The Brian Lehrer Show A Mayoral Election in Boston and Why it Matters
Sep 9, 2025
Emma Platoff, a political enterprise reporter at The Boston Globe, dives into Boston's intense mayoral race. She outlines the nonpartisan primary process, explaining how voter selection impacts turnout. Platoff features the candidacy of incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu and her progressive initiatives, like the Green New Deal, while contrasting her strategies with those of her opponent, Josh Kraft. The discussion also touches on broader themes, including how President Trump is influencing local races, highlighting the election's national significance.
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Top-Two Nonpartisan Preliminary
- Boston's preliminary election is nonpartisan and lists all candidates on one ballot.
- The top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party affiliation.
Turnout Decides Who Wins
- Low preliminary turnout means the earlier vote often decides who advances to the general election.
- Emma Platoff warns turnout differences make which election matters politically significant.
Pragmatic Progressive Governance
- Michelle Wu governs as a pragmatic progressive, tempering campaign promises while pursuing structural changes.
- Her big ideas, like a Green New Deal, translated into modest pilots rather than sweeping reforms.