Politics

We spoke to Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George at length. Here are their thoughts on the key issues in Boston’s mayoral race.

Catch up on the candidates' plans.

Boston mayoral candidates Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George wait to speak during a town hall forum last month at Morning Star Baptist Church in Mattapan. Michael Dwyer / AP

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa

November 1, 2021

2 minutes to read

It all comes down to this.

After months of campaigning, close to 100 forums and debates, and countless handshakes and elbow bumps, Election Day is here in the Boston mayor’s race.

Polls suggest City Councilor Michelle Wu holds a wide lead over fellow general election finalist and City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George. But as Wu likes to say, the only polls that matter are the ones that close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Ultimately, voters will make their decision based on their opinions of the candidates and their plans to address issues from housing to schools to public safety to climate change to transportation to economic justice.

Before the preliminary election, Boston.com sat down with all five major candidates — including Wu and Essaibi George — for hourlong interviews to discuss their thoughts on major issues, as well as some less important subjects, like their opinions about Boston City Hall and their Dunkin’ order.

Read their answers in their own words:

After the preliminary narrowed the field to two, Wu and Essaibi George again took time out of their busy schedules to talk to answer five questions each, including a few reader-submitted inquiries:

The two general election finalists have also squared off in three debates:

Want to dig deeper into the details? Read the two candidates’ full plans on the issues below:

Housing and homelessness

Planing and development