Mayor Michelle Wu was sworn in for her second term on Monday at Symphony Hall. She spent much of 2025 on the campaign trail defending her office from millionaire philanthropist Josh Kraft. When the non-profit leader fell short by 49 points in the preliminary election, Kraft exited the race, paving the way for Wu’s virtually uncontested victory in November.

She celebrated the victories of her first term, constructing 4,200 affordable homes, expanding access to preschool to 5,000 families, and driving gun violence down to “the lowest levels on record.” 

The mayor extended her thanks to the electorate, her fellow elected officials, her family, and the numerous city workers who make everything possible. Though hopeful in tone, Wu recognized numerous obstacles on the horizon.

“Today, the forces we face aren’t British troops on the common or ships in our harbor, but they demand no less ingenuity,” she said. “Isolation, polarization, and misinformation are fraying our connection to trust, truth, and each other. Core industries are losing workers to competitors overseas, and against this backdrop, the federal government is taking aim at the ways we take care of each other.”

She criticized the Trump administration for slashing funding for federal programs, illegal and unconstitutional military action, and enriching billionaire allies at the expense of small businesses and clean energy projects. 

“We will not appease or abet any threat to our city, and we will not wait for permission to build the world our families deserve,” she said. “Over the next four years, Boston will be the proof that the nation we fought for is possible—a place where we take care of each other and take on the challenges that matter the most.”

In her second term, Wu said she hopes to reinforce the foundations of our democracy by improving the municipal government’s ability to produce results. “Repaving streets and sidewalks, tending to our playgrounds and parks, and ensuring that every block of our city is healthy and safe, beautiful and welcoming for every one of our residents.”

Additionally, she said BPS is on track to begin offering college courses to every high school student by the end of 2028 and that her goal is to build the country’s oldest public school district into its best – “So that BPS is the first choice for all of our families.”

“We will revisit school assignments to be simpler and more predictable, reduce time students spend on the bus, and reinvest in advanced coursework, arts, and athletics. And because learning shouldn’t be confined to the first and last bell, with our community partners, we will offer quality before- and after-school programming available and accessible at every BPS school by the start of the 2027 school year,” she said.

Wu also hopes to continue partnering with hospitals, higher education institutions, and industry to ensure Boston remains a place where people come to do good in the world. “Together, we will prepare workers for emerging technology to expand their opportunities rather than be replaced,” she said 

Her Cabinet and the Office of Neighborhood Services will begin holding Mayor’s Office Hours across the city to connect directly with residents, separate what works from what does not, and unstick any city service issue in real time.

“We are the city that created whole new neighborhoods out of swampland and invented the triple-decker to tackle the housing crises of our past. We will not be defeated by the affordability crisis of the present. Together, we will deliver the best city services to all of our residents, set the standard for public education, and build an economy that will thrive for another two-and-a-half centuries,” she said. 

“If we can invent America, then we can be the city that forges the path forward in this moment.”

Image via Mayor Wu on Instagram