Pro-LGBT Candidates Top the Tickets
State Rep. Marty Walsh, who won Tuesday's election to become mayor of Boston, proudly touted his pro-gay civil rights credentials (he was a key force in making marriage equality a reality) in the run up to election day. LGBT activists and elected officials like Arline Isaacson, Rep. Liz Malia, Rep. Sarah Peak were just a few of the community members involved in his campaign. His opponent, Boston City Councilor John Connolly, also had a pro-gay resume and supporters in the community. In the first mayoral race in decades that did not involve Mayor Tom Menino, each candidate worked hard to tell every voter, not just the gay ones, that he would continue the forward motion of gay icon Menino. Walsh has repeatedly noted that his vote for marriage equality was his "proudest vote"; and he published a robust and detailed LGBT platform on his campaign website.
In the days leading up to the election, Connolly's campaign proved no match to Walsh's quilt of LGBT, minority, union, and army of endorsers who canvassed the city on election day, end to end, urging voters to get to the polls and vote for Marty.
Walsh won with 51.55% of the vote. Connolly finished with 48.06%.
The Boston City Council race results brought one new face to the at large seats-Michelle Wu, of the South End; and a returning face-former councillor and mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty. They join incumbents Ayanna Pressley and Stephen Murphy. Wu and Pressley topped the ticket. All candidates are solidly in favor of the advancement of LGBT rights.
Openly gay candidate Jeff Ross, who ran for an at large seat, finished sixth.
In Cambridge, voters returned openly gay Denise Simmons to the city council, but openly gay Kenneth Reeves did not get re-elected.