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Michelle Wu has become the first woman and person of color to be elected as the mayor of Boston.
In all of its 200 years of existence, the city of Boston has never had a woman or a person of color as its mayor, only white men.
Just before Wu spoke on Tuesday night, her competitor, and fellow City Councilor, Annissa Essaibi George conceded the race.
“I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu. She is the first woman, the first person of color and, as an Asian American, the first elected to be mayor of Boston,” Essaibi George told her supporters. “I know this is no small feat.”
Wu spoke to the people of Boston, saying the decision to elect her as their new mayor was one they all made together.
“From every corner of our city, Boston has spoken. We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone,” Wu said to supporters. “I want to be clear; it wasn’t my vision on the ballot. It was ours, together.”
This isn’t the first time Wu has made history. Back in 2016, Wu became the first Asian American to serve as president of the City Council. Wu expressed her desire to fix several issues during her campaign, including rent stabilization and free public transit. Wu, the proud daughter of Taiwanese immigrant parents, plans to represent every group in Boston.
“We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone,” said Wu. “We are ready to become a Boston that doesn’t push people out, but welcomes all who call our city home. We’re ready to be a Boston where all can afford to stay and to thrive. And, yes, Boston is ready to become a Green New Deal city.”
The city’s current acting mayor, Kim Janey, became the first person of color and woman to hold the office when she succeeded former Mayor Marty Walsh after he became President Biden’s Labor Secretary. She was not elected, however.
