Josh Kraft drops out of race for Boston mayor, clearing way for Wu victory

Josh Kraft, son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, has officially ended his campaign to unseat Boston Mayor Michelle Wu—just days after advancing to the November ballot.

Kraft made the announcement Thursday during an interview with WCVB-TV, following a preliminary election where both he and Wu moved past two challengers. Despite pouring millions of dollars of his own money into the race, Kraft struggled to break through against Wu’s popularity and the strong support she’s built as Boston’s first female and Asian mayor.

In a letter to supporters, Kraft explained that his decision was about prioritizing unity over political sparring. “We could spend the next eight weeks politicking—with harmful rhetoric or nasty attack ads. Or we could get back to what really matters—the issues that impact Bostonians each and every day. The work I have focused on for my whole career,” he wrote.

Kraft added that stepping aside was the right move “during a time in America where we need to come closer together despite all our differences, instead of igniting divisiveness that pulls us further apart.” He also pledged $3 million—some of which had been earmarked for his campaign—toward workforce training for former inmates, as well as initiatives to address homelessness and drug addiction in Boston’s Mass and Cass area.

Financially, Kraft had dramatically outspent Wu heading into the election, loaning his campaign over $5 million compared to Wu’s $1.1 million. But the results told a different story—Wu won roughly 72% of the vote, while Kraft managed 23%.

In a statement, Wu praised Kraft’s decision and thanked him for his commitment to the city. “We are going to continue over the next two months and beyond to keep engaging our community members about the critical work in front of us and how we keep making Boston a safe, welcoming home for everyone,” she said.

Wu has also been navigating a growing battle with the Trump administration. Boston, long considered a sanctuary city, has faced criticism from federal officials over its immigration policies. Just last week, Trump’s Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Wu, the city of Boston, and its police department, accusing them of obstructing immigration enforcement. Wu fired back, accusing Trump of “attacking cities to hide his administration’s failures.”

For now, with Kraft stepping aside, Wu is positioned to continue her leadership without a serious challenger—focusing her energy on both Boston’s local challenges and the national spotlight that has increasingly followed her tenure.