By Hannah Nguyen for AsAmNews
(Updated 10:45 pm Eastern Time)
Michelle Wu has just been congratulated by her opponent Annissa Essaibi George for winning the Boston Mayor’s race
Michelle Wu will become the first Asian American mayor of Boston and the only Asian American woman to be mayor from a large U.S. city. She is also Boston’s first woman mayor.
With 26,000 votes counted, Wu currently has 57.9% of the total vote against Annissa Essaibi George with about 42% of the vote. About 22% of the vote has been counted so far.
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Wu is now addressing her supporters.
“One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor of Boston. They have been and they will again, but not tonight,” she said. “On this day, Boston elected your mom because from every corner of the city Boston has spoken.”
Wu promised Boston will become a green new deal city, a cornerstone of her campaign. She said they would march together in “Boston’s promise.”
“Our movement does not end here. We have lots of work to do and we will hit the ground running on November 16, she said. “We will bring city hall to every block, every street, every neighborhood.”
Both Wu and George currently sit on the City Council. George thanked her supporters and the coalition she built during her campaign. She said she would keep fighting for her city and urged her supporters to do the same.
Wu’s supporters watched George concede on the big screen and are now awaiting Wu to take the stage for her victory speech.
Upbeat music played in the background with Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin prominent in the playlist.
Dozens of small children with their families walked around. Some were holding Wu signs. People, many Asian, were hugging and holding hands while engaging in conversations. They were laughing and drinking.
An estimated 100 Wu supporters gathered at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. They watched the vote totals come in and are being entertained on stage by various bands.
Jean Quan served as mayor of Oakland from 2011 to 2015. She was the first Asian American woman to win election as mayor from a major U.S. city
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The only journalist I know who instead of working for a mayor actually became a mayor! Congrats Lily Wu!