Wu Says She Would Vote for Statewide Rent Control Ballot Question

Boston mayor supports proposed measure despite preferring local rent control option.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she would vote in favor of a proposed statewide ballot question that would enact rent control across Massachusetts, even though she would prefer a local rent control option. Wu expressed skepticism about the statewide measure earlier, but now says she will support it due to the urgency of rising housing costs for residents.

Why it matters

Rent control is a contentious issue in Massachusetts, with the state having abolished it in 1994. The proposed ballot measure would reinstate rent control statewide, which could have significant impacts on the housing market and affordability. Wu's support for the measure, despite preferring a local approach, highlights the political pressure to address the state's housing crisis.

The details

The proposed ballot measure would tie annual rent hikes across the state to cost of living increases, with a hard annual cap of 5%. There would be some exceptions for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and newly constructed buildings during their first 10 years. Wu previously pushed a proposal in 2023 that would have set annual maximum allowable rent increases on the change in the Consumer Price Index plus 6%, or a maximum increase of 10%, whichever was lower. That plan died in the State House. Wu says she wishes the current ballot measure was a 'pure, local option' instead of a statewide cap, but will support it due to the urgency of high housing costs.

  • In 2023, Wu proposed a local rent control plan that eventually died in the State House.
  • In December 2025, Gov. Maura Healey said she would not vote for the proposed statewide rent control ballot measure.
  • In February 2026, Wu said she would vote in favor of the statewide rent control ballot measure if it is on the ballot this fall.

The players

Michelle Wu

The mayor of Boston who has expressed support for rent control policies, including a previous local proposal and now the statewide ballot measure.

Maura Healey

The governor of Massachusetts who has said she would not vote for the proposed statewide rent control ballot measure, arguing that the answer is to build more housing rather than implement rent control.

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What they’re saying

“If this is still on the ballot by this fall, I am a 'yes' voting for it.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (GBH)

“I'm not going to let perfect be the enemy of the good in this case when there is so much urgency and pressure from housing costs on our residents.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (GBH)

“There's always a better solution that comes out of legislating and being able to pass something with nuance than the hammer of a ballot initiative. But we need to see something happen, and I hope there can be some compromise worked out because every city's condition is actually quite different from each other.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (GBH)

What’s next

The proposed statewide rent control ballot measure still needs to be approved by the state legislature before it can be put to voters in November 2026. Lawmakers will hold hearings on the measure and can decide to pass it, propose compromises, or take no action. If the legislature does not act, the measure's organizers will need to gather additional signatures to secure its place on the ballot.

The takeaway

Mayor Wu's support for the statewide rent control ballot measure, despite preferring a local approach, underscores the political pressure to address Massachusetts' housing affordability crisis. The debate over the measure highlights the ongoing tensions between advocates for rent control and those who argue it will stifle housing construction.