Josh Kraft’s social media feeds have tongues wagging months after campaign crashout

To stop skyrocketing energy costs, MA needs battery storage.

Josh Kraft’s mayoral campaign, which came to an ignominious end last September after he lost to incumbent Michelle Wu by nearly 50 points, left members of the state’s political class scratching their heads.

You could say the same lately about his Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Since the start of March, Kraft has posted several highly polished videos featuring him talking to people working at small businesses in Roxbury, Mattapan and downtown Boston. Sometimes wearing a puffy winter coat, he looks relaxed as he breezily chats the people up.

Kraft did not respond to a message seeking comment. But the videos have sparked chatter across the city as close observers of politics, which is second only to sports as a favorite local pastime, wonder what’s next for one of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s sons.

Another video features the former candidate sitting around a table at Tom English’s Cottage with two former Boston police commissioners – brothers William and Paul Evans – and other public safety officials, people “who have helped elevate the city of Boston to its current state,” Kraft wrote in the caption. (He also presses the brothers on whether they’ve ever fired their weapons while on duty; both indicated they hadn’t.)

“They invited me to join them and what ensued was a night I’ll never forget. Cheers to these men and all they’ve done for this amazing city,” Kraft wrote, adding a beer emoji.

That video and a second one, with additional clips from the bar scene, show several buckets of beer on the table, which apparently prompted one of Kraft’s daughters to comment with a smiley face emoji, “But dad you don’t drink beer.” 

In another video, he is getting a haircut at a High Street barbershop in downtown Boston when his partner Michelle Perez Vichot calls Kraft’s cell phone and chats up the barber.

In the caption, Kraft wrote, “One of my goals this year is to use my platform to highlight the small businesses that keep Boston unique.” Kathryn Burton, a former Marty Walsh aide who chaired a super PAC that was involved with City Council races last fall, commented on the video, saying, “Small businesses drive the city and Commonwealth. Michelle’s cameo for the win!”

Kraft, a nonprofit executive who moved to Boston’s North End in 2023 ahead of his 2025 mayoral run, may just be making the most of his social media presence now that the campaign is over. But Kraft has had an eye on an elected office for years before settling on his mayoral run.

For the politicos scrutinizing his social media feeds, it’s hard to imagine his family spending more money, or again asking wealthy friends to do the same, on another political campaign. There are World Cup matches to worry about at Gillette Stadium, after all.

Kraft has kept in touch with Michael Kineavy, who was Kraft’s senior campaign adviser and served Mayor Tom Menino’s chief of policy and planning, sources say.

Kineavy was recently hired by the Gavin Foundation, according to the addiction treatment organization’s newsletter. (When Kraft ended his campaign in September, he had said rather than spend more money on his run, he would instead donate the cash to the Gavin Foundation and other similar organizations.)

At the Gavin’s “Road to Recovery” gala set for May 21 in a South Boston hotel, Kraft will be honored as the foundation’s 2026 “Person of the Year.”

I was easing into the weekend last Friday when Instagram served me up Kraft’s video with the former police chiefs. What do you think is behind the posts? Another political campaign in the offing, or is there less than meets the eye? Let me know what you think:[email protected].

To stop skyrocketing energy costs, MA needs battery storage.

9:00 | The Mass. Building Trades Union holds its 107th annual convention to set priorities for 2026. The union represents more than 75,000 construction workers statewide. Gov. Maura Healey, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones, and Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng are slated to attend. The convention continues on Thursday. | MGM Springfield, One MGM Way, Springfield

10:00 | The Massachusetts Medical Society holds its advocacy day known as Doctors’ Day. The event begins with remarks from speakers including lawmakers and a keynote address from Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah. | Senate Reading Room, State House, Boston

10:00 | MassDOT hosts a hybrid meeting to discuss the procurement for a long-term lease operator to renovate, revitalize and maintain the state's 18 highway service plazas. MassDOT this month opened a new procurement into the service plaza that incorporates more oversight guardrails. The industry day is meant to discuss the upcoming procurement with prospective qualified operators, designers, builders, consultants, and contractors, according to MassDOT. | 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Register

10:15 | UMass Chan Medical School–Baystate Medical students participate in “PURCH on the Hill 2026,” an advocacy day focused on health and justice reform, including legislation that would automatically seal certain criminal records, and funding for the Healthy Incentive Program. The event features a welcome from former Sen. Michael Knapik, Baystate Health vice president of government relations, followed by presentations, policy discussions, and meetings with legislators. | Room 437

12:00 | The Coalition for an Equitable Economy holds Western Massachusetts Small Business Survey Legislative Lunch. Results of the coalition's 2025 Small Business Survey will be presented and discussed during the event. Presenters include: Springfield City Councilor Tracye Whitfield; MassINC Polling Group President Steve Koczela; and deputy director and of MassDevelopment Marcos Marrero. | UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center, 1500 Main St., Springfield | More Info and Registration

2:00 | Gov. Maura Healey details public safety and public health preparations for FIFA’s 2026 World Cup matches. She tours the Commonwealth Fusion Center and State Police Watch Center to learn more about the public safety operations behind the events before hosting a press conference at 2:30 p.m. | State Police Homeland Security Operations Center, 470 Worcester Rd, Framingham

6:00 | Senate President Karen Spilka is inducted into Framingham Women’s Hall of Fame. | Memorial Building, Framingham

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SERVICE PLAZA PROCUREMENT: Testifying in front of a Senate committee, state transportation officials said they’ve rebooted the procurement process to find new highway service plaza operators. "No one involved in the past procurement is on this procurement and selection committee,” transportation chief Phil Eng said. “We think that's an important component to doing things." – State House News Service (gift link)

THE 250K CLUB: The number of state workers earning at least $250,000 a year jumped to 960, up from 655 three years ago. That comes out to a 47% increase. – MassLive

CLIMATE TECH: Massachusetts is looking to climate tech to provide an economic boost, but the sector faces the high cost of housing, labor and energy, as well as complicated processes for accessing incentive programs. – WBUR

COVERING THE BASES: Michael Caljouw, the insurance industry’s top regulator in Massachusetts, talks about tradeoffs, climate change, rising health health costs and the Trump administration. – CommonWealth Beacon

NEW ALLY FOR WU: As the Wu administration faces off in court against opponents of the White Stadium project, they’ve picked up some support from the New England Revolution. Yes, the soccer team owned by the Kraft Group. It comes after Robert Kraft’s son Josh made a critique of the project a centerpiece of his 2025 mayoral campaign. – Dorchester Reporter

WORLD CUP PULLBACK: FIFA has canceled holds on hotel rooms in Boston and other World Cup host cities. The city’s tourism agency, Meet Boston, said the pullback is coming due to “inflated” estimates of what FIFA thought it needed several years ago. – Boston Business Journal

BOSTON COP ARREST: Amid highly emotional responses over the arrest of a Boston Police officer who fatally shot a carjacking suspect, legal experts defend Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden’s handling of the case. – GBH News

TRAHAN ON ICE: After a visit to the ICE facility in Burlington, Rep. Lori Trahan doubled down on criticism of the federal anti-immigration force. "The surge of resources that ICE has been granted in the past year has really increased beyond the scope of the 'most violent criminals, and worst of the worst'” pitched during the 2024 presidential campaign, she said. – Eagle-Tribune

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