State Rep. Jon Santiago announced on social media Tuesday that he is suspending his run for mayor of Boston.
In a video message, the 39-year-old, who has struggled to make an impression with the electorate despite being an Army Reserve captain and an emergency room doctor on the front lines of fighting COVID-19, said Boston voters have made their preferences clear.
"It was with a sincere desire to serve Boston in a greater capacity that I jumped in this race. And today, still filled with energy and optimism for Boston, I'm ending my campaign for mayor," said Santiago in the two-and-a-half minute video announcement.
"I look forward to supporting the first elected woman of color to lead Boston," he said declining to spell out who he will endorse.
A recent poll from Suffolk University and the Boston Globe shows acting Mayor Kim Janey and At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu leading the pack in a virtual tie. Santiago garnered only single-digit support.
Santiago's announcement comes with little more than two months left before voters select the two candidates to advance to the November general election.
Santiago was attempting to follow former Mayor Marty Walsh's path from the statehouse to the mayor's seat while campaigning as a moderate who could work well with the governor and the legislature for Boston's benefit. Walsh's old construction union, Laborers Local 223, endorsed him in April.
He launched his mayoral bid just two years after securing the South End legislative seat with an upset victory against a long-time incumbent.
But the Puerto Rican native did not show the same rocket-like trajectory when competing against this year's field of mayoral candidates.
Of the major six, Santiago received the largest portion of his campaign money from sources beyond Boston's city limits. Last month, he spent about $100,000 more than he raised, a sign the campaign could not sustain itself without a significant influx of cash. Some of that money went towards purchasing the race's first ad buy with spots in English and Spanish — a move the campaign made to build name recognition among non-English speakers.
The field of major candidates now narrows to five and includes City Councilor Andrea Campbell, whose district includes Dorchester and Mattapan, At-Large Councilor Annissa Essaibi George and John Barros, Boston’s former economic development chief under now U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh
