Mayor Michelle Wu gave a big boost to Latoya Gayle, a Dorchester woman who is challenging incumbent state Senator Nick Collins this morning during a spirited press conference inside a Dorchester Avenue restaurant.
“Boston deserves representation that shows up and then takes action to solve the challenges that we’re facing. We are tired of the state Senate saying no to everything,” said Wu. “We are tired of our state senate off-loading their elected power to unelected corporate interests to negotiate against Boston families.”
Wu’s vocal public support for Gayle marks a major escalation in a standoff with the State Senate and Collins in particular, whom Wu has blamed as the key obstacle to getting city home rule petitions on tax relief and other measures in her agenda through the legislative process.
Mayor Wu with Latoya Gayle on June 3, 2026. Cassidy McNeeley photo
Collins has also become one of Wu’s most outspoken critics over the last year.
Gayle is one of two Democrats who’ve made it on the ballot to oppose Collins in the Sept. 1 primary election. Juwan Skeens, who has run unsuccessfully before against Collins, also made the ballot.
Wu and Gayle appeared together this morning inside Via Canuccia, a popular bakery and restaurant in the St. Mark’s Area of Dorchester, not far from Gayle’s home.
“I couldn’t be more excited to support LaToya because I have seen you in action,” Wu said. “I know that you will never sit at a table alone, silent when our residents’ lives are at stake.”
“We are tired of our own senators blocking solutions that came out of a vote of the city council and the House of Representatives, town halls, meetings, organizing, unions, state leaders, everyone coming together to say, we need relief, and we need help now,” Wu added.
“We’re tired of feeling like ballot initiatives are the only way to get anything to happen up there,” she said.
Various supporters of Latoya Gayle (center) are shown inside Via Canuccia on Dot Ave. Cassidy McNeeley photo
Also on hand were leaders from two unions — SEIU Local 32BJ and AFSCME Local 703— that also announced their support for Gayle’s candidacy.
Greg Hobson of Local 703 said “thousands of public service workers [live] in the First Suffolk District, and are proud to support Latoya Gayle to be the next state senator.”
“At a time when property taxes continue to place a strain on homeowners and seniors living off incomes. Latoya is committed to pursuing mutual property attacks, relief from, while protecting the essential services of our communities depend on,” said Hobson.
In a statement to the Reporter from a spokesperson, Senator Collins responded: “Senator Nick Collins has proudly represented the First Suffolk in the Senate for the past eight years. He will continue to do what he does every day — partnering with community leaders to address the challenges residents face, building the local economy, providing working families tax relief, fighting for Boston’s underserved populations, leading State efforts to defend democracy, addressing the mental health and substance abuse crisis, keeping our neighborhoods safe and improving our schools.”
Earlier, his campaign circulated internal polling data that they say shows Collins with a commanding lead in the race. Collins, they note, also has a substantiual advantage in fundraising.
Gayle, a 47-year-old mother of four, currently serves as the Senior Director of Advocacy and Family Partnerships at Neighborhood Villages, where she “works to advance policies that support children and families,” according to her campaign.
In a statement, she said she was “honored” to have Wu’s support.
“Mayor Wu has demonstrated that when you show up for communities and lead with courage, you can deliver real results. That’s the approach I’ve taken throughout my career as an advocate, and it’s the approach I’ll bring to the State Senate. The people of the 1st Suffolk deserve a senator who is accessible, accountable, and focused on the challenges families are facing every day, from housing and childcare costs to creating opportunity and strengthening our communities.”
Cassidy McNeeley and Bill Forry contributed to this article.
