Politics

Josh Kraft ends mayoral campaign after coming in second by nearly 50 points in Tuesday’s preliminary

“I’m proud we brought out the issues that matter most to voters and gave voice to those too often left out. We challenged the status quo."

Josh Kraft greets attendees after delivering remarks at an election night watch party for his mayoral campaign held inside the Iron Workers Local 7 Union Hall on Sept. 9, 2025. Ben Pennington for the Boston Globe

By Molly Farrar

September 11, 2025

2 minutes to read

After a crushing defeat in the preliminary election, philanthropist Josh Kraft is dropping his bid to oust Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“My decision is to suspend my campaign, my candidacy for mayor as of today,” Kraft told WCVB Thursday.

Earlier this week, Wu outperformed Kraft by nearly 50 points in the preliminary election and more than 45,000 votes, according to unofficial results. As expected, Wu and Kraft secured the top two spots, meaning they would have faced off in the general election in November.

Instead, Kraft, who has never held public office, is bowing out, he said.

“The last couple days since Tuesday I’ve sat and listened to my team, our volunteers, my family, my friends, advisors,” he told WCVB. “It goes back to what I was saying at the beginning. I got into this to make an impact, as I’ve done my whole life, build a sense of community to make change for the greater good.”

His campaign to oust Wu, a daunting task in Boston where an incumbent mayor hasn’t been ousted since 1949, began in February. Previously, he had reportedly bought a $2 million condo in the North End in 2023 after living in Newton.

Kraft, 57, spent 30 years with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, including 12 years as president and CEO. He is the president of the New England Patriots Foundation and chair of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

While trading barbs with Wu, his campaign focused on addressing housing affordability, criticizing Wu’s handling of the homelessness crisis, and attacking her plan to renovate White Stadium in Franklin Park.

“I’m proud we brought out the issues that matter most to voters and gave voice to those too often left out. We challenged the status quo. We made a difference. We elevated these issues from concerns shared amongst neighbors to serious policy discussions about the future of our city,” Kraft wrote in an email to supporters. “It has never been about Josh Kraft or Michelle Wu. It has always been about the future of Boston.”

Kraft out-raised Wu in 2025, raising more than $6.8 million to her $1.8 million. He contributed a total of $5.5 million of his own money to his campaign, including $3.5 million just a month before the preliminary election, campaign finance data shows.

In the letter to supporters, Kraft said instead of spending weeks “politicking” leading up to the election, “we could get back to what really matters – the issues that impact Bostonians each and every day.”

He said he will donate $3 million to organizations to address the “humanitarian crisis” near Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

“Public service is a part of who I am, and I will never stop pushing for solutions that make this city safer, fairer, and stronger,” his letter thanking supporters said. “I remain concerned about our city, and I will continue to be a committed partner for all Bostonians – from City Hall to our vibrant neighborhoods – who remain committed to our best days being in front of us, not behind.”

Wu’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday night.