ins2624.38
Total5,987100

District 2

2023 Boston City Council District 2 election
CandidatesGeneral Election
Votes%
Ed Flynn (incumbent)7,55297.81
Write-ins1692.19
Total7,721100

District 3

2023 Boston City Council District 3 election
CandidatePrimary election[9] General election
Votes%Votes%
2,77743.075,13358.24
Joel Richards1,23719.193,65041.41
Ann Walsh1,15117.85 
Matthew Patton5508.53 
Jennifer Johnson2714.20 
Barry Lawton2373.68 
Rosalind Wornum2133.30 
Write-ins110.17310.35
Total6,4471008,814100

District 4

2023 Boston City Council District 4 election
CandidatesGeneral Election
Votes%
Brian Worrell (incumbent)4,65697.51
Write-ins1192.49
Total4,775100

District 5

2023 Boston City Council District 5 election
CandidatePrimary electionGeneral election
Votes%Votes%
Enrique Pepén3,04740.425,78152.75
Jose Ruiz2,30230.535,13446.84
Ricardo Arroyo (incumbent)1,39718.53 
Jean-Claude Sanon76610.16 
Write-ins270.36450.41
Total7,53910010,960100

District 6

2023 Boston City Council District 6 election
CandidatePrimary electionGeneral election
Votes%Votes%
Benjamin Weber4,95142.259,45160.70
William King4,38437.426,08938.74
Kendra Lara (incumbent)2,35120.06 
Write-ins310.26880.56
Total9,84910015,718100

District 7

2023 Boston City Council District 7 election
CandidatePrimary electionGeneral election
Votes%Votes%
Tania Fernandes Anderson (incumbent)1,44857.463,71970.36
Althea Garrison52120.671,50028.45
Roy Owens Sr2389.44 
Jerome King2007.94 
Padma Scott712.82 
Write-ins421.67631.19
Total2,5201005,273100

District 8

Kenzie Bok, who had won the District 8 seat in the 2021 general election, resigned in April 2023 to take a position in the Boston Housing Authority. Sharon Durkan was then elected to the District 8 seat in a July 2023 special election.[10] Incumbent Durkan then ran for election to a full term.

2023 Boston City Council District 8 election
CandidatesGeneral Election
Votes%
Sharon Durkan (incumbent)3,81870.70
Montez Haywood1,54628.63
Write-ins360.67
Total5,400100

District 9

2023 Boston City Council District 9 election
CandidatesGeneral Election
Votes%
Liz Breadon (incumbent)4,39965.95
Jacob deBlecourt2,22233.31
Write-ins490.73
Total6,670100

Notes and References

  1. News: Boston City Council retains progressive majority in election . Walter . Wuthmann . . November 8, 2023 . March 25, 2024.
  2. News: Arroyo and Lara lose races in controversy-packed 2023 Boston preliminary election . Adam . Reilly . . September 12, 2023 . March 25, 2024.
  3. News: Arroyo, Lara voted out of Boston's City Council by wide margins . Tiziana . Dearing . Walter . Wuthmann . Rob . Lane . . September 13, 2023 . March 25, 2024.
  4. Web site: 2016-12-22 . 2023 Election Calendar . 2023-08-14 . Boston.gov . en . August 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230814230802/https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/2023-election-calendar . live .
  5. Web site: 2022-06-29 . Vote by Mail in Boston . 2023-08-14 . Boston.gov . en . August 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230814230803/https://www.boston.gov/departments/election/mail-voting-boston . live .
  6. Web site: Unofficial Election Results. 2023-12-30 . Boston.gov . en . December 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229182335/https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/unofficial-election-results . live .
  7. Web site: Gigi Coletta is Boston's newest city councilor . . May 4, 2022 . November 17, 2022. Christopher. Gavin.
  8. News: April 22, 2021 . Five of Six Mayoral Candidates Take Nomination Papers on Day 1: Early Poll Shows Half of Voters Undecided, Wu With Highest Favorability . Beacon Hill Times . live . https://archive.today/20210629211230/http://beaconhilltimes.com/2021/04/22/five-of-six-mayoral-candidates-take-nomination-papers-on-day-1-early-poll-shows-half-of-voters-undecided-wu-with-highest-favorability/ . June 29, 2021.
  9. Web site: Unofficial Election Results. 2023-12-30 . Boston.gov . en . October 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026132215/https://www.boston.gov/departments/elections/unofficial-election-results . live .
  10. Web site: Guffey. Alysa. Sharon Durkan wins special election for Boston City Council District 8 seat. . August 9, 2023 . July 25, 2023.

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