What Mass. politicians are saying about Kim Janey becoming acting mayor, Marty Walsh departing for D.C.

City and state elected officials are celebrating the historic elevation of Kim Janey to the position of acting mayor of Boston. The Roxbury native and city councilor for District 7 is the first Black person and woman to hold the office of the chief executive in the city’s history.

The Boston City Council president officially stepped into the role at 9:01 p.m. Monday night — one minute after former mayor Marty Walsh submitted his letter of resignation following his confirmation to become the nation’s secretary of labor.

As they celebrate Janey’s new position, politicians are also offering congratulations to Walsh as he departs for Washington, D.C., and bids farewell to Boston.

Below, see what officials are saying as a new mayor takes the helm in Boston. 

Gov. Charlie Baker

Congratulations, Acting Mayor @Kim_Janey! It’s a historic day for the people of Boston.

We are committed to ensuring strong relationships with our partners in local government, and we look forward to working with you and your team.

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) March 22, 2021

Attorney General Maura Healey

Congratulations to Boston’s new Acting Mayor @Kim_Janey! For the first time in history, young girls across our city finally have a Mayor who looks like them. You will be a shining example to each and every one of them and I am so excited to work with you! pic.twitter.com/Gx2pmw9fF4

— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) March 23, 2021

Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of Labor @MartyJWalsh! We’ll miss you but we’re so excited to see the great work you’ll do for working Americans alongside @POTUS.

— Maura Healey (@maura_healey) March 22, 2021

Councilor Annissa Essaibi George

From Taft Street to Washington – congratulations on your confirmation, Secretary Walsh! Thank you for your friendship, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the City of Boston and its residents. #ThanksMarty pic.twitter.com/WjXu8B8ilf

— Annissa Essaibi George (@AnnissaForBos) March 22, 2021

Councilor Michael Flaherty

I also want to congratulate my colleague & friend, Acting Mayor @Kim_Janey. I look forward to working in partnership with you to keep moving our great City forward!

— Michael Flaherty (@mfflaherty) March 23, 2021

Councilor Julia Mejia

Boston’s 1st Black mayor is female!! So incredibly grateful to see this day. I look forward to working alongside @boston_mayor @Kim_Janey to move the people’s agenda forward. We have come a long way and have a lot further to go. Let’s get it for #AllMeansAll Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/gZNdxL419A

— Julia Mejia (@juliaforboston) March 23, 2021

Councilor Michelle Wu

Congratulations to my friend & colleague @Kim_Janey for becoming Boston’s first Black & woman mayor.

Mayor Janey has a long history of activism uplifting youth & BIPOC voices. I look forward to working with her during this critical moment in Boston. pic.twitter.com/lVyxi8FJ96

— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) March 22, 2021

Congratulations, Secretary @Marty_Walsh! Looking forward to partnering with you & the Biden administration to fight for Boston’s working families. https://t.co/irzwvaVFw9

— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) March 22, 2021

Councilor Lydia Edwards

Congratulations to @Kim_Janey on making history tonight! #bospoli #mapolihttps://t.co/WGkuF1KaWs

— Lydia Edwards (@LydiaMEdwards) March 23, 2021

Councilor Ed Flynn

Congratulations to Mayor @marty_walsh on your confirmation as Secretary @USDOL! I was proud to work with you & your team on our support for our immigrant neighbors, dignity for working men & women & support for veterans & military families. Boston will always be grateful to you! pic.twitter.com/J2u3TTQ92m

— Ed Flynn 愛德華費連 (@EdforBoston) March 22, 2021

Councilor Andrea Campbell 

I feel blessed to work alongside Acting-Mayor Janey, incredible colleagues, and thousands of City employees to ensure a smooth transition over the next several months to keep our City safe & healthy as we recover from this pandemic and reopen our schools, businesses, and City.

— Andrea J. Campbell (@andreaforboston) March 22, 2021

Congratulations to our new Secretary of Labor, @MartyJWalsh. I look forward to working with you in this new role to center working people as we build a strong, equitable recovery from this pandemic and for the future of the City of Boston. pic.twitter.com/hLdn7tUePO

— Andrea J. Campbell (@andreaforboston) March 22, 2021

Councilor Ricardo  Arroyo

pic.twitter.com/WhbL2mlwQj

— Ricardo Arroyo (@RicardoNArroyo) March 23, 2021

Councilor Matt O’Malley

Congratulations, Mayor @Kim_Janey!! We are proud of you and we are all rooting for you. https://t.co/Dy1MccFooZ

— Matt O’Malley😷 (@MattOMalley) March 23, 2021

Grateful for your leadership and friendship, Mr. Secretary. pic.twitter.com/3A0EtJxsX5

— Matt O’Malley😷 (@MattOMalley) March 23, 2021

Councilor Kenzie Bok

SO EXCITED for MAYOR @Kim_Janey — for the history she’s making tonight, for the work she will do in the morning, and for a Boston where a black woman leads! #bospoli #mapoli

Like with that umbrella, she’s got us covered. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/C3Q1xKNs74

— Kenzie Bok (@KenzieBok) March 22, 2021

Congratulations to @MartyJWalsh on your confirmation this evening by the United States Senate — grateful for your service as our Mayor, and for your service ahead as Labor Secretary on behalf of working people! #bospoli #mapoli @marty_walsh https://t.co/qcozhlFhRe

— Kenzie Bok (@KenzieBok) March 22, 2021

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Congratulations and welcome to Boston’s new acting mayor, @Kim_Janey! Boston is in excellent hands during this important moment for the city, and I hope your history-making term in office inspires children across the city and the Commonwealth to dream big. Let’s get to work!

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 23, 2021

I was proud to cast my vote for our new Labor Secretary, @MartyJWalsh! We will miss your leadership in Boston, but Massachusetts’s loss is our country’s gain. Congrats, Marty – I look forward to continuing to fight alongside you for America’s working families. pic.twitter.com/dY3TT08CyB

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 22, 2021

Sen. Ed Markey

Boston’s new mayor @Kim_Janey is a force for righteousness and good who will lead her beloved city with boldness and compassion. Congratulations Mayor Janey on making history today and know that I will be your ally and partner in Washington. https://t.co/IUZBl7O8Lq

— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) March 23, 2021

It’s time for a union leader to run the Department of Labor. Marty Walsh isn’t just an ally of organized labor, he’s a fellow worker and organizer who understands the struggle and the power of working Americans. I’m proud to vote to confirm him as our next Secretary of Labor.

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) March 22, 2021

Rep. Ayanna Pressley

Concrete. Ceiling. Shattered. @Kim_Janey, I’m so proud to call you a friend, a partner in good, and now the Mayor of Boston. https://t.co/F1KnLN7CDC

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 23, 2021

Overjoyed for my sister-in-service, @Kim_Janey, who is making history tonight as Boston’s first-ever Black and woman mayor.

You are the the culmination of our ancestors’ hopes, dreams, struggles and achievements. https://t.co/Byf7QAVKVh

— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) March 23, 2021

Congratulations @MartyJWalsh. I’m looking forward to working alongside you in DC to make real progress for working people in the MA-07 & across the country. https://t.co/UDJx4CgpQq

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 22, 2021

From Dorchester to Washington, DC—congratulations, @MartyJWalsh!

I look forward to fighting alongside you on behalf of working people across our country. Let’s get to work.https://t.co/bZlqTUUgMS

— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) March 22, 2021

Rep. Bill Keating

Congratulations to Secretary of Labor @marty_walsh on his confirmation. Sec. Walsh will make Massachusetts proud by continuing to be an unapologetic fighter for the centerpiece of the effort to #buildbackbetter: the American worker.

— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) March 23, 2021

Rep. Lori Trahan

Unions have a partner in this administration. I am thrilled to have the son of a union family and card-carrying member of the building trades heading @USDOL. Welcome, @marty_walsh! https://t.co/XSiutzdCHw

— Congresswoman Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) March 22, 2021

Rep. Katherine Clark

Ready for this fighter for working families in Washington — Congratulations, Secretary @MartyJWalsh! https://t.co/QchIwBKAU2 pic.twitter.com/LHxPsczV43

— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) March 22, 2021