Shakeup In Somerville Mayoral Race

SOMERVILLE, MA — All but one candidate running for Mayor of Somerville had their campaigns certified.

Jake Wilson, Willie Burnley Jr., and incumbent Katjana Ballantyne returned their nomination papers with a requisite amount of signatures. William Tauro was the sole candidate not certified, as he reportedly decided against returning the papers thus ending his 2025 campaign.

Tauro expressed how he thought running would be “futile” due to his political ideologies, and that is why he decided not to turn his papers in.

“I’ve come to realize that in a progressive, liberal city like Somerville and beyond, my chances of winning are slim,” Tauro said.

He added that he is not giving up on his public service aspirations, and alluded to pursuing other avenues in the future such as a potential gubernatorial run.

“Through the power of the pen and the reach of the media, I plan to shine a light on the issues that too often go ignored—homelessness, drug addiction, and rising crime,” Tauro said. “These challenges don’t just impact residents; they hit our local businesses hard, too.”

Tauro also ran for mayor back in 2021.