Mayor Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft sparkle with jokes and criticism at a St. Patrick's Day breakfast.

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Boston's St. Patrick's Day Breakfast brought together political and local leaders for an event filled with humor, Irish culture, and witty commentary. This year, the Boston mayoral race took center stage, with Mayor Michelle Wu and her challenger, Josh Kraft, exchanging jokes and barbs in a festive atmosphere. Below, we'll give you the details of this traditional gathering.

An event full of tradition and politics

State Senator Nick Collins organized the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast at the Ironworkers Local 7 Union Hall in South Boston, a space packed with attendees who enjoyed a menu of muffins, scrambled eggs, sausage, and potatoes. Dressed in shamrocks and shades of green, those in attendance celebrated the contributions of Irish-Americans to Boston's history while listening to speeches and musical performances. Notable guests included Governor Maura Healey, State Senate President Karen Spilka, and Mayor Wu herself.

The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast, a political institution in the city, became the perfect setting for attendees to exchange friendly barbs. Collins opened the event with a rendition of "Take Me Home, Country Roads," adapted as "Please Fix the Streets, Mayor Wu," setting the tone for the day.

Michelle Wu and Kraft: Duels of Wits

Michelle Wu was quick to respond to the challenge. She humorously explained that she brought a doll instead of her newborn baby, Mira, to spare her “two and a half hours of bad jokes.” Michelle Wu was no slouch at the St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, taking the stage with a doll as a “prop baby,” joking that she wouldn’t subject her newborn, Mira, to “two and a half hours of bad jokes.” She greeted the audience warmly, but didn’t miss the opportunity to take a dig at Collins and Councilman Ed Flynn: “It’s great to see so many friends here, and Nick and Ed too,” alluding to past tensions over her proposal for a home-rule petition seeking to ease the impact of taxes on homeowners and landlords.

But the main focus was on Josh Kraft, his rival in the mayoral race. “Josh, welcome to the race, welcome to Boston,” Wu said, poking fun at his recent move to the city and his residence in a $1.42 million condominium, “subsidized” by his father Robert Kraft’s company.

Kraft was quick to criticize the state of Boston's streets, saying he saw a pothole "so big it could fit not one, but two soccer stadiums." This was a nod to Wu's controversial plan to redevelop White Stadium for a professional women's soccer team, a project that has sparked debate. He humorously added, "I should refrain from that joke," alluding to his promise not to intervene in negotiations involving his family's businesses, such as the Kraft Group's project to build a football stadium in Everett.

However, Kraft also acknowledged Wu's talent. He spoke about her recent testimony before Congress, where she faced a Republican investigation into public safety and immigration policies in Boston. “The mayor absolutely killed it. She was flawless, with great lines that knocked those Republicans off their feet. So much so that she now has my vote for U.S. Senator! Watch out, Eddie Markey!” he said, sparking more laughter.

Other highlights from the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast

Governor Maura Healey kept a more low profile this year after her memorable 2024 appearance dressed as a “DunKings” alongside Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. This time, he merely joked about the MBTA, Massachusetts's 250th anniversary celebrations, and speculation about his national ambitions following interviews in the New York Times and Late Night with Seth Meyers.

For her part, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio used the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast to highlight her fight to audit the state legislature. She held up a sign reading "Voter-Mandated Law 72%," recalling public support for her initiative, and sang adapted versions of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" and Katy Perry's "Roar," with lyrics like "The law says we're going to audit you," in a direct challenge to Beacon Hill and Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

The St. Patrick's Day Breakfast not only celebrated Irish heritage but also served as a showcase for current Boston politics. The duel of wits between Wu and Kraft reveals an electoral contest that promises to be intense.

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Fountain: The Boston Globe