Battenfeld: Could Michelle Wu crack the national ticket in 2028?
With her decisive reelection victory, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has solidified her position as a rising star in the Democratic Party, prompting speculation about her potential candidacy for national office in the upcoming 2028 presidential election. Wu, a Harvard-educated millennial and the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, has demonstrated her political prowess by not only winning a second term but also by decisively defeating her rivals, including the son of billionaire Patriots owner Robert Kraft. At just 43 years old by the next election, she mirrors the age of John F. Kennedy when he took office, making her a compelling candidate for both party leadership and national visibility.
Wu’s political capital is currently at an all-time high, and her recent success in securing progressive candidates on the Boston City Council has further bolstered her influence. She has positioned herself as a formidable opponent to the Republican establishment, effectively navigating challenges from Congress and framing her local victories as a broader national test against the chaotic backdrop of the Trump administration. Her ability to craft narratives, such as declaring Boston the “safest major city in America,” showcases her skills in political communication, which could resonate with voters across the country.
While Wu has recently indicated that she will not pursue a Senate seat against incumbent Ed Markey, her ambitions appear to extend beyond local politics. Recognized as one of the most promising rising leaders in the Democratic Party, Wu’s trajectory suggests she will remain a key figure in national discussions leading up to 2028. With the party increasingly leaning toward progressive candidates, her identity as a young woman of color who has thrived in the face of adversity positions her as an appealing alternative to more established figures. As the political landscape evolves, Michelle Wu’s name will likely be at the forefront of conversations about the future of the Democratic Party, whether as a presidential candidate or a vice-presidential contender.
With her reelection in the rear view mirror, Michelle Wu’s political capital is at an all-time high. The big question now is how she’ll cash it in on the national stage.
A run for president? Not out of the question.
Democrats desperately searching for a presidential savior in 2028 could well turn to Wu, Boston’s dynamic millennial mayor who just destroyed her rivals to return for a second term.
Wu would be 43 by the time the next election rolls around, the same age as Boston’s John F. Kennedy when he was inaugurated as the nation’s 35th president.
Wu is Harvard educated, the mother of 3, the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, articulate, free of any personal scandals. Such a force locally she drove a well-known billionaire’s son out of the race.
When challenged by Republicans in Congress, she put them in her place.
She’s the perfect anti-MAGA candidate. Wu checks all the boxes.
She knows how to spin a narrative, like saying Boston is the “safest major city in America.” If you repeat it enough, it becomes true.
As the Democratic Party veers to the extreme left, Wu has all the ingredients for what their voters are looking for in 2028 – a young woman of color who has stood up to President Donald Trump’s administration and not only survived but flourished as Trump’s public enemy number one.
In an impressive display of clout, the mayor on Tuesday succeeded in getting her handpicked flunkies voted in on the Boston City Council, which Wu-style progressives have a stranglehold on.
She claimed voters delivered a “landslide” victory for at-large incumbent Henry Santana, possibly the only time a fourth place finisher has been described in those over-the-top terms.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Wu cast her election victory as a national test against Trump.
“This year, against the backdrop of a federal administration’s chaos and cruelty, we faced a choice: cave to the pressure, backtrack, change course, or double down on the values that founded our nation. That’s what’s at stake,” Wu said. “That is what this election was about here in Boston, not just how we lead, but what we believe.”
Wu seems to have taken herself out of a run for U.S. Senate challenging Democratic incumbent Ed Markey, letting U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley take that one if she wants.
But you can pretty much guarantee Wu will be part of the national conversation in 2028, whether as a candidate at the top of the ticket or a VP contender.
If U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg can be viewed as presidential material, why not Michelle Wu who in fact has more credentials and experience than AOC or Buttigieg?
While some local observers and Wu critics may scoff at the suggestion of her on the national ticket, not everyone nationally views her that way.
Bostonians often deride our local pols’ national ambitions despite the fact that some of them have run for and won national office. Kennedy won the 1960 election, and Boston Mayor Kevin White was nearly chosen as running mate for Democrat George McGovern in 1972.
Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis won the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, before he was thumped by Republican George H.W. Bush in the general election.
A handful of other Massachusetts pols, including former Sen. Paul Tsongas, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and former Gov. Deval Patrick, have run for president but without much success. Tsongas won the New Hampshire primary but was defeated by Bill Clinton in the 1992 Democratic contest, and Moulton and Patrick’s campaigns never went anywhere.
Wu may deny she has any national ambitions but her actions tell a different story. The Boston mayor has repeatedly sought to elevate her national profile during her first four year term.
Wu was just named one of the 25 “most promising rising Democratic leaders who have yet to become household names” by New York Magazine.
She just made the cut because she is 40 years old (not exactly young any more) but Wu is probably the most well-known Democrat nationally to crack the list.
“Although they don’t run the country yet, the visions of these young politicians speak to the problems the party is grappling with: how to deliver on working class issues, expand the party’s tent while holding onto its values, and stand up to the current administration,” the magazine writes.
Wu vanquished opponent Josh Kraft, son of billionaire Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, in the preliminary election, by such an overwhelming margin that he was forced to drop out.
No other Boston mayor can claim that in their resume.
