Cambridge City Council hopefuls hit polling places early this morning, signs in tow, as the first wave of in-person voters flocked to the polls to decide which nine candidates will become city councillors for the next two years.
Morse Elementary School was a destination for a few candidates hoping to get out the vote. Ayah Al-Zubi arrived at 7:00 AM just as polls were beginning to open, with fellow challenger Elizabeth Bisio arriving soon after.
“I’m feeling grateful,” Al-Zubi said. “I feel like I’m running on adrenaline, caffeine, and faith.”
Al-Zubi was out until 4:00 AM this morning, leaving campaign literature on as many doorsteps as possible. Al-Zubi has led one of the most impressive volunteer efforts this race, with over 100 people working to help her get out the vote.
Al-Zubi came in 10th out of the nine available city council seats in the 2023 race. This year, she thinks her odds of making it onto council are better. “Compared to 2023, we’ve doubled to tripled our fundraising. We’ve doubled to tripled our field strategy,” she said. “So we’re putting it all on the line, and we feel like that hopefully will give us the results that we’re looking for.”
Bisio was joined by her dog, Sammy, at the early morning campaign stop. Bisio, a member of the “Repeal Slate” intent on undoing neighborhood upzoning measures passed in February, says that her campaign has gained some momentum in the last few weeks of campaigning.
“Things definitely picked up steam,” she said. “I’m feeling pretty confident that I have some sort of shot.”
If she should fall short, Bisio, a first-time candidate, hinted at a future run.
“Whatever the result, it’s been a really, really wonderful experience,” she said. “I’m excited to try again in 2027. It was my first time running, and so I kind of was learning the ropes … I met so many wonderful people through the process and really excited to continue those relationships.”
Outside the Peabody School in North Cambridge, councillor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler was out asking for voters to elect him to a third term on city council. His vote in favor of citywide upzoning and multi-family housing has been a point of discussion with voters.
“I talk to folks … and say, ‘buildings like yours, your triple decker, or the one I live in, were still illegal to build in parts of the city until this year. The only thing you could build was a detached, single-family home, which in a place like Cambridge, goes for two, three million (dollars),’” he said.
Sobrinho-Wheeler is endorsed by A Better Cambridge, which advocates for the rapid development of new housing to ease affordability in Cambridge. But Sobrinho-Wheeler says he doesn’t expect all voters to only rank candidates from a single slate.
“People want to see somebody who is engaging with them, actually showing up. Not just caring about the issues, but caring about the individual people,” he said. In addition to advocating for upzoning, “I’ve tried to do a lot of addressing folks’ sidewalk issues and tree issues, all those pieces as well.”
While exact voter turnout numbers will not be available until the final votes are tallied, over 20,000 Cantabrigians are expected to vote this cycle. Nearly 70,000 people were registered for the 2023 municipal election, but only 24,000 voted – a turnout rate of 34%. Voting by mail has become increasingly common. According to Mayor Denise Simmons, the city sent out over 10,000 ballots to registered voters by mail this cycle.
Simmons was outside city hall holding her own sign and greeting Central Square voters as they entered their polling spot. She reflected on the external forces that might drive turnout this year.
“Federal politics may drive voter participation,” she said. “Some people feel hopeless and helpless, but this is one place where you can feel important.”
She also noted changes to Cambridge’s electorate just in the last two years, mentioning that some of her supporters in previous years have left the city due to unaffordability.
“The demographics have also changed, as Cambridge has gotten a little bit more expensive,” she said.
Polls continue to be open city-wide until 8:00 PM tonight. To read more on this year’s candidates, read our election guide.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.