Michelle Wu holds a double-digit lead over philanthropist Josh Kraft in the race for Boston mayor, a new poll from Emerson College finds. The preliminary election to narrow the field down to two candidates is in September. The poll asked more than 600 registered voters who they would vote for if the election were held today.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is kicking off her campaign for re-election with a strong lead over her opponent Josh Kraft, according to an Emerson College poll released Thursday.

The survey offers the first early look at the matchup between the first-term progressive mayor and her most prominent challenger.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu leads billionaire philanthropist Josh Kraft in the first poll of the city’s young mayoral campaign, but a decent share of voters remain up for grabs. Forty-three percent of respondents to the new Emerson College poll say they support the Democratic incumbent,

Mayor Wu is both gearing up for a competitive race against Kraft and preparing to testify before Congress about Boston's "sanctuary" policies.

BOSTON BY THE NUMBERS — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has an early lead over Josh Kraft. But Kraft has room to make some inroads. A new poll from Emerson College out this morning gives us our first glimpse at how Boston voters view the two candidates and the issues they’re campaigning on. Let’s break it down.

Boston’s largest police officers' union will endorse incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu for reelection on Thursday afternoon, its leadership said. The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association said its members voted “overwhelmingly” to support Wu at the union’s most recent monthly meeting.