On Friday, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joined the growing chorus of political insiders of color backing Michelle Wu's bid for mayor. The former city councilor announced her support in an early morning press release.
“I’ve worked closely with Michelle Wu for nearly a decade," Pressley said, pointing to Wu's "passion for service and a vision" for Boston.
"At this pivotal moment in our city’s history, we need bold leadership — that’s why I’m so proud to endorse Michelle’s candidacy for Mayor," the statement continued.
More Local News
Said Wu in a separate statement: “Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s bold leadership continues to reshape what’s possible in our city and country, and I’m so honored to receive her endorsement…I can’t wait to continue partnering for Boston to lead the way in building healthy, equitable, and resilient communities across our neighborhoods.”
Though Pressley's endorsement follows a chain of others this week — including from former rival Kim Janey — it could pack the most potent impact on Wu's behalf given how popular Pressley is in Boston.
In 2018, Pressley unseated long-time incumbent Michael E. Capuano, winning handily with more than 40,000 votes to his nearly 23,000. She has not faced a serious challenge since.
Pressley's endorsement may also help Wu quell criticism about her non-native status, a factor that a GBH News poll found many Bostonians consider when evaluating mayoral candidates. Pressley, like Wu, was neither born nor raised in Boston, but began a political career in the city.
