Mayor Michelle Wu is entering the mayoral race with a strong lead over her biggest challenger Josh Kraft, according to a new Saint Anselm College NHIOP poll, but pollsters said disapproval numbers on some local issues “could create vulnerabilities” for the incumbent.

“Boston’s young, diverse, and educated electorate appears satisfied with Wu’s leadership,” said Neil Levesque, executive director of Saint Anselm’s New Hampshire Institute of Politics. “Voter disaffection is aimed at Washington, not City Hall, giving Wu a solid foundation as the race begins.”

The poll, based on online surveys of 564 likely voters in Boston collected between April 23 and 25, found Wu leading with 53% of voters saying they would vote for her reelection today and 21% indicating they would vote for Kraft.

Along with Kraft, who stepped down as head of Kraft Family Philanthropies when he announced his campaign, Wu is set to face community activist Domingos DaRosa and City Hall employee Kerry Augustin in the November mayoral election.

The poll took a look at national politics, with 72% of respondents stating the country is on the wrong track while 22% said it is headed in the right direction. Comparatively, 39% said the city is headed in the wrong direction while 46% said its headed in the right direction.

Wu also did well in terms of job approval, with 61% of respondents approving of her performance, and favorability, with 58% approving. Josh Kraft’s favorability stood underwater, with 28% rating him favorably and 36% unfavorably.

“We are not worried about what early polls say, but are focused on building our campaign and engaging with voters about the real challenges they are concerned about,” said Kraft campaign spokesperson Eileen O’Connor.

The poll also pointed to “vulnerabilities” for the incumbent mayor. Of three major local issues, the poll shows, 67% disapprove of the City’s handling of housing costs, 66% disapprove of traffic management, and 57% disapprove of homelessness management.

But the majority of respondents, 70%, said they are overall satisfied with Boston’s quality of life.

“Perhaps more than any other factor, this voter contentment with living in Boston may be any challenger’s biggest obstacle to beating Wu,” the Saint Anselm College pollsters stated.

Kraft had strong leads among some voting groups polled, the poll showed, including Republicans, voters who disapprove of Boston’s sanctuary city status, those unhappy with Boston’s quality of life, and those prioritizing government spending/taxes.

Related Articles

DA Kevin Hayden endorses Mayor Michelle Wu for reelection

Rep. Stephen Lynch gives Mayor Wu a ‘B’ for her first term

Boston Mayoral Poll: Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft 43-29 in first head-to-head survey

White Stadium-plan opponents, Josh Kraft rally in freezing Franklin park as demolition gets underway

Elected Boston school committee at issue again in mayoral race as Josh Kraft expresses support

On the other side, Wu held leads among Democrats; those prioritizing issues like elections/democracy, affordable housing, and the economy/inflation; and those dissatisfied with handling of housing, traffic, homelessness, crime, and transit.

“Kraft has a defined base, but to compete he must broaden support — especially among voters who don’t yet connect the city’s challenges to overall quality of life,” Levesque said. “That will be difficult in an issues environment dominated by national concerns.”