One indicator of political candidates’ electoral viablility in Boston is how much money they raise— and how much they spend— in a city election that features two rounds of balloting in September and November. By that metric, Ruthzee Louijeune and Frank Baker are in a strong position as the 2025 city council at-large race approaches its first major hurdle on Sept. 9.
According to a review of reports filed by the various campaigns with the state’s Office of Political Campaign Finance (OCPF), Louijeune has — by far—the biggest campaign war chest, with $188,461 cash on hand in early August. That figure comes after she had already spent roughly $98,000 this year.
Louijeune, who topped the ticket in the 2023 citywide election for council, is a favorite to do so again. The 39-year-old Hyde Park resident also serves as the city council president, which gives her an additional edge over the competition in a 10-person preliminary field.
Frank Baker, who is mounting his first-ever citywide campaign for council after he wrapped up a 10-year stint as the District 3 councillor in 2023, has raised more than $106,000 so far this cycle, according to OCPF reports. And he had a tidy sum— $63,249— left to spend going into the preliminary push in mid-August.
Julia Mejia of Dorchester, who is seeking her third term as a citywide councillor, has the third-largest sum on hand, with $36,734.89 left in her kitty after she spent roughly $84,000 throughout the year so far.
Erin Murphy, who finished in second place in the 2023 balloting to earn her third term on the council, has $31,587 left in her spending account, according to OCPF data. Murphy, who also lives in Dorchester, spent $59,000 on campaign related expenses through Aug. 2.
Of the incumbent at-large councillors, Henry Santana is in the most precarious position based on fundraising. The Roxbury resident, who won election in 2023 by finishing fourth in the citywide council balloting, has struggled, raising just under $37,000 in 2025 and spending most of it before the preliminary. Santana’s bank account stood at $6,325, according to his latest report to OCPF.
First-time candidates typically have a more difficult time raising funds and that’s in evidence from state records, too. Marvin Mathelier, a 39-year-old Jamaica Plain resident, has the most left at his disposal from that group with $16,033. He’s followed closely by Dorchester’s Will Onuoha, 42, who reported $15,946 on hand in August, and Alexandra Valdez, 33, of Hyde Park, with $14,475.
Two other people who made the ballot have barely raised— or spent— any funds to support their campaigns.
Rachel Miselman, 53, of East Boston took in $260 from three donors, including $10 from her own pocket, and has not spent it. Yves Mary Jean, who lives in Mattapan, raised $2,880 this past year. He has $6.92 in the bank, based on a review of OCPF reports.
Flynn tops district councillor field in campaign fund-raising
Although Louijeune has more campaign funds than any other at-large candidate, she’s still way behind the council’s top fundraiser, South Boston’s Ed Flynn, who has $894,559.63 in his coffers, having spent just over $36,000 this year on his re-election to date. Flynn will face two challengers in the preliminary balloting: Charles J. Delaney and Brian M. Foley.
Another district councillor facing two challengers is Brian Worrell, who represents District 4, including parts of Mattapan and Dorchester. He has spent a considerable sum in his re-election efforts this year: $83,773.23, according to the OCPF database. He still has $35,227.87 left to defend his seat against Juwan Skeens, who has just $120 in the bank, and Helen Cameron, a Topliff Street resident who has not made any reports to OCPF.
Enrique Pepen, who represents parts of Mattapan and Hyde Park in District 5, reports $29,142.17 cash on hand through Aug. 21. Of his two opponents in the preliminary, Winston Pierre has $3,590.41 and Sharon L. Hinton has $685.97.
District 3 councillor John FitzGerald, who will sail to a second term with no opponent this fall, has $63,205.20 in his campaign account.
Culpepper top earner in District 7
The contest to replace Tania Fernandes Anderson as the District 7 councillor yielded 11 candidates who will appear on preliminary ballots through Sept. 9. Two of those 11 people will advance to compete in November’s final, but there’s a “haves and have-nots” split in the field that is notable. Only five candidates have shown the sort of financing capacity that’s typically needed to win election.
Miniard Culpepper leads that pack at the moment. An ordained minister from Seaver Street, Culpepper has raised $74,840 and still had a healthy budget— $48,944.01 on hand in mid-August, according to OCPF. Also competitive are Said Ahmed, with $34,308.13 on hand; Mavrick Afonso, who raised $53,724.37 and still has $31,734.22; Said Abdikarim, who raised $50,461.03 and has $14,888.27 left; and Samuel Hurtado, who brought in $30,468.88 this year to date and reports $15,848.39 on hand.
Of the rest of the D-7 field— Tchad Cort has $946; Wawa Bell, $377.37; Roy Owens Sr., $250; Jerome King, $30.64; Natalie Juba-Sunderland, $15.37; and Shawn Nelson, $8.49.
While money isn’t everything in an election cycle, professionally run campaigns need it to pay staff, buy materials like signs and postage costs to communicate with voters.
