2013 Boston mayoral election

The Boston mayoral election of 2013 occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 2013, between state representative Marty Walsh and city councilor John R. Connolly. Walsh was elected to his first term, and was inaugurated on Monday, January 6, 2014.[1]

2013 Boston mayoral election

November 5, 2013

Candidate Marty Walsh John R. Connolly Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Popular vote 72,514 67,606 Percentage 51.55% 48.06%

Results by ward Walsh:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Connolly:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Mayor before election Thomas Menino Elected Mayor Marty Walsh

38% of registered voters turned out to vote in the election.[2]

A non-partisan preliminary election was held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013.[3][4][5]

Incumbent mayor Thomas Menino had declined to run for re-election to a sixth term.

Background

Incumbent mayor Thomas Menino had held office ever since ascending to the mayoralty following the resignation of Raymond Flynn in 1993. In 2013, Menino opted against seeking what would have been his sixth elected term as mayor. He announced his decision not to seek reelection on March 27, 2013.[6]

Without an incumbent seeking reelection, this made the 2013 election the first open election since 1984, thirty years earlier.[6]

Candidates

Candidates who advanced to general election

Candidate	Experience	Announced	Ref
The following candidates advanced to the general election held on November 5			[3]
John Connolly	Boston city councilor at-large since 2008	February 26, 2013	[7]
Marty Walsh	Massachusetts state representative from 13th Suffolk district since 1997	May 4, 2013	[8]

Candidates eliminated in the primary

Candidate	Experience	Announced	Ref
The following candidates were eliminated in the primary election and did not advance to the general election			[9]
Felix G. Arroyo	Boston city councilor at-large since 2010	June 15, 2013	[10]
John Barros	Former Boston School Committee member (2010–2013)	April 25, 2013	[11][12][13]
Charles Clemons	Former Boston Police officer and co-owner of TOUCH 106.1FM	August 21, 2011	[9][14]
Daniel F. Conley	Suffolk County district attorney since 2002	April 3, 2013	[15]
Robert Consalvo	Boston city councilor from district 5 since 2002	April 4, 2013	[16]
Charlotte Golar Richie	Former Massachusetts state representative from 5th Suffolk district (1995-1999)	May 1, 2013	[17]
Michael P. Ross	Boston city councilor from district 8 since 2000 Former President of the Boston City Council (2009–2010)	April 11, 2013	[18]
Bill Walczak	Community organizer, co-founder of Codman Square Health Center, and director of community engagement for Shawmut Construction	April 6, 2013	[9][19]
David James Wyatt	Candidate for Boston City Council in 2007		[9]
Charles Yancey	Boston city councilor from district 4 since 1984	July 1, 2013	[20]

Withdrew

• Frank John Addivinola, Jr., candidate for state senate in 2010 and U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 (running for councilor-at-large)[21]
• Lee Buckley[21]
• Robert Cappucci, former Boston School Committee member and retired Boston Police officer (failed to get enough signatures)[9]
• Miniard Culpepper, reverend[21]
• Will Dorcena, community activist (failed to get enough signatures)[22]
• Althea Garrison, former state representatives (running for councilor-at-large)[21]
• John Laing, businessman (failed to get enough signatures)[23]
• Divo Rodrigues Monteiro (running for city council in District 4)[21]
• David Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports (failed to get enough signatures)[23]
• Gareth R. Saunders, former city councilor (running for councilor-at-large)[21]
• Hassan A. Williams, candidate for state senate in 2010[21]
• Christopher G. Womack[21]

Declined

• Andrea Cabral, Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security and former Suffolk County Sheriff [24]
• Sonia Chang-Díaz, state senator[25]
• Richard A. Davey, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation[26]
• John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction Company[27]
• Michael F. Flaherty, former city councillor (running for City Council At-Large)[28]
• Paul Grogan, president of The Boston Foundation[29]
• Maura Hennigan, Suffolk County criminal courts clerk[30]
• Russell Holmes, state representative[31]
• Stephen J. Murphy, president of the Boston City Council (running for reelection)[28]
• Tito Jackson, city councillor (running for reelection)[32]
• Bill Linehan, city councillor (running for reelection)[33]
• Stephen Lynch, U.S. Representative[34]
• Ralph Martin, former Suffolk County District Attorney[35]
• Thomas Menino, incumbent Mayor of Boston[36]
• Matt O'Malley, city councillor (running for reelection)[33]
• Ayanna Pressley, city councillor (running for reelection)[37]
• James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority[32]
• Marie St. Fleur, former state representative[29]
• John M. Tobin, Jr., former city councillor[38]

Polling

General election

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Marty Walsh	John Connolly	Undecided
Suffolk University/Boston Herald	October 29–31, 2013	555	± 4.2%	46%	43%	11%
UMass Poll, UMass Amherst	October 22–26, 2013	405	± 5.9%	47%	40%	13%
University of New Hampshire	October 17–22, 2013	465	± 4.5%	38%	47%	15%
Mass Inc	October 19–20, 2013	503	± 4.4%	39%	41%	20%
Sage Systems	October 16–17, 2013	375	± 3.9%	36%	40%	24%
UMass Lowell	October 2–7, 2013	375	± 6%	37%	45%	18%
S.U./Herald	October 2–6, 2013	600	± 4%	34%	41%	23%
Anderson Robbins ^	September 28–30, 2013	800	± ?	32%	44%	24%
S.U./Herald	September 12–17, 2013	600	± 4%	29%	44%	28%

• ^ Internal poll for John Connolly campaign

Primary election

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Felix Arroyo	John Barros	Charles Clemons	Daniel Conley	John Connolly	Robert Consalvo	Charlotte Golar Richie	Michael Ross	Bill Walczak	Marty Walsh	David Wyatt	Charles Yancey	Other/ Undecided
Suffolk University/Boston Herald	September 12–17, 2013	600	± 4%	6%	3%	1%	12%	16%	8%	10%	5%	6%	12%	0%	1%	21%
Mass Inc	September 14–16, 2013	487	± 4.4%	8%	3%	<1%	8%	15%	5%	10%	6%	4%	12%	<1%	1%	27%
UNH	September 5–12, 2013	411	± 4.8%	6%	6%	2%	10%	15%	6%	10%	5%	4%	10%	0%	3%	25%
Suffolk University/Boston Herald	July 10–15, 2013	600	± 4%	4%	1%	1%	9%	12%	8%	5%	5%	2%	11%	1%	3%	40%

Results

John Connolly delivers his concession speech after the November election

Notes: all candidates are nonpartisan, 0.40% are write-in votes.

Candidates	Preliminary election[39]		General election[3]
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Marty Walsh	20,838	18%	72,514	51.55%
John R. Connolly	19,420	17%	67,606	48.06%
Charlotte Golar Richie	15,536	14%
Daniel Conley	12,764	11%
Felix Arroyo	9,888	9%
John Barros	9,138	8%
Robert Consalvo	8,592	8%
Michael Ross	8,155	7%
Bill Walczak	3,822	3%
Charles Yancey	2,388	2%
Charles Clemons	1,799	2%
David Wyatt	334	0%

See also

• List of mayors of Boston, Massachusetts

References

1. Ryan, Andrew (January 7, 2014). "With theme of unity, Walsh takes helm as mayor of Boston". The Boston Globe. p. A.1. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
2. "Data" (PDF). www.cityofboston.gov. 2011.
3. "Unofficial election results".
4. "Boston Mayoral Race Preliminary Election 2013 - Live blog".
5. "Election calendar" (PDF). www.cityofboston.gov. 2013.
6. Dumcius, Gintautas (March 27, 2013). "Mayor Menino will not seek re-election". Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
7. Ryan, Andrew; Finucane, Martin (February 26, 2013). "Boston City Councilor John Connolly announces run against Mayor Thomas M. Menino | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
8. Adams, Dan Adams (May 24, 2013). "Walsh launches run for mayor of Boston - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
9. Lyle, Caroline (June 14, 2013). "Meet the 12 Confirmed Candidates for Boston's 2013 Mayoral Election". BostInno. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
10. Tatro, Samantha (June 15, 2013). "Felix Arroyo officially announces run for mayor". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
11. Ryan, Andrew (April 25, 2013). "Candidate Barros pledges an inclusive City Hall - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
12. Ryan, Andrew (April 25, 2013). "John Barros to announce a bid for mayor of Boston - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
13. Ryan, Andrew (April 23, 2013). "John F. Barros resigns from Boston School Committee in another step toward run for mayor | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
14. Dumcius, Gintautas (August 22, 2011). "TOUCH 106.1 co-founder says he's running for mayor in 2013 | Dorchester Reporter". www.dotnews.com. Dorchester Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
15. Ryan, Andrew; Staff, Jim O’Sullivan Globe (April 3, 2013). "Daniel Conley jumps into Boston mayoral contest - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
16. Ertischek, David (April 6, 2013). "City Councilor Rob Consalvo Running for Boston Mayor". Back Bay, MA Patch. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
17. O'Sullivan, Jim (May 1, 2013). "Charlotte Golar Richie, former aide to Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Governor Deval Patrick, announced mayoral bid | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
18. Ryan, Andrew (April 11, 2013). "City Councilor Michael P. Ross announces bid for mayor of Boston | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
19. Lowery, Wesley (April 6, 2013). "Longtime community organizer Bill Walczak will run for mayor of Boston | Boston.com". www.boston.com.
20. "City Councilor Charles Yancey joins race to become Boston's next mayor". WFXT. July 1, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
21. Andrew Ryan; Wesley Lowery (May 22, 2013). "15 remain in the race for mayor of Boston". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
22. Andrew Ryan (May 25, 2013). "Will Dorcena will not make ballot". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
23. "Boston to face crowded ballot". The Boston Globe. June 14, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
24. "campaign notebook - The Boston Globe".
25. "State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz says it's not the right time to run for mayor of Boston". April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013.
26. "Rep. Martin Walsh says he's running for mayor of Boston".
27. http://www.necn.com/03/29/13/Boston-Mayors-race-Nows-your-opportunity/landing_politics.html?blockID=836305&feedID=11106%5B%5D
28. "Mayoral race could reshape Boston City Council Menino-less mayor's race could create wide open fight for at-large council seats - The Boston Globe".
29. King, Alison (April 9, 2013). "City Councilor Felix Arroyo throws hat into Boston's mayoral race". Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
30. "Hennigan won't join mayoral race - Jamaica Plain Gazette". jamaicaplaingazette.com.
31. "Mayoral race could be dominated by JPers - Jamaica Plain Gazette". jamaicaplaingazette.com.
32. "Mayoral maneuvering: Consalvo in, Jackson and Rooney out".
33. "Boston Pols Expect Competitive Race For Mayor's Seat". March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
34. Weiner, Rachel (March 29, 2013). "Stephen Lynch not running for Boston mayor". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
35. "Gelzinis: Menino frustrated amid political chaos".
36. "Boston Mayor Tom Menino Will Not Seek Re-Election". March 27, 2013.
37. "Potential Menino successors lining up for mayoralty - The Boston Globe".
38. "NU's Tobin rules out mayoral run - Mission Hill Gazette". missionhillgazette.com.
39. "2013 Boston Mayoral Primary Results". Live Wire. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.

External links

• Boston Mayor Race - Nov 05, 2013 at ourcampaigns.com
• Felix G. Arroyo - Forward with Felix
• John Barros - Vote John Barros for Mayor
• Charles Clemons for Mayor of Boston
• John Connolly for Mayor of Boston
• Dan Conley for Mayor
• Rob Consalvo for Mayor
• Charlotte Golar Richie for Mayor of Boston
• Mike Ross Campaign Website
• Bill Walczak for Mayor of Boston
• Marty Walsh for Mayor of Boston