Cast Your Vote: The Boston Politics 2013 Awards

It’s been an exceptionally busy political year in the Boston area, with elections (regular or special) for mayor, city council, US Senate, US Congress, state senate, and two state representatives. It’s now time for you—yes, you!—to vote on the Boston Politics 2013 Awards, our completely unscientific polling on the players who deserve special recognition this year.

Vote between now and Monday, Dec. 16, and we’ll post the full results along with my own picks in each category.

The year began with John Connolly daring to take on Tom Menino for mayor, and ended with Connolly dueling Marty Walsh for the post instead. Ed Markey made winning a US Senate seat look easy; Katherine Clark bested a strong field to win the special election primary for Markey’s congressional seat. Linda Dorcena Forry won the historic 1st Suffolk state senate seat—and the right to host the South Boston St. Patrick’s breakfast—after Jack Hart resigned. Ayanna Pressley topped the ticket for City Council at-large, making her the top vote-getter in the city.

Gabriel Gomez rose from obscurity to win the GOP primary in the special US Senate election, and gave Markey a good fight in the general election. John Barros didn’t win his long-shot mayoral campaign, but turned himself into a major political player nonetheless. Michelle Wu, at age 28, won an at-large City Council seat, while Tim McCarthy and Josh Zakim won district seats. Jay Livingstone and Dan Cullinane won special elections to replace former state representatives Marty Walz and Forry.

Michael Flaherty won his way back onto the City Council after four years in exile. Charlotte Golar Richie returned from a 20-year hiatus to finish third in the mayoral race. Charlie Baker shrugged off his 2010 gubernatorial drubbing and launched his 2014 campaign, clearing the GOP field for himself. District City Councilor Bill Linehan won re-election in his rematch against Suzanne Lee, after being written off for dead by many—especially after he suggested that Forry not be allowed to host the St. Patrick’s breakfast.