Latino voters

Last Friday, news that U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley would endorse Michelle Wu underscored growing support for the at-large councilor’s bid for the mayor’s seat.

Making up just over 15% of the electorate Latino voters could be a major influence in deciding who sits in the mayor’s office next. At the same time, low turnout and diverse political leanings across the community could prove a challenge to campaigns in coming weeks.

Political insiders are betting on the campaigns of acting Mayor Kim Janey and At-Large City Councilor Michelle Wu, with the pair receiving the lion’s share of backing from the city’s politicians, unions and base-building groups. Last week, however, when JP Progressives was due to make an endorsement, the group’s internal deliberations ended in somewhat of a King Solomon split, with nearly half the members backing Wu and nearly half backing Janey.