Boston philanthropist Josh Kraft recently registered as a Democrat but would face a daunting challenge taking on Mayor Michelle Wu, who has a perfect storm of conditions to run for re-election in 2025.
A Herald report about a recent mayoral poll – likely paid for by Kraft – could help Wu raise money and frame the race as a progressive woman of color running against a wealthy, white out-of-towner.
Kraft, who runs the New England Patriots philanthropic arm, would run as a left-of-center businessman with deep ties to Boston’s communities of color and avoid being tagged as a conservative representing the “old” Boston.
The son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft was a longtime independent but his change to Democrat means he is seriously considering jumping into the overwhelmingly Democratic Boston mayoral race. A decision on whether to run is likely in the next few months.
But Kraft would need to cobble together a coalition of conservatives and voters of color in order to win – an exceedingly difficult challenge against Wu, who made history in 2021 as the first non-white male Boston mayor.
And the former Chestnut Hill resident would need to shed the perception that he’s just a rich outsider looking to buy the race.
Wu – whose aggressive remaking of the city’s streets to accommodate bicycles has drawn the ire of longtime residents – is already starting to move to the center, cracking down on outlaw mopeds and standing by her police commissioner and the police department.
Wu could also be aided by the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, who would be a perfect foil in 2025 if he’s elected to another White House term.
Robert Kraft has close ties to Trump and Wu would likely exploit that to try and paint Josh Kraft as an extremist conservative even though he has a solid record of voting in Democratic primaries and contributing to Democrats.
But Wu does have weaknesses that have left her open to a well-funded challenge. She has been heavily criticized by even liberals for shutting out residents from important policy decisions and ramrodding through her plans to turn Boston into her own progressive Wutopia.
Her administration’s lack of transparency – especially in the Police Department – could also be fodder for criticism.
In order to mount a successful challenge, Kraft would need a one-on-one race against Wu, hoping that his money and name recognition would clear the field.
South Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is also mulling a mayoral bid although it’s far from clear he would run against the popular Wu. Flynn would likely draw from the moderate to conservative side if he ran – a segment that Kraft also needs.
One other contender has already emerged, North End restaurant owner Jorge Mendoza, though he is more of a fringe candidate.
Wu has not officially declared her plans to run for a second term, but has all but said she will, and her campaign war chest stands at more than $1.5 million – not a huge amount for an incumbent but she can raise much more off just Kraft’s poll.
