The rise of women of color in Boston politics

David Bernstein writes that the interesting news in last night's results were not in the race for mayor - which surprised no one - but in the council races, which could mean two black women joining the council in January - possibly alongside incumbent minority councilors Ayanna Pressley and Michelle Wu (at large) and Andrea Campbell (Dorchester).

It wasn't all that long ago that the council had just a single woman member - Maureen Feeney of Dorchester.

Lydia Edwards (shown right) came in a close second in the District 1 race to replace Sal LaMattina, but beat Stephen Passacantilli in East Boston and Charlestown, the two largest neighborhoods in the district - and with the endorsement of state Sen. Joseph Boncore, who had beaten her for that seat last year. And in District 7, Kim Janey got way more votes than challenger Rufus Faulk in the race for Tito Jackson's current seat.

Bernstein notes the role minority women played in other races - such as Suzanne Lee's efforts to get Mike Kelley of the South End on the November ballot in District 2 against Ed Flynn of South Boston. And let's not forget state Senators Linda Dorcena Forry and Sonia Chang-Diaz.