Golden Retriever Running for Mayor in Boston—'Support Has Been Wild'

Live News Reporter

A golden retriever named Walter is running to be the honorary mayor of Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston. His campaign manager and owner, Jenna Taylor, told Newsweek: "I'm absolutely blown away by the support!"

Why It Matters

The Dorchester Day Parade is an annual event hosted in Boston, Massachusetts, to celebrate the founding of the Dorchester neighborhood in 1630. It takes place on the first Sunday in June and is a key event for the community, highlighting the history and cultural diversity of the area.

The honorary mayor of Dorchester leads the Dorchester Day Parade. Putting his paw in the race is local pup Walter.

What To Know

Taylor told Newsweek: "I had been at an outdoor workout class in the Seaport and ran into multiple people campaigning for their dogs to win Mayor of Seaport (and it was adorable), so when the Dorchester Day Parade ("Dot Day Parade") ran a story asking for their next Dorchester mayor, I immediately responded and asked if a dog could run. Never in a million years did I expect it to take off the way it has."

Writing on the GoFundMe page for the race, Taylor said, "For Walter's 10th Birthday, all he wants is to become the Mayor of Dorchester and walk in the Dorchester Day Parade on June 1st … but to make that wish come true, he needs your help!"

The parade costs between $50,000 and $60,000, according to local news outlets. Organizers depend on neighborhood fundraising to help fund the parade. This includes the Dorchester mayor's race, where candidates receive one vote for each dollar raised.

"We really do come together as a community on this day every year because it not only revamps our Dorchester pride and appreciation of our neighbors, but it's also insanely fun!" Taylor wrote.

Walter is not the only candidate—though he is the only canine. Shanequa Christmas, a family coordinator at St. John Paul II Catholic Academy; Gene Gorman, an English literature teacher; and Bridget McDonagh, a fitness trainer at Dot Box, have all also entered the race, according to the Dorchester Reporter.

What People Are Saying

Jenna Taylor told Newsweek: "This is all about giving back to our Dorchester community and helping support the amazing parade on June 1. Every $1 donated counts as a vote, and the most votes wins! So, Walter is obviously trying to raise the most money so that he can walk alongside Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in the parade! All proceeds go to the Dorchester Day Committee to fund the Dorchester Day Parade.

"I'm absolutely blown away by the support! I knew seeing his smiling face would help spread joy throughout the community, but the amount of love being shared via donations to his GoFundMe, purchase of raffle tickets and/or sharing of his social-media posts has gone above and beyond."