Local political observers say Boston Mayor Michelle Wu faces both opportunities and risks when she testifies before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Wednesday.
Wu will be testifying alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston of Denver and New York Mayor Eric Adams. All four cities are commonly referred to as “sanctuary cities” because they have policies limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Republicans have claimed those policies hinder law enforcement’s ability to “remove dangerous criminals” from the country.
Erin O’Brien, a political scientist at UMass Boston, said that’s a misrepresentation and oversimplification of the laws.
“She wants to convey that this is not blanket amnesty,” O’Brien said.
Ray La Raja, a political scientist at UMass Amherst, said it’s critical Wu sidestep potential traps. Specifically, La Raja said she should avoid getting involved in constitutional arguments.
“She should talk about public safety, public safety, public safety. That’s how she should go into this,” La Raja said.
Political consultant Doug Rubin said many Americans are looking for leaders who present an alternative viewpoint to the Trump administration, and he believes Wu is well suited to do that.
For that reason, he thinks the committee hearing is an opportunity for her to garner support among voters back home.
“Her constituents are looking for somebody to stand up for the values that they care about,” he said. “Just the contrast of her standing up there and standing up for what she cares about and what Boston cares about, I think, is going to be a good opportunity for her.”
Andrea Cabral, a former Suffolk County sheriff and state secretary of public safety, agrees that Wu can make a strong case. She said the four mayors each have a choice to make: use the opportunity as a call to action, or remain calm and collected.
“One personality might be more suited to being more of a firebrand than another, and it could equal an interesting balance,” Cabral, who is a regular contributor to GBH’s Boston Public Radio, said. “I think her personality is to make her case calmly and thoroughly.”
Cabral said she hopes the mayors have coordinated their approaches. But even with advance planning, they will have to be agile.
“When you’re dealing with a bad-faith broker that has a lot of power, it’s very difficult. You have to think quickly on your feet and you’ve got to make some decisions in the moment,” she said.
Along with the opportunities Wu has going before Congress, her testimony also carries risks. Any moment in which Wu stumbles has the potential to hurt her politically.
“She can control what she does. She can’t control the narrative or the story that emerges,” O’Brien said. “But one quick soundbite can unrepresentatively carry the day.”
She added that Wu should play to the middle to avoid being labeled an “out-of-touch liberal” and be careful with her language.
“I’m sure her team is well aware of what happened to those university presidents who, when confronted with very extreme examples, gave answers that weren’t politically palatable,” O’Brien said.
