BOSTON — Mayor Marty Walsh was re-elected Tuesday to a second four-year term, defeating City Councilor Tito Jackson.

Boston was among several dozen Massachusetts communities that held nonpartisan municipal elections.

Framingham voters elected their first mayor since opting to change from a town to a city form of government.

Yvonne Spicer, a former educator and town meeting member, defeated former state Rep. John Stefanini.

In Lawrence, Mayor Dan Rivera won a rematch with the city’s former mayor, William Lantigua.

The rivalry between the two political figures has often been bitter in the Merrimack Valley city. Rivera ousted Lantigua from office by a narrow margin four years ago.

Advertisement

Jackson, who was vying to be Boston’s first black mayor, called Walsh shortly after 9 p.m. to concede. He told supporters his campaign was about addressing income inequality and the lack of affordable housing in the city.

Boston has had only four mayors in the last 50 years, and no incumbent has lost a re-election bid since the legendary James Michael Curley in 1949.

Walsh, the son of Irish immigrants, emerged from a crowded field four years ago to succeed long-time Mayor Thomas Menino, who retired after five terms. Menino died the following year.

Portions of the city, including the seaport district, have continued to see booming commercial development during Walsh’s tenure. The mayor was credited with helping lure General Electric to move its corporate headquarters to Boston last year.

Critics have accused Walsh of overreaching at times, notably by supporting the city’s aborted bid for the 2024 Olympics.

Newton’s mayoral campaign was a hard-fought affair featuring city councilors Ruthanne Fuller and Scott Lennon vying to succeed outgoing Mayor Setti Warren, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

In Lynn, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy was trying to fend off a challenge from state Sen. Thomas McGee, the co-chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.