Kim Janey Becomes Boston’s First Woman And Black Mayor

Kim Janey has made history being elected Boston’s first Black mayor.

In the 199 years since the city of Boston has had a mayor, only white men have filled the role.

Until Monday, that is, when Kim Janey became the first woman and first Black to serve as the city’s mayor, stepping in as acting mayor following Marty Walsh’s departure.

Marty Walsh resigned Monday evening to become President Joe Biden’s labor secretary. The Boston City Council President Janey, who is Black, stepped into the role of acting mayor and is scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing in Wednesday.

Walsh, the latest in a long line of largely Irish-American Boston mayors stretching back the better part of a century — with one notable Italian-American exception — said he welcomed the change.

“History will be made tonight,” Walsh said earlier in the evening. “We’re an extremely diverse city from different backgrounds and different nationalities and different skin colors. I think it’s a good thing for our city. I think it’s a great thing for our city.”