Mr. Kraft, 57, who has been active in Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic world for more than 30 years, said at a ceremony in one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods. It was a natural continuation of his advocacy work.
But to many political observers, the event was also an explicit political opportunity, a chance for an aspiring candidate to shake hands, demonstrate interest in the community and, in a sense, take the crowd’s temperature.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has not officially announced her intention to run for re-election next year. But the political sit-down game over who will challenge her is already intense, with a particular focus on her younger brother, Kraft, who insiders say is actively seeking a showdown with her. The company is said to be considering the matter. Although a potential showdown is more than a year and a half away, the speculation suggests that a wealthy political novice candidate like Mr. Kraft could exploit dissatisfaction with Mr. Wu in certain constituencies to form a Republican government. This leads to questions about whether it will be possible to build a coalition for the purpose. A legitimate challenge.
Spurring rumors, in October 2023, Mr. Kraft, who lives in the Boston suburb of Chestnut Hill, bought a North End condominium for more than $2 million, an easy commute from City Hall.
When asked at Sunday’s event whether he was considering running for mayor, Mr. Kraft used a well-worn political excuse and did not explicitly rule it out.
“I’m looking at a lot of opportunities right now, but I don’t have anything to report,” Kraft told a Boston Globe reporter as he headed for the exit to a family gathering to celebrate his nephew’s graduation. . It took Kraft more than 10 minutes to break out of the crowd as community leaders, supporters of various causes, and two City Council members Henry Santana and Julia Mejia sought his attention.
Answers like these have sparked debate around town about Mr. Kraft’s intentions, as has his highly active and well-curated social media presence. In recent months, Mr. Kraft has posted almost daily from his Instagram account, highlighting his nonprofit work and frequent public appearances.
“He’s going to be a formidable candidate,” said Joyce Ferriabaugh Boling, a veteran political strategist in Boston. “He’s done a lot of work in communities of color… [The Krafts] They don’t just pay lip service and write checks; they’re actively involved. ”
Mr. Kraft, chairman of the New England Patriots Foundation, spearheaded numerous philanthropic efforts on behalf of his family and worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston for more than 30 years, including 12 years as president and chief executive. Served as management manager. He currently serves as president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, a historic civil rights organization based in Roxbury.
There will also be a huge amount of craft He has the resources at his disposal to fund his campaigns and benefits from his famous last name. But Jacquetta Van Zandt, a longtime Boston political strategist, said a clear pitch and platform would be needed to overcome Mr. Kraft’s lack of political experience.
“People in the community respect him, they respect him, apart from his family, and they respect his intentions to be on the front lines,” Van Zandt said.But “people outside of the Boys and Girls Club are going to want to know what you’ve done. Where are you taking the city? . . . What’s the difference between that?” [Wu]? “
Historically, if Kraft chooses to challenge Wu, The dismissal of the incumbent mayor It’s nearly impossible. Wu, 39, made history as the first woman and person of color elected to lead the city. Former Boston City Councilman Matt O’Malley said it remains politically popular.
“She ran a really strong administration and the city is in a very good position right now. The streets are clean, crime is down and the economy is thriving,” O’Malley said. She needs more work, but “she has a track record of success that will definitely serve her well if she runs for re-election.”
Nonetheless, Wu has faced widespread criticism, including from communities of color, over some of the policies she plans to put forward, which could present an opportunity for a candidate like Craft to carve out a running lane, political observers said. A spokesman for the mayor’s office declined to comment on rumors of a possible challenge to Craft.
For example, in recent months, Mr. Wu has moved Boston’s most diverse exam school, John D. O’Bryant, from a historically black neighborhood to a predominantly white West Roxbury neighborhood. The plan to relocate received significant backlash. The ensuing uproar ultimately led Wu to reverse his decision.
The city is also in trouble over Mr. Wu’s plan to partner with a private company to redevelop White Stadium for the benefit of Boston Public Schools players and to provide a home for a new women’s professional soccer team. It’s drawing lawsuits from residents and local environmental groups.
“What people want more than anything, what voters want is transparency,” Van Zandt said. “They want to know that they felt like they had a seat at the table. [Wu’s administration] We’re excluding people from those conversations, and I think that’s going to play a role. ”
A backlash from the business community to Mr. Wu’s proposal to temporarily increase commercial real estate tax rates, and the perception that Mr. Wu is far less friendly to corporate interests than his predecessor. It also gives Kraft an opportunity to strip her of the backing of influential real estate and business groups, political observers said.
But Cameron Charbonnier, a political consultant who worked for seven years under former Mayor Martin J. Walsh and was campaign manager for Anissa Essaibi George’s run for office, said it remains to be seen whether anger over the mayor’s unpopular efforts leaves her vulnerable. against Wu.
There’s more than a year until the 2025 election, and there’s also a presidential election, so a lot can still change.
“It’s hard to say exactly what the dynamics are.” [will be]” Charbonnier said. “Being the incumbent mayor of Boston is always going to be an uphill climb, and I think it’s going to give people a lot of pause as they decide whether to do it or not.”
Niki Griswold can be reached at niki.griswold@globe.com. Follow Niki Griswold.
