‘A necessary first step’: Josh Kraft files paperwork to run for mayor of Boston

BOSTON — Josh Kraft, the son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, has officially filed the paperwork to run for mayor of Boston.

“Certainly, it makes the race coming up the best mayoral race we’ve had in quite some time,” said Tom Whalen, political historian at Boston University.

According to the paperwork, Kraft will be running as a Democrat against incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu.

“Generally, there’s this kind of anti-incumbent movement that, you know, we saw in the fall election against the senators, the congressman and President Biden, and this might work in Kraft’s favor because he is such an unknown that voters might say well it’s better than what we have now,” said Whalen.

Whalen says Kraft could appeal to voters who may be unhappy with the current administration under Mayor Wu, but she may relate to more voters in Boston.

“Michelle Wu can say, I came up the hard way whereas my opponent was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and that always has played well in Boston politics, which can get pretty nasty,” said Whalen.

Josh Kraft is the President of the New England Patriots Foundation and has led many of the Kraft family’s philanthropic initiatives.

He also spent 30 years with the Boys and Girls Club of Boston among other organizations that give back to the community.

“Boston residents expect you to know what’s happening, to have clear positions, to be able to get right in there and very clearly explain how you’re going to get things done, how you’re going to make life better,” said Mayor Michelle Wu on GBH’s Boston Public Radio Monday.

Mayor Wu was asked about Kraft running against her.

“At some point when you’re the candidate, you’re going to have to speak for yourself and not just have the consultants do it for you and be clear about what you’re putting forward,” said Mayor Wu on GBH.

A spokesperson for Josh Kraft released the following statement Monday:

“Today’s filing was a necessary first step towards an official announcement, which will come soon, where Josh will lay out his vision and ideas for turning Boston around.”

Kraft will be Mayor Wu’s first challenger this fall.

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