Josh Kraft, heir to the Patriots’ fortune, bailed on his Boston mayoral bid Thursday, leaving incumbent Democrat Michelle Wu unchallenged.
The New York Post reported that Kraft, who announced his withdrawal on WCVB-TV, couldn’t dent Wu’s lead despite pouring millions into his campaign.
On Tuesday, Wu dominated the preliminary election with 72% of the vote, while Kraft limped in at 23%. His exit, days after advancing to the November 4 ballot, hands Wu a clear runway.
Early in the race, Kraft was spotted canvassing Boston on September 5, shaking hands and pitching his vision. His message, though, never clicked with voters, who seemed content with Wu’s progressive leadership.
Kraft’s millions—$5.5 million by August’s end, dwarfing Wu’s $1.1 million—bought ads but not affection.
Kraft, joined by his billionaire father Robert at an election night watch party, faced reality on September 9. His self-funded campaign, including over $5 million in personal loans, couldn’t sway a city smitten with its first female and Asian mayor. Wu’s popularity, bolstered by her defiance of federal policies, proved too strong.
“We could spend the next eight weeks politicking—with harmful rhetoric or nasty attack ads,” Kraft said on WCVB-TV. That’s a noble sentiment, but it sidesteps his campaign’s failure to offer a compelling alternative. Bostonians didn’t buy what he was selling.
Kraft added, “Or we could get back to what really matters—the issues that impact Bostonians every day.” Fine words, but they ring hollow when his campaign leaned on cash over substance. His pivot to “issues” feels like a convenient exit line.
Wu, meanwhile, has leaned hard into Boston’s sanctuary city status, touting it as a “welcoming home” for immigrants. Her stance drew fire from the Trump administration, which sued Boston, Wu, and its police department the week before Kraft’s exit. The lawsuit claims the city’s policies obstruct federal immigration enforcement—a charge Wu dismisses as political theater.
“Trump is attacking cities to hide his administration’s failures,” Wu declared. It’s a slick deflection, but it ignores the chaos of a May 2025 immigration surge that led to 1,500 arrests in Boston. Sanctuary policies may warm progressive hearts, but they’re a lightning rod for critics demanding tighter borders.
The Trump administration, led by border czar Tom Homan, has slammed Boston for lax immigration enforcement.
With U.S. Immigration launching a new operation in the city during election week, Wu’s defiance faces real-world tests. Her supporters cheer, but federal pressure isn’t going away.
Kraft’s withdrawal leaves the November 4 ballot in limbo—can another candidate step in? His campaign’s collapse raises questions about whether Boston’s electorate craves Wu’s progressive vision or simply rejected Kraft’s lackluster pitch. Either way, Wu’s grip on City Hall tightens.
“I respect Kraft’s decision and thank him ‘for caring about our city deeply enough to want to make it better,’” Wu said. It’s gracious, but Wu’s confidence shines through—she knows she’s untouchable. Her campaign machine is already gearing up for an unopposed sprint.
Wu added, “We are going to continue over the next two months and beyond to keep engaging our community members.” It’s a safe promise, but her focus on “welcoming” policies risks alienating voters wary of federal overreach. Boston’s sanctuary status could yet be her Achilles’ heel.
Kraft isn’t slinking away entirely—he’s redirecting $3 million to workforce training for former inmates and tackling homelessness and addiction in Boston’s Mass and Cass area.
It’s a pivot from politics to philanthropy, where his family’s wealth might do more good than campaign ads. Still, it’s hard not to see this as a face-saving retreat.
“During a time in America where we need to come closer together despite all our differences,” Kraft said, “instead of igniting divisiveness that pulls us further apart.” It’s a nice plea for unity, but it glosses over his campaign’s inability to bridge Boston’s divides. His exit feels more like surrender than statesmanship.
