Copyright The Boston Globe
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared late Tuesday that incumbent City Councilors Henry Santana and Ruthzee Louijeune had won reelection to their at-large seats on the council, based on her campaign’s internal review of voting results from 97 percent of the city’s precincts. With Wu running unopposed for a second term, all eyes were on the race for the four at-large council seats in the weeks leading up to Election Day. It was the most high-profile contest on the ballot, and had the potential to shift the political dynamic of, and Wu’s influence on, the council. The race was largely seen as a matchup between Santana — a close Wu ally who was widely considered to be the incumbent most at risk of losing his seat— and former District 3 Councilor Frank Baker. After declining to run for reelection to his district seat in 2023, Baker vied for an at-large seat this year, pledging to provide pushback against the mayor on the council. Advertisement At 30 years old and finishing his first term in elected office, Santana is the youngest and least experienced of the at-large councilors. He is also one of Wu’s closest allies on the council, having previously worked as her former director of civic organizing. But Santana has at times faced criticism, including from other councilors, for appearing to simply act as a proxy for the mayor, rather than an independent voice for voters. Santana previously told the Globe he believes in the mayor’s vision for the city, and is proud to collaborate with her on issues including youth jobs and affordable housing. Wu has frequently rallied support for Santana this year, with the two often campaigning together. Wu also mobilized her network to help Santana in the spring, when he struggled to get the 1,500 signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot. Advertisement But Wu’s critics argue that the number of Wu-aligned officials on the council, including Santana, has meant that the body has not been a strong enough check on Wu in recent years. Baker — a frequent Wu antagonist and one of the council’s most conservative voices during his 12 years in the District 3 seat — promised to provide more balance on the council. Former Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh endorsed Baker, a longtime friend, in the race, along with Alexandra Valdez, a first-time candidate who has worked in City Hall for roughly 10 years. Wu previously said she voted for Santana, Louijeune, and Valdez in September’s preliminary election. As of 10 p.m., with about 21 percent of precincts reporting results on the city’s election results website, Valdez was ahead of the other first-time candidates — Marvin Mathelier, a small business owner and Marine Corps Reserves member, and Will Onuoha, a City Hall employee of nearly two decades — the eighth and ninth place vote getters Tuesday night. This is a developing story, check back for updates. Niki Griswold can be reached at niki.griswold@globe.com. Follow her @nikigriswold.
