Local News

Ed Flynn will reportedly run for reelection, not mayor

Flynn’s retreat leaves the path open for Josh Kraft, another potential mayoral hopeful, to challenge incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu.

Boston City Council held a meeting at Boston City Hall. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

January 12, 2025

2 minutes to read

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has decided not to run for mayor, according to reports, which could open up incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu’s bid for reelection this year.

Flynn will instead run for reelection to his City Council seat representing District 2, according to sources close to Flynn, the Boston Herald first reported.

Wu, a popular incumbent, is expecting her third child soon. While she hasn’t formally announced a reelection campaign, she has said she intends to run for a second term.

There have been rumors swirling for months that Flynn, a former City Council president and son of former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, would launch a campaign to challenge Wu. Recently, he was the only vote against Wu’s controversial property tax proposal and called for an investigation into the failed bill.

Flynn and Wu have clashed publicly on the renovation of White Stadium in Franklin Park for the new professional women’s soccer team. Last month, the city’s estimated contribution to fix the dilapidated stadium, which is currently used by BPS students, was $91 million, up from their initial $50 million estimate. Flynn called on Wu to cancel the project altogether, while Wu said there’s “no blank check” for the capital projects.

Flynn, along with Councilor Erin Murphy, also criticized Wu’s BPS Sundays initiative, which grants free admission to some of the city’s museums and zoos for Boston Public Schools students and their families. The moderate councilors said it was unfair to charter, homeschooled and non-BPS students. Last month, the program was expanded to include all school-aged children.

Wu is also taking heat after her announcement of a series of school closures and reconfigurations across BPS that would largely go into effect at the end of the next school year.

Flynn’s retreat leaves the path open for another mayoral hopeful. Robert Kraft’s son Josh Kraft, who formerly led the Boys & Girls Club’s Boston chapter, will most likely announce his campaign for the office after he purchased a condo in the North End in 2023, The Boston Globe reported. According to the Herald, Kraft is going to make a decision by next month but is “leaning” towards running.

Wu and Flynn’s office did not return a request for comment Sunday evening.