Introducing the At-Large Boston City Councilor candidates, from top left: Shawn Nelson, Catherine Vitale, Bridget Nee-Walsh, and Clifton Braithwaite. Bottom row, left to right: Ruthzee Louijeune, Julia Mejia, Henry Santana, and Erin Murphy.Dorchester, the largest neighborhood in Boston and all of New England is represented by a total of seven Boston City Councilors. This includes three District Councilors representing specific areas within Dorchester and four at-large city councilors.
On November 7, 2023, the general election for the Boston City Council will occur. In this election, all 13 Boston City Councilor seats, not just those representing Dorchester, are open for voting.
To participate in the election, you must register to vote, update your registration, or change your party affiliation by October 28, 2023, 10 days before the election.
Here’s a breakdown of the candidates representing Dorchester on the Boston City Council:
District 3
Long-time councilor Frank Baker has chosen not to seek reelection, leaving the seat vacant. The two candidates competing for this position are John Fitzgerald and Joel Richards.
District 4
Incumbent Councilor Brian Worrell is running unopposed in this district.
District 7
Incumbent Councilor Tania Fernandez Anderson is facing a challenge from former councilor Althea Garrison in this district.
At-large seats
The At-Large Councilors’ seats are highly contested, with three incumbent councilors seeking reelection after Councilor Flaherty opted not to run again. A total of eight candidates are competing for the four at-large seats.
Incumbent councilors running for reelection are Erin Murphy, Ruthzee Louijeune, and Julia Mejia. The remaining five candidates in the race are Catherine Vitale, Shawn Nelson, Bridget Nee-Walsh, Clifton Braithwaite, and Henry Santana.
Who can register to vote?
To be eligible to register and vote in the Boston City elections, as well as any election in Massachusetts, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a resident of Massachusetts
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Not currently incarcerated due to a felony conviction
You have the option to register for voting through online, mail, or in-person channels. For comprehensive guidance on the voting process, from registration to finding your polling location, please visit the City of Boston’s official resources.
Planning to vote? Share your thoughts on the candidates in the comments section below.
