DaRosa Seeks Legal Path Back to Mayor's Race Following Kraft Withdrawal

A razor-thin margin in last week's Boston preliminary election for District 7 City Council may trigger an official recount.

Mavrick Afonso, who finished third in the 11-candidate race, announced Monday that he plans to request a recount with Boston's election department. According to unofficial results, only 17 votes separate Afonso from second-place finisher Rev. Miniard Culpepper, with the margin narrowing as additional ballots were processed after election day.

The top two finishers advance to November's general election to replace former councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, who was recently sentenced to prison on federal corruption charges.

District 7 encompasses parts of Roxbury, Dorchester, the South End, and the Fenway across six wards. State law requires Afonso to collect 50 signatures from each ward by 5 p.m. Monday to proceed with the recount request.

By Monday afternoon, Afonso reported gathering sufficient signatures in four wards with help from former rival candidates Said Abdikarim, WaWa Bell, and Samuel Hurtado. The collaboration emerged due to the extremely close results throughout the field - Hurtado trails Afonso by 25 votes, while Abdikarim trails Hurtado by just 3 votes.

Said "Coach" Ahmed won the preliminary with 1,155 votes, 53 more than Culpepper.

Afonso, currently on leave from his position as director of external affairs at the state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, emphasized that the recount push stems from the narrow margins rather than allegations of voting irregularities. He views the candidates' cooperation as a potential model for future civic engagement in District 7.

The general election will be held in November, with the winner taking office in January.

Third-Place Mayoral Candidate Seeks Spot on November Ballot

Community activist Domingos DaRosa is attempting to rejoin Boston's mayoral race following Josh Kraft's withdrawal from the campaign.

DaRosa is invoking a lesser-known state law that allows the third-place finisher from a preliminary election to advance to the November ballot when one of the top two finalists drops out.

However, the process involves complex legal requirements that DaRosa must navigate to secure his place in the general election.

The activist finished third in Boston's preliminary election but was initially eliminated when only the top two vote-getters traditionally advance to the final round.

Details about the specific legal procedures and DaRosa's strategy remain unclear as the situation continues to develop.

Eight Candidates Advance to At-Large City Council Race

Boston voters will choose from eight candidates for four at-large City Council seats in the November 4 general election.

All four current at-large councilors secured spots on the ballot, led by Ruthzee Louijeune, who received the most votes in last week's preliminary election. Julia Mejia placed second, followed by Erin Murphy in third and Henry Santana in fourth.

Four challengers also advanced to November's election. Frank Baker, a former District 3 City Councilor, is seeking an at-large seat after his district council tenure. Alexandra E. Valdez, who directs Boston's Office of Cultural Affairs, earned a spot on the ballot along with small business owner and Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council member Marvin Dee Mathelier.

Will Onuoha, an assistant general counsel for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, rounds out the field of candidates.

The top four vote-getters in November will serve four-year terms representing the entire city on the Boston City Council.

Voting and Registration Information

Voter Registration Deadline: Saturday, October 25, 2025

Early Voting: Approximately October 18-31, 2025

Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (7 AM - 8 PM)

How to Vote Registration: To vote in the general election in November, register online until 11:59 PM on the deadline, in-person until 5 PM, or by mail (must be postmarked by the deadline).

Mail-in Voting: All registered Boston voters can vote by mail in 2025 elections. Mail ballots must be received by 8 PM on Election Day.

Early Voting: You can vote early at any designated location in the city - you don't need to vote at your assigned polling place during early voting.

For more information visit: www.boston.gov/departments/election