First woman of color elected in Boston: On Nov. 2, 36-year-old Democrat Michelle Wu became the first woman and person of color to be elected as mayor of Boston. Wu is the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and said her passion for politics came from growing up unheard in her society. Wu attended Harvard Law School and then served as the President of the Boston City Council before being elected. Two of Wu’s most ambitious pledges focus on housing and public transportation, which is a common theme presented for the residents of Boston.
Significance: The election marks a “turning point for the city”, which has dealt with racial strife throughout its history. With Wu’s election, she ended a 200-year history of electing white men. The mayoral election race between the two candidates reflected the diversity of the city. Black, Latino and Asian residents now make up more than half the population of Boston. Wu promised to center her efforts on the pursuit of racial, economic, and climate justice for the residents of Boston. Wu said that “Boston has the potential to become a worldwide beacon for climate change and environmental justice.”
Republican wins Virginia election: Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in Virginia’s election for governor on Nov. 2. President Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points in 2020. It is the first time in a decade that Virginia elected a Republican governor. McAuliffe focused on national issues, abortion and voting rights, while Youngking campaigned for local issues like education and economy. The Republican party as a whole shifted its focus to schools and the frustrations over mask mandates and mandatory vaccinations. Youngkin also focused on the significance of suburbs and pushed for their votes.
Significance: New York Times columnist Ross Douthat tweeted that Youngkin “should seriously consider running for president in 2024.” Trump will soon recognize the governor-elect as his biggest rival for the GOP’s next presidential nomination. With Democrats ultimately being the majority party for five years, the results of the election showed the decline of Democrat influence. and the divisive transformation of schools caused by the pandemic. If Republican candidates continue to win in 2022, they may have a chance to win Democratic-held suburban congressional seats.
