Wu Poised for Second Term as Kraft Withdraws from Boston Race

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu appears poised for an easier path to a second term after Josh Kraft, the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, announced Thursday that he was suspending his mayoral campaign days after both advanced from Tuesday’s preliminary election. The announcement, made on local television and in a letter to supporters, came after preliminary results showed Wu with a commanding lead and Kraft trailing as the runner up in the nonpartisan contest in Boston.

Unofficial tallies and media reports differed on exact vote shares, with some accounts putting Wu at roughly 60 percent and others near 72 percent, and Kraft between about 23 and 29 percent. The Boston Elections Department said turnout was low, with more than 75,000 ballots cast as of early evening Tuesday for an estimated turnout near 18 percent. Officials have not yet finalized certified results.

Kraft, who invested heavily in his campaign and loaned more than 5 million dollars to it, said in a message to supporters that he was stepping aside in the interest of civic unity. "What is right for this city, during a time in America where we need to come closer together despite all our differences, is not to...