# 2013 Boston mayoral election

"none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
Elections in Massachusetts :
General
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022 :
Federal government
U.S. President
1788–89
1792
1796
1800
1804
1808
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
Dem
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
Dem
2004
Dem
GOP
2008
Dem
GOP
2012
2016
Dem
GOP
2020
Dem
GOP
2024
Dem
GOP
U.S. Senate
Class 1: 1788
1790
1796 (S)
1796
1798
1800 (S)
1803
1808 (S)
1810 (S)
1811
1813 (S)
1815
1815 (S)
1816 (S)
1818 (S)
1820
1820 (S)
1822
1826
1827
1829 (S)
1833
1839
February 1841 (S)
1845
1851
1851 (S)
1857
1863
1869
1874 (S)
1875
1881
1887
1893
1899
1905
1911
1916
1922
1928
1934
1940
1946
1952
1958
1962 (S)
1964
1970
1976
1982
1988
1994
2000
2006
2010 (S)
2012
2018
2024
Class 2: 1788
1793
1796
1800 (S)
1803 (S)
1805
1810
1811 (S)
1816
1822 (S)
1826 (S)
1828
1835
January 1841 (S)
1841
1845 (S)
1847
1853
1855 (S)
1859
1865
1871
1873 (S)
1877
1883
1889
1895
1901
1905 (S)
1907
1913
1918
1924
1930
1936
1942
1944 (S)
1948
1954
1960
1966
1972
1978
1984
1990
1996
2002
2008
2013 (S)
2014
2020
U.S. House
1788/1789
1790/1792
1792/1793
1794/1795
1796/1797
1798/1799
1800/1801
1802/1803
1804
1806
1808
1810/1811
1812/1813
1814/1815
3rd
1816/1817
1818/1819
1820/1821
1822/1823
1824/1825
1826/1827
1828
1830/1832
1833/1834
1834/1835
1836
1838/1839
1840/1841
1842/1844
1844/1846
1846
1848/1850
1850/1851
1852
1854
1856
1858
1860
1862
1864
1866
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1991 (1st)
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2001 (9th)
2002
2004
2006
2007 (5th)
2008
2010
2012
2013 (5th)
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
Governor
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
Apr. 1831
Nov. 1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
State Senate
1787
1824
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
State House
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2020
2022
2024
Governor's Council
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2024
Ballot measures
1980: Proposition 2½
2002: English Language Education in Public Schools
2006: 2008
Greyhound Protection
Sensible Marijuana Policy
State Income Tax Repeal
2010: No Sales Tax for Alcohol
Sales Tax Relief
Comprehensive Permits and Regional Planning
2012: Right to Repair
Death with Dignity
Medical Marijuana
2014: Automatic Gas Tax Increase Repeal
Expansion of Bottle Deposits
Casino Repeal
Paid Sick Days
2016: Expand Slot Machine Gaming
Charter School Expansion
Farm Animal Confinement
Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana
2018: Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination
2020: pending :
Boston
Mayor
1822
1823
1824
Apr 1825
Dec 1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844–45
Dec 1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853–54
Dec 1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1897
1899
1901
1903
1905
1907
1910
1914
1917
1921
1925
1929
1933
1937
1941
1945
1949
1951
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025
City council
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023 :
Springfield
Mayor
1953
1955
1957
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973 (S)
1973
1975
1977
1979
1983
1981
1985
1987
1989 (S)
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Worcester
Mayor
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023 :
Massachusetts portal :
vte :
* This article is part of a series about Marty Walsh
Massacusetts State Repressentative (1997–2013)
Legislative sessions
1997–98
1999–2000
2001–02
2003–04
2004–05
2005–06
2007–08
2009–10
2011–12
2013–14
Elections
1996
1997
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
Mayor of Boston (2013–2021)
Tenure
Elections
2013
2017
COVID-19 pandemic
timeline
Olympic bid
Grand Prix of Boston
Closure of Long Island Bridge
Mass. and Cass
Shurtleff v. City of Boston
U.S. Secretary of Labor (2021–2023)
Biden Cabinet
2022 United States railroad labor dispute
Other
National Hockey League Players' Association
2024 Democratic VP candidate vetting team :
vte :
The 2013 Boston mayoral election occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. Incumbent mayor Thomas Menino had declined to run for re-election to a sixth term. A non-partisan preliminary election was held on Tuesday, September 24, 2013. 12 candidates made the ballot to replace Menino, with state representative Marty Walsh and at-large city councilor John R. Connolly advancing to the general election. Walsh was elected to his first term, defeating Connolly by 3% of the vote, and was inaugurated on Monday, January 6, 2014.
Walsh and Connolly advanced to the general election after outperforming a crowded field in the nonpartisan primary. Other candidates in the primary included Charlotte Golar Richie (former state representative and former city chief of housing & neighborhood development), Daniel F. Conley (Suffolk County district attorney and former district city councilor), Felix G. Arroyo (at-large city councilor), John Barros (civic organizer and former Boston School Committee member), Robert Consalvo (state representative), Michael P. Ross (district city councilor), Bill Walczak (community activist), and Charles Yancey (district city councilor).

## Background

Incumbent mayor Thomas Menino had held office ever since ascending to the mayoralty following the resignation of Raymond Flynn in 1993. In 2013, Menino opted against seeking what would have been his sixth elected term as mayor. He announced his decision not to seek reelection on March 27, 2013.
Without an incumbent seeking reelection, this made the 2013 election the first open election since 1984, thirty years earlier. Menino did not endorse a candidate.

## Candidates
### Candidates who advanced to general election

| Candidate | Experience | Announced |
| The following candidates advanced to the general election held on November 5. | The following candidates advanced to the general election held on November 5. | The following candidates advanced to the general election held on November 5. |
| John Connolly | Boston City Councilor At-Large (2008-2014) | February 26, 2013 |
| Marty Walsh | Massachusetts state representative from the 13th Suffolk district (1997-2014) | May 4, 2013 |

### Candidates eliminated in the primary

| Candidate | Experience | Announced |
| The following candidates were eliminated in the primary election and did not advance to the general election. | The following candidates were eliminated in the primary election and did not advance to the general election. | The following candidates were eliminated in the primary election and did not advance to the general election. |
| Felix G. Arroyo | Boston City Councilor At-Large (2010-2014) | June 15, 2013 |
| John Barros | Former Boston School Committee member (2010–2013) Former executive director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative | April 25, 2013 |
| Charles Clemmons | Co-owner of TOUCH 106.1FM Former police officer | August 21, 2011 |
| Daniel F. Conley | Suffolk County District Attorney (2002-2018) | April 3, 2013 |
| Robert Consalvo | Boston City Councilor from District 5 (2002-2014) | April 4, 2013 |
| Charlotte Golar Richie | Former Massachusetts state representative from the 5th Suffolk district (1995–1999) | May 1, 2013 |
| Michael P. Ross | Boston City Councilor from District 8 (2000-2013) Former President of the Boston City Council (2009–2010) | April 11, 2013 |
| Bill Walczak | Co-founder of the Codman Square Health Center Community organizer | April 6, 2013 |
| David James Wyatt | Candidate for Boston City Council in 2007 | |
| Charles Yancey | Boston City Councilor from District 4 (1984-2015) | July 1, 2013 |

### Withdrew

* Frank John Addivinola, Jr., candidate for state senate in 2010 and U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 (running for councilor-at-large)
* Lee Buckley
* Robert Cappucci, former Boston School Committee member and retired Boston Police officer (failed to get enough signatures)
* Miniard Culpepper, reverend
* Will Dorcena, activist and at-large candidate for city council in 2011 (failed to get enough signatures)
* Althea Garrison, former state representative (ran for councilor-at-large)
* John Laing, businessman (failed to get enough signatures)
* Divo Rodrigues Monteiro, educator and poet (ran for city council in District 4)
* David Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports (failed to get enough signatures)
* Gareth R. Saunders, former city councilor (ran for councilor-at-large)
* Hassan A. Williams, candidate for state senate in 2010
* Christopher G. Womack

### Declined

* Andrea Cabral, Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security and former Suffolk County Sheriff
* Sonia Chang-Díaz, state senator
* Richard A. Davey, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation
* John Fish, CEO of Suffolk Construction Company
* Michael F. Flaherty, former city councillor (ran for City Council At-Large)
* Paul Grogan, president of The Boston Foundation
* Maura Hennigan, Suffolk County criminal courts clerk
* Russell Holmes, state representative
* Tito Jackson, city councillor (ran for reelection)
* Bill Linehan, city councillor (running for reelection)
* Stephen Lynch, U.S. Representative
* Ralph Martin, former Suffolk County District Attorney
* Thomas Menino, incumbent Mayor of Boston
* Stephen J. Murphy, president of the Boston City Council (ran for reelection)
* Matt O'Malley, city councillor (ran for reelection)
* Ayanna Pressley, city councillor (ran for reelection)
* James Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority
* Marie St. Fleur, former state representative
* John M. Tobin, Jr., former city councillor

## Primary
### Campaign

Incumbent mayor Tom Menino had served since being elected to the position in 1993, making him the longest-serving mayor in Boston's history. The first candidate to announce a campaign for mayor was at-Large Boston City Councillor John R. Connolly in February 2013, who announced an intent to base his campaign on reforming public education and opposing the influence of the Boston Teachers Union. Connolly's campaign was considered to have little chance of succeeding if Menino decided to run for re-election, as the incumbent was highly popular in the city. On March 28, Menino announced that he would not be seeking re-election, stating that health issues were preventing him from carrying out his tasks as mayor to a satisfactory standard.
Soon after Menino's announcement, a field of candidates began to amass. On April 3, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley became the second candidate to join the field (after Connolly). The next day, district city councillor Rob Consalvo (a resident of the Hyde Park neighborhood) announced his candidacy. On April 7, activist Bill Walczak (a resident of the Dorchester neighborhood) entered the field. On April 10, state representative Marty Walsh and at-large city councillor Felix G. Arroyo both announced their candidacies. Several other candidates, including City Councillors Michael P. Ross and Charles Yancey, former state representative Charlotte Golar Richie, and Boston School Committee member John Barros announced campaigns over the following weeks. In total, twelve candidates made the ballot for the preliminary election.
Connolly’s status as the only mayoral candidate to have announced a campaign before Menino declared that he would not run for re-election gave him an advantage in that it had given him more time to build a campaign apparatus and political platform.
Upon his entry into the race Walsh had demonstrated organizational strength by gathering the required signatures to get on the ballot in a single day, which impressed political insiders and showcased the influence of the labor unions who were supporting his candidacy. The advantages enjoyed by the two men led to them being considered the frontrunners for the two spots in the general election in the campaign's early stages.
By mid-September, it was suggested by radio station WBUR-FM that a clear top tier of candidates had arisen in the race, consisting of Connolly, Walsh, Golar Richie, Arroyo and Conley. Golar Richie's campaign was viewed as having gained significant momentum by this stage on the race, helped by her status as the most prominent black and only female candidate in the race.

### Debates

2013 Boston mayoral election primary debates :
| No. | Date & time | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Felix G. Arroyo | John Barros | Charles Clemons | Daniel F. Conley | John R. Connolly | Robert Consalvo | Charlotte Golar Richie | Michael P. Ross | Bill Walczak | Marty Walsh | David Wyatt | Charles Yancey |
| 1 | August 7, 2013 | Boston.com | Matt Lauzon Dante Ramos | | A | A | A | A | A | P | A | P | A | P | A | A |
| 2 | September 9, 2013 | | Joe Battenfield | | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 3 | September 12, 2013 | BUSED | Dean Hardin Coleman Alyssa Sarkis | | P | P | P | P | P | A | A | A | A | A | A | P |

### Endorsements
#### State officials

* Byron Rushing, state representative

#### Labor unions

* Boston Teachers Union (co-endorsement with Consalvo)

#### State officials

* Carlos Henriquez, state representative

#### Newspapers and publicatipns

* The Boston Globe (co-endorsement with Connolly)

#### Individuals

* Danny Glover, actor
* Kim Janey, community leader

#### State officials

* Carlo Basile, state representative (switched endorsement to Connolly)

#### Newspapers and publications

* Boston Herald (co-endorsement with Connolly)

#### State officials

* Carlo Basile, state representative (switched endorsement from Conley)
* Nick Collins, state representative
* Edward F. Coppinger, state representative
* Jay Livingstone, state representative

#### Local officials

* Matt O'Malley, Boston City Councillor

#### Organizations

* Democrats for Education Reform

#### Newspapers and publications

* The Boston Globe (co-endorsement with Barros)
* Boston Herald (co-endorsement with Conley)

#### State officials

* Kevin Honan, state representative
* Anthony Petruccelli, state senator
* Angelo Scaccia, state representative

#### Labor unions

* Boston Teachers Union (co-endorsement with Arroyo)

#### Federal officials

* Barbara Lee, U.S. Representative from CA-13

#### State officials

* Sonia Chang-Díaz, state senator
* Gloria Fox, state representative
* Russell Holmes, state representative
* Aaron Michlewitz, state representative
* Michael Moran, state representative

#### Individuals

* Louis Gossett Jr., actor
* Gloria Steinem, journalist and activist

#### Organizations

* EMILY's List

#### Newspapers and publications

* Bay Windows

#### State officials

* Liz Malia, state representative
* Eugene O'Flaherty, state representative

#### Labor unions

* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 718
* International Brotherhood of Teamsters
* International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
* United Association
* United Steelworkers

### Polling
#### Graphical summary

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Felix Arroyo | John Barros | Daniel Conley | John Connolly | Robert Consalvo | Charlotte Golar Richie | Michael Ross | Bill Walczak | Marty Walsh | Charles Yancey | Other/ Undecided |
| Suffolk University/Boston Herald | September 12–17, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 6% | 3% | 12% | 16% | 8% | 10% | 5% | 6% | 12% | 1% | 22% |
| Mass Inc | September 14–16, 2013 | 487 | ± 4.4% | 8% | 3% | 8% | 15% | 5% | 10% | 6% | 4% | 12% | 1% | 27% |
| UNH | September 5–12, 2013 | 411 | ± 4.8% | 6% | 6% | 10% | 15% | 6% | 10% | 5% | 4% | 10% | 3% | 27% |
| Suffolk University/Boston Herald | July 10–15, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 4% | 1% | 9% | 12% | 8% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 11% | 3% | 40% |

### Results

2013 Boston mayoral election :
| Primary election |||||
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Marty Walsh | 20,854 | 18.47 |
| | Nonpartisan | John R. Connolly | 19,435 | 17.21 |
| | Nonpartisan | Charlotte Golar Richie | 15,546 | 13.77 |
| | Nonpartisan | Daniel Conley | 12,775 | 11.32 |
| | Nonpartisan | Felix Arroyo | 9,895 | 8.76 |
| | Nonpartisan | John Barros | 9,148 | 8.10 |
| | Nonpartisan | Robert Consalvo | 8,603 | 7.62 |
| | Nonpartisan | Michael Ross | 8,164 | 7.23 |
| | Nonpartisan | Bill Walczak | 3,825 | 3.39 |
| | Nonpartisan | Charles Yancey | 2,389 | 2.12 |
| | Nonpartisan | Charles Clemons | 1,800 | 1.59 |
| | Nonpartisan | David Wyatt | 334 | 0.30 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 130 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 112,898 | 100% |

## General election
### Campaign

Both Connolly and Walsh were regarded to be liberal Democrats, with Connolly being perceived as being focused on education and Walsh having the reputation of being the candidate of organised labor. Connolly was considered the frontrunner as the campaign began, as he was more well-known and was considered to have a superior field organisation to Walsh. However, Walsh's campaign was boosted by large spending by labor unions, who were dissatisfied with Connolly due to his staunch support for charter schools. Connolly raised objections to the support that Walsh had received, arguing that it would make him beholden to the unions if he were to win, but he made sure to temper his criticism to avoid alienating labor unions from his campaign completely. Walsh responded to this criticism by arguing that his ties to labor would make him more effective at negotiating contracts and preventing strikes. Walsh's campaign was also boosted by endorsements from his preliminary rivals Golar Richie, Barros and Arroyo.
The relative lack of policy differences between the candidates led to the election largely coming down to a contest between biographies and personalities. Walsh supporters derided Connolly as a "corporate lawyer" while Connolly supporters characterised Walsh as a puppet of organized labor. Connolly's base of support largely came from his home neighborhood of West Roxbury and the relatively affluent communities in Boston's west, while Walsh had support from both the more working-class, culturally conservative areas in South Boston and from left-wing activists who had been invigorated by Elizabeth Warren's successful campaign for U.S. Senate the previous year.

### Debates

2013 Boston mayoral general election debates :
| No. | Date & time | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | Participants |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee | John R. Connolly | Marty Walsh |
| 1 | October 15, 2013 | The Boston Globe WBZ-TV | Jon Keller Akilah Johnson | | P | P |
| 2 | October 23, 2013 | WGBH-TV | Margery Eagan Jim Braude | | P | P |

### Endorsements

Endorsements in bold endorsed after the primary.

#### State officials

* Carlo Basile, state representative
* Nick Collins, state representative
* Edward F. Coppinger, state representative
* Sal DiDomenico, state representative
* Jay Livingstone, state representative
* Aaron Michlewitz, state representative

#### Local officials

* Mark Ciommo, Boston City Councillor
* Salvatore LaMattina, Boston City Councillor
* Matt O'Malley, Boston City Councillor

#### Individuals

* Ernie Boch Jr., business executive (Republican)
* Jim Rappaport, former Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party (Republican)

#### Organizations

* Democrats for Education Reform

#### Newspapers and publications

* BostInno
* The Daily Free Press
* The Boston Globe
* Boston Herald

#### Federal officials

* Mike Capuano, U.S. Representative from MA-07

#### State officials

* Linda Dorcena Forry, former state representative
* Mel King, former state representative; Candidate for Mayor in 1983
* Liz Malia, state representative
* Therese Murray, state senator and President of the Massachusetts Senate
* Eugene O'Flaherty, state representative
* Anthony Petruccelli, state senator
* Charlotte Golar Richie, former state representative; former Candidate for Mayor
* Marie St. Fleur, former state representative

#### Local officials

* Felix D. Arroyo, former Boston City Councillor
* Felix G. Arroyo, Boston City Councillor; former Candidate for Mayor
* John Barros, former Boston School Committee member; former Candidate for Mayor
* Tito Jackson, Boston City Councillor

#### Labor unions

* International Association of Fire Fighters Local 718
* International Brotherhood of Teamsters
* International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
* Service Employees International Union Local 888
* United Association
* United Steelworkers

### Polling
#### Graphical summary

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Marty Walsh | John Connolly | Undecided |
| Suffolk University/Boston Herald | October 29–31, 2013 | 555 | ± 4.2% | 46% | 43% | 11% |
| UMass Poll, UMass Amherst | October 22–26, 2013 | 405 | ± 5.9% | 47% | 40% | 13% |
| University of New Hampshire | October 17–22, 2013 | 465 | ± 4.5% | 38% | 47% | 15% |
| Mass Inc | October 19–20, 2013 | 503 | ± 4.4% | 39% | 41% | 20% |
| Sage Systems | October 16–17, 2013 | 375 | ± 3.9% | 36% | 40% | 24% |
| UMass Lowell | October 2–7, 2013 | 375 | ± 6% | 37% | 45% | 18% |
| S.U./Herald | October 2–6, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 34% | 41% | 23% |
| Anderson Robbins ^ | September 28–30, 2013 | 800 | ± ? | 32% | 44% | 24% |
| S.U./Herald | September 12–17, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 29% | 44% | 28% |
* ^ Internal poll for John Connolly campaign

#### With Conley

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Daniel Conley | John Connolly | Undecided |
| S.U./Herald | September 12–17, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 29% | 36% | 35% |

#### With Consalvo

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | John Connolly | Robert Consalvo | Undecided |
| S.U./Herald | September 12–17, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 47% | 25% | 28% |

#### With Golar Richie

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | John Connolly | Charlotte Golar Richie | Undecided |
| Suffolk University/Boston Herald | September 12–17, 2013 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 32% | 25% |

### Results

Walsh defeated Connolly by a narrow margin of 3.5%, with Connolly conceding and stating he believed Walsh would be a successful mayor. There were a total of 560 write-in votes, the largest recipient of these being baseball player David Ortiz.
2013 Boston mayoral general election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Marty Walsh | 72,583 | 51.54 |
| | Nonpartisan | John R. Connolly | 67,694 | 48.07 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 560 | 0.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,837 | 100% |