Markey endorses Michelle Wu in race for Boston mayor

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey (D) endorsed Boston gubernatorial candidate Michelle Wu on Wednesday, emphasizing her support for a city-level Green New Deal.

“I’m endorsing Michelle Wu for mayor of Boston because it’s time for a Boston Green New Deal,” Markey said in a video posted on Twitter.

“Michelle is a climate leader and she will make sure that the systemic changes are made in the city of Boston for every child, every family, every worker, so that they can live and work in a sustainable environment,” he added.

Michelle Wu is a climate champion who will deliver a Boston Green New Deal. I’m calling on the movement for a just and livable future to organize and send @wutrain to the mayor’s office. Sign up to join Michelle and me Thursday at 5pm at https://t.co/dPbONFrnAR. #MarkeyverseForWu pic.twitter.com/1xme3oCSzX

— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) October 6, 2021

Wu, an at-large member of the city council, will face off against Dorchester council member Annissa Essaibi George in November, after both candidates advanced in last month’s mayoral runoff race.

The race, regardless of who comes out on top, will be historic: with two women on the ballot, the winner will become the first woman elected to serve as Boston’s mayor.

Wu and Essaibi George are looking to replace acting Mayor Kim Janey, who was elevated to the post after former Mayor Marty Walsh resigned to serve as Secretary of Labor upon President Biden’s nomination.

Wu is also endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the state’s other U.S. Senator, while Essaibi George has secured support from state Rep. Kevin Honan (D) and a number of business groups.

Essaibi George is also seen as a close ally of Walsh.

Markey said he is planning to phone bank for Wu on Thursday, adding that the duo — referring to them as Markeyverse and the Wuverse — will “work hard to make sure that we implement a Green New Deal.”

“If we want to elect Michelle, we have to do the work. We can’t agonize, we have to organize and do it in a way that puts the Green New Deal on the ballot,” he added.

“The Wu Train is moving down the track to election night, we need to get on board and make sure that the Green New Deal for Boston comes in a victor on election night with Michelle Wu,” he added.

A key pillar of Wu’s campaign is climate justice, for which the campaign has proposed a “city-level Green New Deal” that outlines “an ambitious policy roadmap for delivering the kinds of structural changes we need in order to provide our kids a future built on sustainable energy, good jobs, and healthy, connected communities,” according to her website.

Markey has been a vocal supporter of climate legislation. In April, the senator reintroduced the Green New Deal with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Her campaign is also focusing on housing affordability, education equity, public safety, and economic justice and workers’ rights, among other issues.

Wu welcomed Markey’s support, writing on Twitter “’m so excited to welcome Sen. @EdMarkey to our campaign—a leader who deeply understands the urgency of climate justice & why we need a Boston Green New Deal.”

I’m so excited to welcome Sen. @EdMarkey to our campaign—a leader who deeply understands the urgency of climate justice & why we need a Boston Green New Deal.

Markeyverse & Wuniverse, assemble! pic.twitter.com/QpXb5GDV5a

— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) October 6, 2021