Marty Walsh

Walsh was born on April 10, 1967, in Dorchester, Boston, to John Walsh, an Irish American originally from Callowfeenish, a townland near Carna, County Galway, and Mary (née O'Malley), from Rosmuc, Co. Galway.{{cite web |author=Lorna Siggins, Mairtin O Cathain |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/boston-mayor-with-connemara-roots-promises-to-visit-next-spring-1.1586407 |title=Boston mayor with Connemara roots promises to visit next Spring |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=November 7, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612191837/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/boston-mayor-with-connemara-roots-promises-to-visit-next-spring-1.1586407 |url-status=live }} Walsh's parents emigrated separately but married in the United States in 1959.{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/10/19/walsh-cancer-fight-marked-his-youth/bA7zWfYoA9CgW35F1FI1nJ/story.html |title=Walsh's cancer fight marked his youth |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=October 20, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215114719/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/10/19/walsh-cancer-fight-marked-his-youth/bA7zWfYoA9CgW35F1FI1nJ/story.html |url-status=live }} His parents both left from Shannon Airport, with his father leaving in 1956 and his mother leaving in 1959.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v23xEVqEfgQ|title=Ireland welcomes Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to Shannon - YouTube|website=YouTube|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903143833/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v23xEVqEfgQ|url-status=live}}

Walsh grew up in the Savin Hill area of Dorchester, where he lived in a triple-decker. He was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma at the age of 7, forcing him to miss most of second and third grade and repeat fifth grade. At the age of 11, after going through years of chemotherapy, a scan revealed no traces of the cancer.[https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/10/19/walsh-cancer-fight-marked-his-youth/bA7zWfYoA9CgW35F1FI1nJ/story.html Marty Walsh cancer battle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215114719/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/10/19/walsh-cancer-fight-marked-his-youth/bA7zWfYoA9CgW35F1FI1nJ/story.html |date=February 15, 2019 }}, bostonglobe.com; accessed April 22, 2014. Walsh went to high school at The Newman School. While a teenager, Walsh would begin drinking beer, ultimately becoming an alcoholic.{{cite web |last1=Van Zuylen-Wood |first1=Simon |title=Marty Walsh Is Not Tom Menino |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/04/03/marty-walsh-profile/3/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=20 October 2021 |date=April 3, 2016}} Walsh would later seek treatment after hitting what he considered "rock bottom" in 1995.

Walsh initially dropped out of college and entered the field of construction. He later took night classes as an adult, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.malegislature.gov/People/Profile/MJW1|title=Member Profile - Martin J. Walsh|publisher=Malegislature.gov|access-date=September 5, 2013|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414001524/https://malegislature.gov/people/profile/mjw1|url-status=live}}

In an early venture into politics, Walsh was a political volunteer for President of the Massachusetts Senate William Bulger. Walsh later volunteered for State Representative James T. Brett's campaign in the 1993 Boston mayoral election. Brett lost to Thomas Menino, who Walsh would numerous times come to be at odds with during his political career.

File:Martin Walsh Massachusetts House of Representatives.png

In 1996, Walsh ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for the Massachusetts House of Representatives seat that James T. Brett had vacated. Despite resigning his seat, Brett was still listed on the ballot for the regularly-scheduled 1996 election. As the only name listed on the ballot, Brett defeated Walsh and other write-in candidates. Since Brett did not take his seat, a special election was held in 1997, which Walsh won. Among those that Walsh defeated in the Democratic Party's primary election were Assistant District Attorney Martha Coakley and attorneys Charles Tevnan and James Hunt III (the latter being the former chief of staff to State Senator W. Paul White).{{cite web |last1=Forry |first1=Bill |title=How it started: Marty Walsh's first campaign |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2021/how-it-started-marty-walsh-s-first-campaign |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=March 22, 2021}} Michael Jonas of The Boston Globe reported that Walsh's victory benefited from "organizational ties and personal loyalties," with Walsh performing particularly strong in his own neighborhood of Savin Hill.{{cite web |last1=Jonas |first1=Michael |title=Marty Walsh's Recipe for Success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/441959070 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=March 16, 1997}} Walsh's seat, the 13th district of Suffolk County, represented Dorchester as well as one precinct in Quincy.Multiple sources:

• {{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/boston/2013/11/marty_walsh_farewell_speech.html|title=Boston Mayor-elect Marty Walsh says goodbye to the State House|first=Garrett|last=Quinn|date=November 21, 2013|website=masslive|access-date=January 8, 2021|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109182012/https://www.masslive.com/news/boston/2013/11/marty_walsh_farewell_speech.html|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web |title=Representative Martin J. Walsh Served 2013 - 2014 Democrat - 13th Suffolk District |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/MJW1/188/District |website=malegislature.gov |publisher=Massachusetts Legislature |access-date=17 July 2023}} Walsh was reelected to eight two-year terms, often unopposed.

File:Mayor Thomas M. Menino with State Representative Martin J. Walsh, City Councilor Maureen Feeney and others at Savin Hill MBTA Station opening (21960586553).jpg.
L–R: Boston City Council President Michael F. Flaherty, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Daniel Grabauskas, State Senator Jack Hart, Walsh, Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healy, Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino]]

During his tenure, Walsh served as the co-chair for the Special Commission on Public Construction Reform.{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=David S. |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/09/18/marty-walsh-too-much-union-guy/ |title=Is Marty Walsh Too Much of a Union Guy To Be Trusted? |publisher=Bostonmagazine.com |date=September 18, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919113952/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/09/18/marty-walsh-too-much-union-guy/ |url-status=live }} He also served as chair of the House Homeland Security and Federal Affairs Committee, as well as the chair of the House Committee on Ethics. He was also vice chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and the vice chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government. Other committees he served on included the Joint Committee on Banks and Banking; Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture; Joint Committee on Health Care; Joint Committee on the Judiciary; Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Joint Committee on Public Safety; House Personnel and Administration Committee; and House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee.{{cite web |title=Representative Martin J. Walsh |url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/MJW1/180/Committees |website=malegislature.gov |access-date=21 September 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213000/https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/MJW1/180/Committees |url-status=live }}

Walsh supported same-sex marriage. In 2004, Walsh voted against legislation that would define marriage in Massachusetts as being between "one man and one woman". The following year, he voted against separate legislation that would have limited marriage to heterosexual couples. In supporting Walsh's 2013 mayoral campaign, Arline Isaacson, co-chairwoman of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, credited Walsh with having worked to urge more conservative members of the state legislature against passing a ban on same-sex marriage after a 2004 decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court legalized same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.{{cite web |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Mayoral candidate Martin Walsh releases gay rights platform |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2013/10/11/mayoral-candidate-martin-walsh-releases-gay-rights-platform/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=17 July 2023 |date=October 11, 2013}} In 2007, Walsh voted against a same-sex marriage ban, which was defeated 45–151.{{cite web |title=Roll call vote on the proposed gay-marriage ban |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/2007/06/15/roll-call-vote-on-the-proposed-gay-marriage-ban/ |website=Lowell Sun |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=15 June 2007}} In 2013 and 2023 interviews, Walsh has called this, "the proudest vote I ever took as a state legislator."{{cite web |last1=Jonas |first1=Michael |title=A gay-friendly field |url=https://commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/002-a-gay-friendly-field/ |website=CommonWealth Beacon |access-date=1 January 2024 |date=14 August 2013}} In 2013, Walsh was one of several legislators that signed onto a joint petition introduced by Representative Sarah Peake and Senator Patricia D. Jehlen that established the Special Commission on LGBT Aging.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=Resolve establishing a special commission on LGBT aging Resolve History |url=https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/H2047/BillHistory |access-date=20 July 2023}}
• {{cite web |title=Resolve establishing a special commission on LGBT aging Petitioners |url=https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/H2047/Cosponsor |website=malegislature.gov |publisher=Massachusetts Legislature |access-date=20 July 2023}}

File:Representative Martin Walsh (3905332188).jpg

After Governor Mitt Romney used his gubernatorial veto in 2005 on a bill to expand the research of human stem cells in Massachusetts,Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=Massachusetts Governor Vetoes Stem Cell Bill |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-28-na-romney28-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=17 July 2023 |date=28 May 2005}}
• {{cite web |last1=Zezima |first1=Katie |title=National Briefing {{!}} New England: Massachusetts: Stem Cell Research Bill Passes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/05/us/health/national-briefing-new-england-massachusetts-stem-cell-research.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=17 July 2023 |date=5 May 2005}} Walsh voted against overturning the governor's veto.{{cite web |title=Marty Walsh on the Issues |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Marty_Walsh.htm |website=On the Issues |access-date=17 July 2023}} In 2005, he voted against reinstating capital punishment in Massachusetts. He co-sponsored legislation that would permit undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition at universities. The legislation was defeated 95–56 in January 2006.{{cite web |title=H 1230 - In State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrants - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh Co-Sponsored (Introduced) this Legislation.|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/994/2868/15238/marty-walsh-co-sponsored-h-1230-in-state-tuition-for-undocumented-immigrants#2868 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}} In 1998, he opposed Massachusetts Question 2, a ballot measure that would have decriminalized possession of less than an ounce of cannabis.{{cite web |last1=Stidman |first1=Pete |title=Big-Name Pols Push 'No' On Pot Vote |url=https://www.dotnews.com/1998/big-name-pols-push-no-pot-vote |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=20 July 2023 |language=en |date=October 29, 1998}}

Ahead of the ultimate 2006 passage of the Massachusetts health care reform, Walsh supported efforts related to reform healthcare in Massachusetts with the goal of universal coverage.{{cite web |title=Marty Walsh on Health Care |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Marty_Walsh_Health_Care.htm |website=On the Issues |access-date=17 July 2023}} Walsh joined the vast majority of the House in voting in support of the healthcare reform legislation that was ultimately enacted (only two state house members voted against the legislation).{{cite web |title=H 4479 - Health Care Bill - Voting Record Result: Conference Report Adopted (House) |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/votes/3906 |website=Vote Smart}} After the healthcare reform legislation was partially signed into law by Governor Romney, Walsh voted for the successful overrides of Romney's partial vetos on segments of it.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=H 4479 - Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh voted Yea (Override of Veto) on this Legislation. |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/1372/3908/15238/marty-walsh-voted-yea-override-of-veto-h-4479-health-care-access-affordability-bill-section-112#3908 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}}
• {{cite web |title=H 4479 - MassHealth Benefits Veto Override - Voting Record |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/votes/3909 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}}
• {{cite web |title=H 4479 - Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh voted Yea (Override of Veto) on this Legislation |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/1372/3909/15238/marty-walsh-voted-yea-override-of-veto-h-4479-health-care-access-affordability-bill-section-112#3909 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}}
• {{cite web |title=H 4479 - Health Care Access & Affordability Bill Section 112 - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh voted Yea (Override of Veto) on this Legislation. |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/1372/3910/15238/marty-walsh-voted-yea-override-of-veto-h-4479-health-care-access-affordability-bill-section-112#3910 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}}

File:Marty Walsh by David Parsons (crop).jpg

Walsh was one of a number of co-sponsors on legislation to have Massachusetts join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which passed in the House on July 9, 2008.{{cite web |title=H 678 - National Popular Vote Plan - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh Co-Sponsored (Introduced) this Legislation. |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/7728/21424/15238/marty-walsh-co-sponsored-h-678-national-popular-vote-plan#21424 |website=Vote Smart |access-date=17 July 2023}} In 2010, Walsh voted in support of similar legislation which passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick.{{cite web |title=H 4156 - National Popular Vote Act - Massachusetts Key Vote Marty Walsh voted Yea (Motion Vote) on this Legislation |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/bill/11469/31697/15238/ |website=Vote Smart}}{{cite web |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Steve |title=Patrick inks national popular vote |url=https://www.reformer.com/local-news/patrick-inks-national-popular-vote/article_ad025521-16cf-5363-a4cb-fe49ceb80098.html |website=Brattleboro Reformer |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=5 August 2010}}

On February 13, 2013, Walsh introduced a bill to have The Modern Lovers song "Roadrunner" be named the official rock song of Massachusetts.[https://www.boston.com/names/2013/02/11/representative-marty-walsh-wants-roadrunner-named-official-rock-song-massachusetts/tZsveD34U7SPUj0tRbRMvJ/story.html "Representative Marty Walsh wants 'Roadrunner' named official rock song of Massachusetts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104828/http://www.boston.com/names/2013/02/11/representative-marty-walsh-wants-roadrunner-named-official-rock-song-massachusetts/tZsveD34U7SPUj0tRbRMvJ/story.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}, Boston.com, February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013. The song's writer, Jonathan Richman, came out against this, saying, "I don't think the song is good enough to be a Massachusetts song of any kind."{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Cook |url=http://artery.wbur.org/2013/11/02/boston-mayor-campaign-arts-culture |title=Arts And The Next Mayor: What Boston Wants And What It May Get | The ARTery |publisher=Artery.wbur.org |date=November 2, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215055742/http://artery.wbur.org/2013/11/02/boston-mayor-campaign-arts-culture |url-status=dead }}

Despite some organized local opposition from civic associations, Walsh supported the Pine Street Inn organization in their pursuit of converting a six-family house in his district into transitional housing for the homeless. Despite support by fellow union leaders for the construction of dormitories on the University of Massachusetts Boston's campus, Walsh sided with many of his constituents in opposing their construction.

In 2002, Walsh considered resigning from the state house in order to accept an appointment to serve as Suffolk County registrar of deeds, but ultimately declined the position and remained in the state house.

In 2008, Walsh supported John H. Rogers's unsuccessful effort to beat out Robert DeLeo to serve as the next speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.{{cite web |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Jim |title=Well-seasoned Marty Walsh is 'go-to man' for many; After 11 years, representative's passion tempered by experience |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2008/well-seasoned-marty-walsh-go-man-many-after-11-years-representatives-p |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=The Dorchester Reporter |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=May 27, 2008}}

File:Labor Walk for Elizabeth Warren (8158109716).jpg of Elizabeth Warren]]

Working as a construction worker,{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Caitlin |title=Walsh confirms mid-March departure from Labor Department |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/02/16/walsh-confirms-mid-march-departure-from-labor-department/ |website=Roll Call |access-date=18 July 2023 |language=en |date=16 February 2023}} at the age of 21 in 1988 Walsh joined Laborers' Union Local 223.{{cite web |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Martin Walsh, long a labor leader, talks of broader balance - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/10/27/boston-mayoral-candidate-martin-walsh-long-fighter-for-unions-talks-striking-broader-balance/KoCdTkVKFtqYIzBFRu7JgP/story.html |website=BostonGlobe.com |publisher=The Boston Globe |access-date=2 March 2024 |date=October 28, 2013}} In 2001 he became its secretary, and in 2005 he became its president. He served as its president until he became the mayor of Boston.{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/09/25/state-representative-martin-walsh-rose-from-streets-dorchester-union-leadership/c11PNYy5GvUoYc1LTdqV6K/story.html |title=Path carries Martin Walsh closer to his dream |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=September 25, 2013 |first=Andrew |last=Ryan |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928053933/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/09/25/state-representative-martin-walsh-rose-from-streets-dorchester-union-leadership/c11PNYy5GvUoYc1LTdqV6K/story.html |url-status=live }} He also served as a co-chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party Labor Caucus.{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Andrew |url=https://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/04/10/state-representative-martin-walsh-formally-announces-bid-for-mayor-boston/lch8daiuJFwz9QyV7DN4yH/story.html |title=State Representative Martin J. Walsh formally announces bid for mayor of Boston |publisher=Boston.com |date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140233/http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/04/10/state-representative-martin-walsh-formally-announces-bid-for-mayor-boston/lch8daiuJFwz9QyV7DN4yH/story.html |url-status=live }}

In late-2010, Walsh was elected to serve as both the secretary-treasurer and general agent of Boston Building Trades Council, a union umbrella group representing 35,000 union construction workers. The General Agent is the head of the group, and Walsh formally succeeded James Coyle in the office in January 2011.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |last1=Dumcius |first1=Gintautas |title=Walsh to take key union post; plans to keep House seat |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2010/walsh-take-key-union-post-plans-keep-house-seat |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=The Dorchester Reporter |access-date=1 March 2024 |language=en |date=December 1, 2010}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/30/teamsters-local-members-facing-federal-extortion-charges-tied-top-chef-production/jqb10sWisGVN0uX6ZdL1hP/story.html |title=Teamsters face charges over Top Chef harassment |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=September 30, 2015 |first=Valencia |last=Milton |access-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002001404/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/30/teamsters-local-members-facing-federal-extortion-charges-tied-top-chef-production/jqb10sWisGVN0uX6ZdL1hP/story.html |url-status=live }} The position of general manager paid Walsh $175,000 annually. He resigned as general agent in April 2013 when he announced that he was running for mayor, but at the time retained his position as president of Laborer's Union Local 223{{cite web |url=http://www.dotnews.com/2010/walsh-take-key-union-post-plans-keep-house-seat |title=Walsh To Take Key Union Post; Plans To Keep House Seat |newspaper=Dorchester Reporter |date=December 1, 2010 |first=Gintautas |last=Dumcius |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317033559/http://www.dotnews.com/2010/walsh-take-key-union-post-plans-keep-house-seat |url-status=live }} (resigning it after winning the mayoralty).

Walsh received a reputation for being a tough negotiator on behalf of the Boston Building Trades Council.{{cite web |last1=Kuttner |first1=Robert |title=A New Name in Play for Biden’s Labor Secretary |url=https://prospect.org/cabinet-watch/new-name-in-play-for-bidens-labor-secretary-marty-walsh |website=The American Prospect |access-date=2 July 2025 |language=en-us |date=13 November 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=What Was Mayor Walsh Like As A Union Leader? |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/04/30/walsh-union-leader-worked-bridge-gap-between-developers-unions/VBVjseduRven1hvF7sg59L/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=2 July 2025 |date=April 30, 2016}} As its general agent in 2011, he negotiated a 4% pay increase for 175 employees of the Boston Housing Authority.{{cite web |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Martin Walsh, Long A Labor Leader, Talks of Broader Balance |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2013/10/27/boston-mayoral-candidate-martin-walsh-long-fighter-for-unions-talks-striking-broader-balance/KoCdTkVKFtqYIzBFRu7JgP/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=14 July 2023 |date=October 28, 2013}}

In 2016, news emerged that, when Walsh was the general agent, his phone calls had been wiretapped by federal authorities in 2012 as part of an investigation. The Boston Globe reported that sources indicated that the investigation looked into whether, "organized labor used its influence with local governments to extort developers for construction jobs in Greater Boston."{{cite web |last1=Arsenault |first1=Mark |last2=Ryan |first2=Andrew |title=Inquiry nearing end on unions' ties to City Hall |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/19/inquiry-nearing-end-unions-ties-city-hall/XY1WscnnBjanulbq0uaiIO/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |date=April 30, 2023}} A conversation was leaked in which he told a local union leader that he wanted the AvalonBay development company to utilize union labor at their Somerville, Massachusetts Assembly Row development, and that he wanted that local union's business manager to contact Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to have a Boston project by the company "thrown off the docket" of the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal.{{cite web |last1=Buell |first1=Spencer |title=Walsh's Wiretapped Convo Leaked as Labor Probe Winds Down |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/11/21/marty-walsh-wiretap/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=16 July 2023 |date=21 November 2016}} Michael Levenson of The Boston Globe described news that Walsh had seemingly utilized "strong-arm" tactics as causing some to question the validity of Walsh's prior reputation for having been "a fair-minded labor leader."

{{main|Mayoralty of Marty Walsh}}

In April 2013, Walsh announced he would run for Mayor of Boston in the 2013 mayoral election.{{cite web |url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/roslindale/news/x1048854779/Rep-Walsh-announces-run-for-Boston-mayor |title=Rep. Walsh announces run for Boston mayor |newspaper=Wicked Local |date=April 10, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225409/http://www.wickedlocal.com/roslindale/news/x1048854779/Rep-Walsh-announces-run-for-Boston-mayor |url-status=live }} He resigned his Trades Council position in April 2013 after formally announcing his bid for mayor.{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/04/10/state-representative-martin-walsh-formally-announces-bid-for-mayor-boston/lch8daiuJFwz9QyV7DN4yH/story.html |title=State Representative Martin J. Walsh formally announces bid for mayor of Boston |publisher=Boston.com |date=April 10, 2013 |first=Andrew |last=Ryan |access-date=October 8, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001501/http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/04/10/state-representative-martin-walsh-formally-announces-bid-for-mayor-boston/lch8daiuJFwz9QyV7DN4yH/story.html |url-status=live }} When Walsh initially announced his candidacy, he lacked substantial name recognition outside of his own state house district. David Scharfenberg of WBUR considered Walsh's candidacy as being, "built on his against-the-odds biography: a son of Irish immigrants who overcame a childhood fight against cancer and a young adult's struggle with alcoholism."{{cite web |last1=Scharfenberg |first1=David |title=Walsh Elected The Next Mayor Of Boston |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2013/11/06/walsh-elected-mayor-boston |website=WBUR |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en |date=November 6, 2013}}

On September 24, 2013, Walsh received a plurality of the vote, among twelve candidates in the mayoral preliminary election, with 18.4% of the vote.{{cite web | url = http://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2009-24-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20%26%20Precinct%20Results_tcm3-40789.pdf | title = City of Boston, Preliminary Municipal Election, September 24, 2013 | publisher = City of Boston Elections Department | access-date = November 12, 2014 | archive-date = September 20, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200920105949/http://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2009-24-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20%26%20Precinct%20Results_tcm3-40789.pdf | url-status = live }} As a result, he advanced to the general election, facing second place vote-getter Boston City Councilor John R. Connolly, who received 17.2% of the vote. Walsh defeated Connolly in the general election on November 5, 2013, with 51.5% of the vote, compared to Connolly's 48.1%.{{cite web | url = http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/results/05nov13.asp | title = Boston Municipal Election, November 5, 2013 - Mayor | date = June 28, 2016 | publisher = City of Boston Elections Department | access-date = November 12, 2014 | archive-date = January 2, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160102043614/http://www.cityofboston.gov/elections/results/05nov13.asp | url-status = live }} Walsh's roughly 5,000-vote victory was aided by a strong performance in communities of color.{{cite web |last1=Prignano |first1=Christina |last2=Ryan |first2=Andrew |title=How Michelle Wu won the Boston mayoral election: Five takeaways from the precinct-level results |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/04/metro/how-michelle-wu-won-boston-mayoral-election-five-takeaways-precinct-level-results/#:~:text=Wu%20won%20neighborhoods%20that%20had,%2FBrighton%2C%20and%20East%20Boston |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=November 4, 2021}}

Walsh received strong funding from trade unions.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=State representative Martin J. Walsh, Champion of Unions, Wins Boston Mayoral Race |url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2013/11/05/state-representative-martin-j-walsh-champion-of-unions-wins-boston-mayoral-race/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=November 5, 2013 |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206214423/https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2013/11/05/state-representative-martin-j-walsh-champion-of-unions-wins-boston-mayoral-race |url-status=live }}

Andrew Ryan of Boston.com wrote that the general election featured very few policy differences, and that Walsh won, in part, by projecting an "everyman" image and sharing a "compelling life story" involving his immigrant roots, childhood battle with cancer, and his battle with alcoholism. Ryan also credited the general election endorsements of eliminated mayoral candidates John Barros, Felix G. Arroyo, and Charlotte Golar Richie as helping Walsh to overcome Connolly's initial polling lead. Among the factors that have been credited for his victory over Connolly in the general election was a last-minute half-million dollars in television advertising against Connolly and in support of Walsh, secretly funded by the Boston Teachers Union. Connolly was a supporter of charter schools, and his education reform proposals had run into opposition from the union.{{cite web |last1=Ebbert |first1=Stephanie |title=Charter schools have briefly returned to the spotlight in the Boston mayoral race. Here's why |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/11/metro/charter-schools-have-briefly-returned-spotlight-boston-mayoral-race-heres-why/ |website=Boston Globe |access-date=12 September 2021 |date=September 11, 2021 |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912213927/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/11/metro/charter-schools-have-briefly-returned-spotlight-boston-mayoral-race-heres-why/ |url-status=live }}

File:Marty Walsh 2017 victory speech (2).jpg

In July 2017, Walsh announced he would seek a second term in the 2017 mayoral election.{{cite news |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/07/22/boston-mayor-seeks-second-term/ |title=Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Kicks Off Re-Election Bid |website=WBZ-TV |date=July 22, 2017 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315070442/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/07/22/boston-mayor-seeks-second-term/ |url-status=live }} On September 26, 2017, he received 62% of the vote in the preliminary election. He advanced to the general election and faced second place vote-getter, Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson, who had received 29% of the vote. Walsh defeated Jackson in the general election held on November 7,{{cite news |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/11/07/boston-mayor-election-results-marty-walsh-tito-jackson/ |title=Marty Walsh Re-Elected As Mayor Of Boston |website=WBZ-TV |date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174720/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2017/11/07/boston-mayor-election-results-marty-walsh-tito-jackson/ |url-status=live }} with 65% of the vote, compared to Jackson's 34%. Walsh was sworn in for his second term on January 1, 2018; then-former vice-president Joe Biden presided at the ceremony.{{cite web |url=https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-walsh-sworn-serve-second-term |title=Mayor Walsh sworn in to serve second term |website=Boston.gov |date=January 1, 2018 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212959/https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-walsh-sworn-serve-second-term |url-status=live }}

Walsh served as mayor of Boston from January 2015 through March 2021.

Boston's strong mayor form of government had conventionally limited the impact that members of the Boston City Council had on the city government.{{cite web |last1=Seelye |first1=Katharine Q. |last2=Herndon |first2=Astead W. |title=Ayanna Pressley Seeks Her Political Moment in a Changing Boston |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/us/politics/ayanna-pressley-massachusetts.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=9 July 2023 |date=1 September 2018}} However, during Walsh's mayoralty, the Boston City Council began to increasingly wield its power. The body yielded less to the mayor than previous iterations of the council had in the preceding decades, and also made use of its subpoena powers for the first time in decades.{{cite web |last1=Platoff |first1=Emma |title=With a divided Boston City Council, Mayor Michelle Wu often gets her way |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/11/metro/with-divided-boston-city-council-mayor-michelle-wu-often-gets-her-way/ |website=Boston Globe |access-date=27 March 2023 |date=March 11, 2023}} In December 2019, Milton J. Valencia of The Boston Globe opined that, beginning under the City Council presidencies of Michelle Wu (in 2016 and 2017) and Andrea Campbell (beginning in 2018), the council had "been, perhaps, the most aggressive in recent history in pushing reforms, often to the left of the mayor, on issues addressing climate change and economic and racial equity."{{cite web |last1=Valencia |first1=Milton J. |title=Kim Janey Claims Votes To Be Next Boston City Council President |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/12/10/kim-janey-claims-votes-next-boston-city-council-president/1dJ1PlOOCCtJiBYeup1g7N/story.html |website=Boston Globe |access-date=30 August 2021 |date=10 December 2019}}

Walsh was regarded to be a popular mayor,{{cite web |last1=Zuylen-Wood |first1=Simon van |title=Marty Walsh Is NOT Tom Menino |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/04/03/marty-walsh-profile/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=3 April 2016}} which was reflected in opinion polling.{{cite web |last=Keller |first=Jon |title=Keller @ Large: Marty Walsh A Worthy Successor To Boston Legend Tom Menino - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/marty-walsh-legacy-boston-mayor-tom-menino/ |website=CBS News |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=22 March 2021}}

Walsh resigned as mayor on March 22, 2021, the same day that he was confirmed for his position in the Cabinet of Joe Biden.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/marty-walsh-confirmed-as-labor-secretary-resigns-as-mayor-of-boston/ar-BB1ePKuw |title=Marty Walsh Confirmed As Labor Secretary, Resigns As Mayor Of Boston |agency=CBS News |work=MSN.com |date=March 22, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212959/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/marty-walsh-confirmed-as-labor-secretary-resigns-as-mayor-of-boston/ar-BB1ePKuw |url-status=live }} Kim Janey, president of the Boston City Council, became acting mayor upon Walsh's resignation.{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/03/22/kim-janey-become-bostons-acting-mayor |title=Kim Janey becomes Boston's acting mayor, makes history as first Black person, woman to hold the office |first=Christopher |last=Gavin |website=Boston Herald |date=March 22, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212959/https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/03/22/kim-janey-become-bostons-acting-mayor/ |url-status=live }}

Walsh was seen as friendly towards real estate developers throughout his mayoralty, and Boston underwent a substantial building boom during his seven years in office.{{cite web |last1=DeCosta-Klipa |first1=Nik |title=Building boomed under Marty Walsh. But what about Boston's next mayor? |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/07/19/boston-mayors-race-developers/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=July 19, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914163628/https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/07/19/boston-mayors-race-developers/ |url-status=live }} During the course of his mayoralty, officials in Boston granted approval to 7.7 million square feet of real estate developments, including more than 40,000 more housing units.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Steve |title=How Boston Development Could Change Under a New Mayor |url=https://www.bankerandtradesman.com/how-boston-development-could-change-under-a-new-mayor/ |website=Banker & Tradesman |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=18 October 2020 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401172202/https://www.bankerandtradesman.com/how-boston-development-could-change-under-a-new-mayor/ |url-status=live }} Steve LeBlanc of The Associated Press wrote in 2021, "during his tenure as mayor, Walsh has overseen the city's ongoing rejuvenation, which has led to challenges that include gentrification and rising housing costs."{{cite web |last1=LeBlanc |first1=Steve |title=Joe Biden picks Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, a former union president, as labor secretary |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/election-2020/ct-marty-walsh-labor-secretary-20210107-wuvudqdzzjb4rkz24kzejxhpx4-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=7 January 2021}}

After Walsh left office, the editorial board of The Boston Globe would opine that, as mayor, Walsh, "kept Boston on an even keel financially and invited economic growth". Similarly, Bill Forry of the Dorchester Reporter wrote that, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walsh's tenure was characterized by, "remarkable growth and relative peace and prosperity."{{cite web |last1=Forry |first1=Bill |title=US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh: The man and the politician we know {{!}} Dorchester Reporter |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2021/marty-walsh-now-your-labor-secretary-we-know |website=www.dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=18 July 2023 |language=en |date=March 22, 2021}} During Walsh's tenure, Boston maintained a AAA bond credit rating.

In March 2015, Walsh supported City Councilor Michelle Wu's efforts to pass a paid parental leave ordinance. The ordinance was passed the following month,{{cite web |last1=Walsh |first1=Marty |last2=Wu |first2=Michelle |title=Paid parental leave is a must for working families |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/03/24/paid-parental-leave-must-for-working-families/QcZEwjzait3GYJi0XeImzK/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=6 September 2021 |date=24 March 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906045758/https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/03/24/paid-parental-leave-must-for-working-families/QcZEwjzait3GYJi0XeImzK/story.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=City Council approves paid parental leave measure |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/04/29/city-council-approves-paid-parental-leave-for-municipal-employees/6JZ4eVovEtrX7CKDWgWKhP/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=17 August 2021 |date=29 April 2015 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817222119/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/04/29/city-council-approves-paid-parental-leave-for-municipal-employees/6JZ4eVovEtrX7CKDWgWKhP/story.html |url-status=live }} and provided city employees with six weeks of paid parental leave after childbirth, stillbirth, or adoption.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Young Jin |title=Michelle Wu, Boston Official, Marches Toward a 'New Boston' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/michelle-wu-boston-official-marches-toward-new-boston-n562781 |website=NBC News |date=May 19, 2016 |access-date=30 August 2021 |language=en |archive-date=August 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830071247/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/michelle-wu-boston-official-marches-toward-new-boston-n562781 |url-status=live }} Walsh signed the ordinance into law.{{cite web |title=Mayor Walsh Approves Paid Family Leave For City Workers |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/05/18/new-law-offers-paid-family-leave-for-city-workers/ |access-date=6 September 2021 |date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906045912/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/05/18/new-law-offers-paid-family-leave-for-city-workers/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2016, Boston struck a deal for General Electric to move their headquarters to the city. The city, together with the state government of Massachusetts, offered General Electric a combined $140 million in business incentives ($120 million in grants, and $25 million in city tax relief).{{cite web |last1=Florida |first1=Richard |title=GE's Move Is a Good Deal for Boston, a Bad Deal for Taxpayers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-19/ge-moves-headquarters-to-boston-leaves-suburbia-behind |website=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg CityLab |access-date=22 October 2021 |language=en |date=19 January 2016}} Some critics argued that Boston had given General Electric a "sweetheart deal".{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Adam |title='We Won Powerball': Marty Walsh On General Electric's Move To Boston |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/2016/01/13/local-news/we-won-powerball-marty-walsh-general-electrics-move-boston |website=www.wgbh.org |access-date=13 September 2021 |language=en |date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913074645/https://www.wgbh.org/news/2016/01/13/local-news/we-won-powerball-marty-walsh-general-electrics-move-boston |url-status=live }} However, The Boston Globe jointly named four deputies of Walsh and Governor Charlie Baker who had been involved in striking the deal as their "Bostonians of the Year" for their roles in the deal.{{cite web |last1=Leung |first1=Shirley |title=Dealmakers: The four players who really brought GE to town |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/12/14/dealmakers-the-four-players-who-really-brought-town/7JQsUqgSIz49yIuT7HtGwM/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=December 14, 2016 |archive-date=September 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913074507/https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/12/14/dealmakers-the-four-players-who-really-brought-town/7JQsUqgSIz49yIuT7HtGwM/story.html |url-status=live }}

Soon after taking office, Walsh appointed William B. Evans the permanent commissioner of the Boston Police Department.{{cite web |title=MAYOR WALSH APPOINTS WILLIAM B. EVANS POLICE COMMISSIONER OF THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT |url=https://bostonnewsgroup.com/2014/01/09/mayor-walsh-appoints-william-b-evans-police-commissioner-of-the-boston-police-department/ |website=Boston News Group |access-date=28 September 2021 |language=en |date=9 January 2014 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928003939/https://bostonnewsgroup.com/2014/01/09/mayor-walsh-appoints-william-b-evans-police-commissioner-of-the-boston-police-department/ |url-status=dead }} In 2018, Walsh appointed William G. Gross as commissioner, making Gross the first African American individual to hold the position.{{cite web |last1=Planas |first1=Antonio |last2=Planas |first2=Laurel |title=William Gross named Boston's first black top cop |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/07/24/william-gross-named-bostons-first-black-top-cop/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=28 September 2021 |date=24 July 2018}} In January 2021, upon Gross' retirement, Walsh made Dennis White, also African American, the new commissioner of the Boston Police Department.{{cite press release |url=https://www.boston.gov/news/william-gross-retire-mayor-appoints-dennis-white-43rd-boston-police-commissioner |title=William Gross to Retire; Mayor Appoints Dennis White as 43rd Boston Police Commissioner |website=boston.gov |date=January 28, 2021 |access-date=January 28, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/02/01/dennis-white-police-reform-boston-commissioner |title=Dennis White vows to see through reforms as Boston's police commissioner |first=Christopher |last=Gavin |website=Boston.com |date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=February 1, 2021}} Days after appointing White, Walsh suspended him pending an investigation into allegations of domestic violence.{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=Walsh administration refuses to release internal affairs files of embattled police commissioner |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/06/metro/walsh-administration-refuses-release-internal-affairs-files-embattled-police-commissioner/ |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=27 September 2021 |date=March 5, 2021}} Walsh is considered not to have properly vetted White before appointing him.

In June 2020, Walsh created the Boston Police Reform Taskforce.{{cite web |last1=Salahi |first1=Lara |title=Boston Mayor Walsh Signs Ordinance Creating Police Accountability Office |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/boston-mayor-walsh-to-create-police-accountability-office/2270950/ |website=NBC Boston |access-date=8 October 2021 |date=January 4, 2021}} In October 2020, he pledged to adopt all of the final recommendations that the taskforce had made.{{cite web |last1=Jarmanning |first1=Ally |title=Walsh Says He'll Adopt All Boston Police Reform Recommendations, Including New Oversight Office |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/10/13/boston-police-reform-recommendations |website=WBUR |access-date=8 October 2021 |language=en |date=October 13, 2021}} In January 2021, he signed into law an ordinance that created a police accountability office, one of the recommendations the taskforce had made.

In a speech given on January 25, 2017, Walsh reaffirmed Boston's status as a sanctuary city for people living in the country without documentation. The address was given in the same week that President Donald Trump threatened to pull federal funding to cities that have a policy of protecting illegal immigrants by not prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws. A defiant Walsh said: "If people want to live here, they'll live here. They can use my office. They can use any office in this building."{{cite news |last1=Irons |first1=Meghan E. |last2=Guerra |first2=Cristela |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/25/walsh-says-boston-will-use-city-hall-itself-last-resort/UtZrLHENkQvEC1fTjgs7bP/story.html |title=Walsh Rails Against Trump, Calls Immigration Actions 'Direct Attack' |work=The Boston Globe |date=January 25, 2017 |access-date=January 27, 2017 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126202835/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/01/25/walsh-says-boston-will-use-city-hall-itself-last-resort/UtZrLHENkQvEC1fTjgs7bP/story.html |url-status=live }}

File:50 Cities Initiative Launch Boston - 19499941525.jpg

Walsh was mayor during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Mayor Marty Walsh gives update on COVID-19 in Boston |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/mayor-marty-walsh-gives-update-on-covid-19-in-boston02102021/35472180 |website=WCVB |access-date=21 September 2021 |language=en |date=10 February 2021 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227030434/https://www.wcvb.com/article/mayor-marty-walsh-gives-update-on-covid-19-in-boston02102021/35472180 |url-status=live }} During the course of the pandemic, Walsh regularly updated the public using social media, robocalls, and text alerts. On March 14, 2020, Walsh declared a municipal state of emergency regarding the pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Isaiah |last2=Andrade |first2=Kevin G. |title=Baker Suspends K-12 Operations Statewide; Boston Mayor Walsh Declares Citywide State Of Emergency |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/15/boston-mayor-walsh-declares-citywide-state-of-emergency-new-restrictions-for-restaurants-and-bars |website=www.wgbh.org |access-date=23 September 2021 |language=en |date=15 March 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412040436/https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/15/boston-mayor-walsh-declares-citywide-state-of-emergency-new-restrictions-for-restaurants-and-bars |url-status=live }} Under Walsh, the city put in place restrictions aimed at stymieing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Adam |title=Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Loosens COVID Restrictions Effective Feb. 1 |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/01/26/boston-mayor-marty-walsh-loosens-covid-restrictions-effective-feb-1 |website=www.wgbh.org |access-date=21 September 2021 |language=en |date=26 January 2021 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203153024/https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/01/26/boston-mayor-marty-walsh-loosens-covid-restrictions-effective-feb-1 |url-status=live }} Walsh urged Bostonians to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and made efforts to limit public activity.{{cite web |title=Marty Walsh Mayor of Boston |url=http://go.nationaljournal.com/rs/556-YEE-969/images/COVID_Mayors_Marty_Walsh.pdf |website=go.nationaljournal.com |publisher=National Journal |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112083153/http://go.nationaljournal.com/rs/556-YEE-969/images/COVID_Mayors_Marty_Walsh.pdf |url-status=live }} Days after declaring a state of emergency, he suspended all construction projects and closing all of the Boston Public Library locations and city community centers.{{cite web |last1=O'Laughlin |first1=Frank |title=Boston Mayor Walsh suspends all construction projects, announces library closures |url=https://whdh.com/news/boston-mayor-walsh-suspends-all-construction-projects-announces-library-closures/ |website=WHDH |access-date=23 September 2021 |date=March 16, 2021 |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412100214/https://whdh.com/news/boston-mayor-walsh-suspends-all-construction-projects-announces-library-closures/ |url-status=live }} In March, the City of Boston also closed all playgrounds at its parks. On April 5, 2020, Walsh issued an advisory that individuals leaving their place of residence to wear masks or other facial coverings.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Young-Jin |last2=Salahi |first2=Lara |title=Recommended 9 P.M. Curfew Issued for Boston, Residents Urged to Wear Masks |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/coronavirus-in-boston-walsh-to-provide-update-to-response/2102827/ |website=NBC Boston |date=April 6, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228035943/https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/coronavirus-in-boston-walsh-to-provide-update-to-response/2102827/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=DeCosta-Klipa |first1=Nik |title=Marty Walsh wants Boston residents to wear a face covering. That doesn't mean a 'mask.' |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/04/06/boston-coronavirus-face-mask/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=24 September 2021 |date=April 6, 2020 |archive-date=November 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106055734/https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/04/06/boston-coronavirus-face-mask |url-status=live }} At the same time, he also announced an interim 9pm recommended curfew, and the interim closure of all recreation sports areas at city parks. In early April, a field hospital was erected at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.{{cite web |last1=Wayman |first1=Ted |title=First look at coronavirus field hospital at Boston Convention Center |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/first-look-at-covid-19-coronavirus-field-hospital-at-boston-convention-and-exhibition-center/32046045 |website=WCVB |access-date=24 September 2021 |language=en |date=5 April 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111112708/https://www.wcvb.com/article/first-look-at-covid-19-coronavirus-field-hospital-at-boston-convention-and-exhibition-center/32046045 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Coronavirus Preparations: Boston Convention Center To Become Field Hospital |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/04/01/coronavirus-boston-convention-center-field-hospital-bcec/ |website=boston.cbslocal.com |publisher=CBS Boston |access-date=24 September 2021 |date=1 April 2020 |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408021453/https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/04/01/coronavirus-boston-convention-center-field-hospital-bcec/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=WATCH: Walsh Announces Boston Convention Center Will Be Converted To Field Hospital For The Homeless |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/04/02/watch-live-boston-mayor-marty-walsh-gives-coronavirus-status-update |website=WGBH |access-date=24 September 2021 |language=en |date=2 April 2020 |archive-date=April 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405070643/https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/04/02/watch-live-boston-mayor-marty-walsh-gives-coronavirus-status-update |url-status=live }}

On March 16, 2020, Walsh announced the Boston Resiliency Fund, a city-led fundraising effort to support programs and charities serving those impacted by the pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Bustillos |first1=Esteban |title=What Exactly Is The Boston Resiliency Fund? |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/18/what-exactly-is-the-boston-resiliency-fund |website=www.wgbh.org |access-date=24 September 2021 |language=en |date=18 March 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125031032/https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/03/18/what-exactly-is-the-boston-resiliency-fund |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Mayor Walsh defends Boston Resiliency Fund, announces new grants |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-coronavirus-response-update-july-16-2020/33338788 |website=WCVB |access-date=24 September 2021 |language=en |date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020052430/https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-coronavirus-response-update-july-16-2020/33338788 |url-status=live }} Walsh established the Boston Rental Relief Fund in April 2020, using $3 million of city funds. The fund, using city dollars, would provide aid to those at risk of losing their rental residences amid the pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Vervaeke |first1=Abby |title=Who Qualifies for Boston's Rental Relief Fund |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/who-qualifies-for-bostons-rental-relief-fund/2102138/ |website=NBC Boston |access-date=24 September 2021 |date=April 3, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209064427/https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/who-qualifies-for-bostons-rental-relief-fund/2102138/ |url-status=live }} He later added an additional $5 million in June 2020.{{cite web |title=Marty Walsh adding $5M to Boston coronavirus rental relief fund |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/06/03/walsh-adding-5m-to-boston-coronavirus-rental-relief-fund/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=24 September 2021 |date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217124719/https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/06/03/walsh-adding-5m-to-boston-coronavirus-rental-relief-fund/ |url-status=live }} At the end of Walsh's tenure, Jon Keller of WBZ-TV wrote that, "Walsh's calm, empathic leadership during the pandemic has drawn high marks from city residents." Bill Forry of the Dorchester Reporter opined that Walsh had been a, "sure and steady hand during a time of unprecedented crisis."

File:Secretary Kerry and Chinese Vice Premier Li Stand With Boston Mayor Marty Walsh at the U.S.-China Climate-Smart Low-Carbon Cities Summit in Beijing (27563120075).jpg John Kerry and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi at the U.S.-China Climate-Smart Low-Carbon Cities Summit in Beijing]]

On October 8, 2014, Walsh, citing the advice of various City departments, agencies and leaders, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, ordered the closure of the Long Island Bridge due to disrepair and the evacuation of the programs for the homeless located on Long Island.{{Cite web|url = http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=17885|title = Mayor Walsh provides update on the Long Island Bridge|date = November 26, 2014|access-date = November 29, 2014|website = The Official Website of the City of Boston|archive-date = December 4, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141204160452/http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/Default.aspx?id=17885|url-status = live}} Later that year, Walsh unveiled plans to renovate a facility to house hundreds of homeless people displaced due to the closure of the Long Island Bridge.{{cite web |last1=Becker |first1=Deborah |title=Boston Identifies Southampton Street Site To House Displaced Homeless |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2014/12/15/southampton-street-boston-homeless-shelter |website=WBUR |access-date=22 October 2021 |language=en |date=December 2014}} A homelessness crisis emerged during Walsh's tenure at Mass and Cass. While Walsh, in 2019, outlined plans to deal with the homelessness crisis at this so-called Mass and Cass (also known as the "Methadone Mile"), it persisted to be a problem when he left office in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Cotter |first1=Sean Philip |title=Marty Walsh floats outline of plan for Methadone Mile |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/09/10/marty-walsh-floats-outline-of-plan-for-methadone-mile/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=20 September 2021 |date=11 September 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921014500/https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/09/10/marty-walsh-floats-outline-of-plan-for-methadone-mile/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Chan |first1=Kelly |title=Abutters struggle with Mass & Cass problems |url=https://www.baystatebanner.com/2021/01/07/abutters-struggle-with-mass-cass-problems/ |website=The Bay State Banner |access-date=20 September 2021 |date=7 January 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921014501/https://www.baystatebanner.com/2021/01/07/abutters-struggle-with-mass-cass-problems/ |url-status=live }}

Boston was originally selected as the United States' bid city for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Walsh supported Boston bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, regarding it as an opportunity to elevate Boston's international profile. In October 2014, Walsh had signed a letter stating that he would sign the Host City Contract without reservation; however, in July 2015, he stated that he was not comfortable signing the financial guarantee in its current form at that time.{{cite web|last1=Bird|first1=Hayden|title=In Fact, Mayor Walsh Did Agree to Sign a 2024 Taxpayer Guarantee |url=http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/07/31/mayor-walshs-boston-2024-history-host-city-contract-olympic-language-shows-guarantees-made-video/|website=BostInno|date=July 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810122528/http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/07/31/mayor-walshs-boston-2024-history-host-city-contract-olympic-language-shows-guarantees-made-video/|archive-date=August 10, 2015|url-status=dead}} This was one of a number of events that led to the cancelation of Boston's bid for the Olympics on July 27, 2015.{{cite web |last1=Copeland |first1=Dave |title=Boston Has A New Billionaire, And A New Mayor: The HUB |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/lexington/s/hherh/boston-has-new-billionaire-new-mayor-hub |website=Lexington, MA Patch |access-date=19 September 2021 |language=en |date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921005057/https://patch.com/massachusetts/lexington/s/hherh/boston-has-new-billionaire-new-mayor-hub?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=community+corner&utm_campaign=autopost&utm_content=lexington-ma&fbclid=IwAR35WSxtXtO3jTyfmu725boSY38j0bWpPsN6_OPe4BW-nWFmIbvUdKRzn0k |url-status=live }} Boston's bid had run into opposition from residents.

In 2015, Walsh launched the Climate Ready Boston initiative to prepare Boston for the effects of climate change.{{cite web |last1=Schanker |first1=Gwendolyn |title=Building climate change resilience in Boston is a community project – New England Climate Change Review |url=https://www.northeastern.edu/climatereview/?p=399 |website=www.northeastern.edu |publisher=New England Climate Change Review (Northeastern University) |access-date=25 September 2021 |date=January 27, 2017}} Walsh also served in the leadership of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.{{cite web |last1=Hinckley |first1=Story |title=Why Boston was chosen for the next US-China climate summit |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0608/Why-Boston-was-chosen-for-the-next-US-China-climate-summit |website=Christian Science Monitor |access-date=25 September 2021 |date=8 June 2016}}

Walsh's handling of education has received criticism, being regarded as a significant shortcoming of his tenure as mayor.{{cite web |title=Andrea Campbell should be Boston's next mayor |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/02/opinion/andrea-campbell-should-be-bostons-next-mayor/ |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=14 October 2021 |date=September 2, 2021}} In Walsh's time as mayor, Boston cycled through several school superintendents, with there being two permanent and two interim superintendents serving during his mayoralty. Towards the end of 2014, Walsh proposed and negotiated a 40-minute extension to the school day of Boston Public Schools,{{cite web |title=Teachers' union, schools agree to add learning time, Walsh says |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/12/26/walsh-says-teachers-union-schools-have-agreed-add-minutes-learning-time-school-day/Z6FucOIACuabMBemXNsoUL/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=22 October 2021 |date=December 26, 2014}}{{cite web |title=Massachusetts: Boston to Extend School Day |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/27/education/massachusetts-boston-to-extend-school-day.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 October 2021 |date=27 December 2014}} which was implemented.{{cite web |title=Charter schools hurt Boston |url=https://huntnewsnu.com/41512/editorial/charter-schools-hurt-boston/ |website=The Huntington News |access-date=22 October 2021 |date=21 January 2016}} A 2020 state audit of Boston Public Schools found the city to lack any, "clear, coherent, district-wide strategy for supporting low-performing schools."{{cite web |last1=Vaznis |first1=James |title=Mass. officials release scathing review of Boston school system |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/13/metro/mass-officials-release-scathing-review-boston-school-system/?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=14 October 2021 |date=March 13, 2020}}

Walsh supported an ordinance in the city council which regulated short-term rental of housing units. It passed in the City Council, and he signed it into law in June 2018.{{cite web |title=Flynn Votes to Ban Airbnb Investor Units |url=https://www.southbostontoday.com/flynn-votes-to-ban-airbnb-investor-units/ |website=South Boston Today |access-date=12 October 2021 |date=21 June 2018}} The ordinance restricted short-term rentals to owner-occupied housing units, required hosts to register with the city, and required the city to collect and publish data on short-term rentals.{{cite magazine |last1=Martineau |first1=Paris |title=Inside Airbnb's 'Guerrilla War' Against Local Governments |url=https://www.wired.com/story/inside-airbnbs-guerrilla-war-against-local-governments/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=March 28, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Valencia |first1=Milton J. |title=Airbnb settles suit with Boston over short-term rental limits |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/08/29/airbnb-settles-suit-with-boston-over-short-term-rental-limits/aZorjDCynWdsRTtz5GWlRM/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=August 29, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Council votes to ban investor-owned Airbnb units, but rejects limit on how long homeowners can rent out units |url=https://www.universalhub.com/2018/council-votes-ban-investor-owned-airbnb-units |website=Universal Hub |access-date=13 September 2021 |date=June 13, 2018}} Airbnb sued the city over the ordinance; the suit was settled in August 2019 with an agreement which included having Airbnb hosts in Boston enter their ordinance-required city-issued registration number into the website, or face having their listings removed from the website.{{cite web |last1=Enwemeka |first1=Zeninjor |title=Airbnb Settles Suit With Boston Over Data Sharing, Illegal Listings |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/08/29/airbnb-boston-settlement-regulations |website=www.wbur.org |access-date=13 September 2021 |language=en |date=August 29, 2019}}

In June 2020, Walsh declared racism to be a public health crisis.{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Quincy |title=Boston Mayor Declares Racism A Public Health Crisis |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/12/876327158/boston-mayor-declares-racism-a-public-health-crisis |newspaper=NPR |publisher=WBUR |access-date=21 September 2021 |language=en |date=June 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718114922/https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/12/876327158/boston-mayor-declares-racism-a-public-health-crisis |url-status=live }} That month, in an effort to address institutional racism, Walsh announced he would create an "equity and inclusion cabinet" in his administration, launch a racial equity fund, and declared his intent to pursue a new zoning amendment aimed at addressing the issue of resident displacement.{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=Christopher |title=Marty Walsh is launching an equity and inclusion cabinet and a fund centered on racial inequities. Here's what to know. |url=https://www.boston.com/news/racial-justice/2020/06/25/marty-walsh-equity-and-inclusion-cabinet/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=18 September 2021 |date=June 25, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918042517/https://www.boston.com/news/racial-justice/2020/06/25/marty-walsh-equity-and-inclusion-cabinet/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Gavin |first1=Christopher |title=Marty Walsh is launching an equity and inclusion cabinet and a fund centered on racial inequities. Here's what to know. |url=https://www.boston.com/news/racial-justice/2020/06/25/marty-walsh-equity-and-inclusion-cabinet/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=June 25, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918042517/https://www.boston.com/news/racial-justice/2020/06/25/marty-walsh-equity-and-inclusion-cabinet/ |url-status=live }} The racial equity fund launched months later,{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Greg |title=Two racial equity funds launch in Boston |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2020/09/10/cca-two-racial-equity-funds-launch-in-boston.html |website=Business Journal |date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929210359/https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2020/09/10/cca-two-racial-equity-funds-launch-in-boston.html |url-status=live }} with Walsh stating it would invest in nonprofits that, "empower Black and brown residents in economic development, in public health, in youth employment, in education, in the arts, and other areas."{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Arielle |title=How to Disrupt the Whiteness of Boston Philanthropy, One Dollar at a Time |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/09/18/racial-equity-fund/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=September 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204195711/https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/09/18/racial-equity-fund/ |url-status=live }}

File:Swearing_In_of_DOL_Secretary_Marty_Walsh.png as the new Secretary of the Department of Labor by Vice President Kamala Harris in March 2021, with his hand on a Bible being held by his longtime partner, Lorrie Higgins]]

File:P20220912AS-0980 (52516583322) (1).jpg and Walsh in September 2022]]

On January 7, 2021, Walsh was announced by President-elect Joe Biden to be his designated nominee for secretary of labor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/07/biden-commerce-labor-cabinet/|title=Biden to name Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as commerce secretary, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for labor|first1=David J.|last1=Lynch|first2=Jeff|last2=Stein|first3=Eli|last3=Rosenberg|first4=Andrew|last4=Freedman|access-date=January 8, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107235920/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/01/07/biden-commerce-labor-cabinet/|url-status=live}} On February 11, 2021, the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions voted to move Walsh's confirmation forward to a full Senate vote.{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/11/nation/senate-committee-approves-walshs-nomination-labor-secretary | title=Senate committee approves Walsh nomination | website=The Boston Globe | access-date=February 26, 2021 | archive-date=February 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224052749/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/11/nation/senate-committee-approves-walshs-nomination-labor-secretary/ | url-status=live }} The nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 22, 2021, by a vote of 68–29.{{cite web| url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/marty-walsh-secretary-of-labor-senate-votes-on-nomination-confirmation/35590880| title=Marty Walsh confirmed as Secretary of Labor| date=March 23, 2021| access-date=March 22, 2021| archive-date=March 23, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323035603/https://www.wcvb.com/article/marty-walsh-secretary-of-labor-senate-votes-on-nomination-confirmation/35590880| url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/nation/senate-confirms-walsh-labor-secretary-janey-set-become-acting-boston-mayor | title=Senate confirms Walsh as Labor Secretary | website=The Boston Globe | access-date=March 23, 2021 | archive-date=March 23, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323010424/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/nation/senate-confirms-walsh-labor-secretary-janey-set-become-acting-boston-mayor/ | url-status=live }} He was the final department secretary of Biden's Cabinet to be confirmed.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/nation/senate-confirms-walsh-labor-secretary-janey-set-become-acting-boston-mayor|title=Senate confirms Walsh as Labor Secretary|author=Jim Puzzanghera|date=March 22, 2021|access-date=March 22, 2021|work=The Boston Globe|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322225058/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/nation/senate-confirms-walsh-labor-secretary-janey-set-become-acting-boston-mayor/|url-status=live}} The day after being confirmed, he was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris.{{Cite news |last1=Goodwin |first1=Liz |last2=Puzzanghera |first2=Jim |date=March 23, 2021 |title=Walsh sworn in as labor secretary by Vice President Harris |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |language=en-US |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/23/nation/walsh-sworn-labor-secretary-by-vice-president-harris/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323221445/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/23/nation/walsh-sworn-labor-secretary-by-vice-president-harris/ }}

Walsh was the first Cabinet secretary to openly be in a twelve-step program for recovery from addiction.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Ana Marie |title=Perspective {{!}} Having Someone With Alcoholism in the Cabinet Reminds Us That Recovery Is Never Over |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/03/24/marty-walsh-recovery-alcoholism-labor/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=26 October 2021 |date=March 24, 2021}} As secretary, amid a national rise in addiction, Walsh discussed his own experience with alcoholism,{{cite web |last1=Vazquez |first1=Maegan |title=Labor Secretary Marty Walsh Opens Up About His Sobriety As The Nation Faces Addiction Crisis During Covid-19 Pandemic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/30/politics/marty-walsh-national-recovery-month/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=26 October 2021 |date=September 30, 2021}} and participated in addiction-related events.{{cite web |last1=Wintersmith |first1=Saraya |title=Labor Secretary Marty Walsh Helps Launch Addiction Recovery Program For Mass. Union Workers |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2021/09/29/labor-secretary-marty-walsh-helps-launch-opioid-recovery-program-for-mass-union-workers |website=WGBH |access-date=26 October 2021 |language=en |date=29 September 2021}} Walsh was also the first former union leader to serve in the position in roughly 45 years,{{cite web |last1=Zahn |first1=Max |title='A Blue-Collar Guy': Labor Secretary Pick Marty Walsh Would Mark A Dramatic Shift From Eugene Scalia |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/a-bluecollar-guy-labor-secretary-nominee-marty-walsh-supported-by-top-unions-144342811.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABvYsBvXMwqUUT7gtUx51tzsEzRNhrnUFTTR2yxlFejttXYAxVruce_5Fn1Wpyas82fs5dR5quxS-hAT1f6BE3sbWd2AcZt2K2Q6ufIxqCgPP51I_5IACaSWjBXltwun4eh0fx0l7p0nP1wurIwSA-99TzUXwYUkONe5UrWHkY0r |website=Yahoo |access-date=26 October 2021 |date=February 4, 2021}} since the tenure of William Usery Jr.

While secretary, Walsh considered running in the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election after Governor Baker announced his retirement, but he ultimately opted against doing so. Walsh later tendered his resignation from the Department of Labor effective March 11, 2023 in order to serve as the executive director of the players' union of the National Hockey League.{{cite web |last1=Rainey |first1=Rebecca |title=Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to Officially Depart Post March 11 |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/labor-secretary-marty-walsh-to-officially-depart-post-march-11 |website=Bloomberg Law |access-date=22 March 2023 |language=en |date=March 9, 2023}}

Walsh entered with high expectations from many unionists. This was driven both by his own working-class unionist background, and by the fact that Biden had made supporting unions a high priority in his agenda. Towards the start of Walsh's tenure, Steve Tolman (president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO) told The Boston Globe that he believed that Biden had an opportunity to be the most pro-labor president ever, and Walsh had opportunity to be the most effective labor secretary ever.

File:L-22-10-18-E-004 (52438523373).jpg equipment while touring Blink Charging's headquarters in October 2022]]

While secretary, Walsh received some criticism for spending a substantial amount of time in office away from Washington, D.C., where the United States Department of Labor is headquartered, and instead in Boston.

In an opinion piece published by MSNBC at the end of Walsh's tenure, Hamilton Nolan credited Walsh with shepherding a number "beneficial but not transformative" regulations which benefited the bargaining position of workers, including federal contractors and independent contractors. However, he argued that Walsh disappointed the expectations that unionists had for his tenure, citing shortcomings of his tenure as well as direct actions such as his support of Biden's decision to allow congressional intervention in order to resolve the 2022 United States railroad labor dispute.{{cite web |last1=Nolan |first1=Hamilton |title=Opinion {{!}} How Biden's first labor secretary squandered a huge opportunity |url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/mary-walsh-resign-job-biden-labor-rcna69786 |website=MSNBC |access-date=22 March 2023 |language=en |date=February 10, 2023}} Kim Kelly of Fast Company called Walsh's tenure "tumultuous". Commenting that Walsh's union credentials had given union members high hopes at the start of Walsh's tenure, Kelly wrote, "as his short tenure comes to an end, it's hard to say how well the former Boston mayor lived up to those expectations." In a September 2022 piece for The New Republic, Timothy Noah called Walsh's tenure "surprisingly disappointing," writing that Walsh, "hasn't gotten all that much done at the Labor Department." Noah partially faulted what he saw as a lack of progress on key projects by the Department of Labor during Walsh's tenure on the failure of the Biden Administration, by that time, to fill the positions of secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration and assistant secretary for the Wage and Hour Division with senate-confirmed appointees.{{cite magazine |last1=Noah |first1=Timothy |title=The Surprisingly Disappointing Reign of Marty Walsh, Biden's Labor Secretary |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/167657/labor-marty-walsh-unions-biden |magazine=The New Republic |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=5 September 2022}}

Ben Penn of Bloomberg Law reported that, as labor secretary, Walsh lobbied trade unions not to criticize the prospective appointment of David Weil, which helped to clear the path for Biden to nominate Weil to serve as the administrator of the Wage and Hour Division without vocal union opposition.{{cite web |last1=Penn |first1=Ben |title=How Marty Walsh Saved David Weil From Building Trades Opposition |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/how-marty-walsh-saved-david-weil-from-building-trades-opposition |website=Bloomberg Law |access-date=25 September 2021 |language=en |date=September 14, 2021}}

In October 2021, Walsh and Vice President Kamala Harris announced new guidelines aimed at encouraging more federal workers to join trade unions, with the objective of boosting the collective bargaining powers of American trade unions.{{cite web |title=Kamala Harris, Marty Walsh announce new guidelines to encourage federal workers to join unions |url=https://www.econotimes.com/Kamala-Harris-Marty-Walsh-announce-new-guidelines-to-encourage-federal-workers-to-join-unions-1619670 |website=EconoTimes |access-date=25 October 2021 |language=en |date=21 October 2021}} Also in October 2021, Walsh became the first labor secretary to visit a picket line and stand with the strikers when he visited the 2021 Kellogg's strike.{{cite web |last1=Kristin |first1=Toussaint |title=Striking workers at Kellogg's just got a new addition to their picket line: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90690908/striking-workers-at-kelloggs-just-got-a-new-addition-to-their-picket-line-labor-secretary-marty-walsh |website=Fast Company |access-date=16 July 2023 |date=October 27, 2021}}

File:L-22-06-13-A-104 (52143715188).jpg Constitutional Convention]]

Walsh mediated a December 2021 resolution between the Massachusetts Nurses Association and Tenet Healthcare to end a nine-month strike at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts that involved 700 striking nurses.{{cite web |title=Hospital and nurses union reach deal to end 9-month strike |url=https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-worcester-marty-walsh-731274faa57fc86e73bcedd7c12c1480 |website=apnews.com |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=16 July 2023 |language=en |date=18 December 2021}} Walsh also played a role in mediating the resolution to the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout.{{cite web |last1=Stein |first1=Sam |last2=Tani |first2=Max |title=Marty Walsh's inside baseball |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/03/11/marty-walshs-inside-baseball-00016525 |website=Politico |access-date=16 July 2023 |language=en |date=11 March 2022}} Walsh was involved in efforts to avert a strike in the 2022 United States railroad labor dispute.{{cite web |last1=Cristantiello |first1=Ross |title=Marty Walsh details role in freight rail negotiations |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2022/09/15/marty-walsh-details-role-in-freight-rail-negotiations/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=16 July 2023 |date=September 15, 2022}} Walsh negotiated a tentative agreement to avert a rail strike. However, the agreement failed after members of several unions voted to reject the agreement over lack of guarantees relating to demands such as time off and paid sick days. Ultimately, to avoid a strike that would have a major impact on the United States economy, the Biden administration and Congress passed a bill which forced the agreement on all the party unions, including those whose membership had voted to reject the agreement.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Labor Secretary Marty Walsh didn't seize the moment he was given |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90849727/marty-walsh-department-of-labor-accomplishments-failures-legacy |website=Fast Company |access-date=16 July 2023 |date=February 14, 2023}}

File:L-21-11-30 D384 (51721356740).jpg in November 2021]]

While Walsh was secretary, the Department of Labor finalized new rules on healthcare and retirement fund management. This included reversing a Trump administration rule that prohibited retirement fund managers from considering environmental, social, and corporate governance factors when reaching decisions in regards to investment. The department also finalized its rule on how to implement provisions restricting surprise billing in health insurance. The department also explored creating new policy that would provide access to contraception to employees whose companies deny them insurance for it. Maegan Vazquez and Matt Stiles of CNN described Walsh as having been, "a key member of Biden's economic team." Walsh was the designated survivor during the 2023 State of the Union Address.{{cite web |last1=Vazquez |first1=Maegan |last2=Stiles |first2=Matt |title=Labor Secretary Walsh is the 'designated survivor' at the State of the Union address {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/designated-survivor-state-of-the-union-2023/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=19 July 2023 |language=en |date=7 February 2023}} Numerous rule changes by the Trump administration-era were reversed under Walsh. This including reinstating a rule that prohibits employers from paying workers who spend more than 20% of their time performing functions in which they don't interact with consumers the lower "tipped" hourly minimum wage of $2.13 as opposed to standard hourly minimum wage of $7.25. This rule had previously been in effect from the 1980s until the Trump administration removed it. In reinstating the rule, further protections were added for tipped workers beyond what the earlier policy had enforced.

During Walsh's tenure, the Department of Labor enforced a temporary standards meant to protect workers from COVID-19. The policy was strongly advocated for by Walsh, but the Biden Administration delayed its rollout beyond its original mid-March 2021 target date. In June 2021, the first portion of the standard arose, encouraging healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but not requiring such vaccination. In September 2021, Biden signed the Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors (EO 14042), which required large employers to have their employees either be vaccinated or receive weekly COVID testing.{{cite web |title=Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/09/executive-order-on-ensuring-adequate-covid-safety-protocols-for-federal-contractors/ |website=The White House |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=9 September 2021}} However, in a January 2022 per curiam decision, Biden v. Missouri, the Supreme Court of the United States blocked this policy.{{cite web |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |title=Supreme Court Blocks Biden's Virus Mandate for Large Employers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/13/us/politics/supreme-court-biden-vaccine-mandate.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=13 January 2022}}

On February 7, 2023, it was reported that Walsh would leave the Cabinet to become head of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), the National Hockey League (NHL)'s players' union.{{Cite news |last1=Whyno |first1=Stephen |last2=Miller |first2=Zeke |last3=Min Kim |first3=Seung |date=February 7, 2023 |title=AP sources: Walsh to leave Biden Cabinet for NHL union |work=The Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-mlb-nhl-politics-sports-28f0e13bd8707591986424ebc51838bc |access-date=February 10, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=Walsh leaving Biden's cabinet to run NHLPA, sources say |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/labor-secretary-marty-walsh-nhlpa-announcement-expected-feb-7-2023/42790834 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=WCVB |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=State of the Union 2023: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh named designated survivor |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/marty-walsh-designated-survivor |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}} He was formally confirmed unanimously by the NHLPA's board of directors to hold that role on February 16, 2023, and the Department of Labor announced that he would leave office as secretary of labor and take office as executive director of the NHLPA in mid-March.Multiple sources:

• {{cite web |title=Marty Walsh formally appointed Executive Director of NHLPA |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/marty-walsh-formally-appointed-executive-director-of-nhlpa/ |website=www.cbsnews.com |publisher=CBS News Boston |access-date=28 February 2023 |date=16 February 2023}}
• {{cite web |last1=Hsu |first1=Andrea |title=Labor Secretary Marty Walsh leaves Biden administration to lead NHL players' union |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1155348338/labor-secretary-marty-walsh-resigns-nhl-union |website=NPR |access-date=22 March 2023 |date=February 16, 2023}}
• {{cite web |last1=Dumcius |first1=Gintautas |title=Walsh to start NHL union job mid-March {{!}} Dorchester Reporter |url=https://www.dotnews.com/2023/walsh-start-nhl-union-job-mid-march |website=dotnews.com |publisher=Dorchester Reporter |access-date=4 July 2023 |language=en |date=February 16, 2023}} Walsh is reported to earn a $3 million annual salary in the position. This is a significant increase over the $220,000 he was paid annually as secretary of labor.{{cite web |last1=DeCosta-Klipa |first1=Nik |title=A big raise, work-from-home: What we know about Marty Walsh's new gig |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/02/08/marty-walsh-nhl-players-association-turkey-earthquake-alewife-station-newsletter |website=WBUR |access-date=2 March 2024 |language=en |date=8 February 2023}}

In October 2023, The Athletic wrote, "in his introductory news conference in late March, Walsh vowed to bring a 'different' style of leadership, and it feels like Walsh is going with a more personal approach," observing that Walsh was making an effort to meet directly with all of the league's players, was holding phone calls with many players, and was giving players his personal cell phone number.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Joe |title=From Mike Babcock to Pride to Arizona, how new NHLPA head Marty Walsh is taking on the fight for player rights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4926638/2023/10/04/nhlpa-marty-walsh-responsive-approach-nhl/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=18 December 2023 |language=en}}

On June 27, 2025, it was announced that the NHLPA and the NHL had agreed to terms for a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that will be in effect from late 2026 until late 2030. The agreement's four-term duration is much shorter than past agreements, something Walsh has stated he deliberately sought. Walsh believes that it was unideal that the longer length of past CBAs had led to many players spending the entirety of their NHL careers playing under the conditions of a single CBA that had been negotiated before they became an NHL player.{{cite web |last1=Mirtle |first1=James |title=Explaining the new NHL CBA: Season Lengthened, Contracts Shortened, EBUGs Squashed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6456745/2025/06/27/nhl-cba-84-game-season-ebug-explainer |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 June 2025 |date=27 June 2025}}

When the CBA negotiated with Walsh at the helm of the NHLPA takes effect for the 2026–27 NHL season, the NHL will downsize its preseason and will expand its regular season from 82 games to 84. In order to downsize the preseason, teams will be limited to four preseason exhibition games. During the 2024–25 NHL season, pre-seasons had averaged 6.5 exhibition games per team, with five teams playing eight exhibition games during their pre-seasons. Additionally, veteran players will now be limited to appearing in only two exhibitions games per preseason. An 84-game regular season is not unprecedented in the NHL, with the NHL twice having had 84-game regular seasons (in 1992–93 and 1993–94).

The new CBA institutes a "playoff salary cap" to close a salary cap loophole in which teams that had clinched their playoff berths before the trade deadline would sometimes place high-salaried players on longterm injury reserve during the later portion of their regular season (activating said players during the playoffs), which would to generate salary cap space with which they could acquire additional players prior to the trade deadline.

The new CBA also raises the league's minimum salary from $775,00 to $1 million. It also retains ad condition present in the previous two CBAs in which the owners and players split league revenue 50–50. Due to league executives not enjoying the optics of teams occasionally needing to have amateur and retired goaltenders (such as David Ayres and Scott Foster) play single games as "emergency backup goaltenders" (EBUGs), the league will now permit teams to travel with a third-string goaltender.

Soon after taking office, commenting on the resistance of some players to wearing LGBTQ pride-themed warmup jerseys, Walsh remarked, {{blockquote|At the end of the day, it's up to the individual about what they want to do. If a player doesn't want to wear a jersey in warm-up, they shouldn't be forced to. I think that's something that's important. But again, I think a lot of it is conversation, as well, and education.{{cite web |last1=Fitz-Gerald |first1=Sean |title=Marty Walsh, New NHLPA Head With History Of LGBTQ+ support, Addresses NHL's Pride Snubs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4366017/2023/03/30/marty-walsh-nhl-pride-night-nhlpa/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=17 July 2023 |language=en |date=March 30, 2023}}}}

Walsh has disagreed with characterizations that players had opposed wearing jerseys on anti-LGBTQ grounds, and has instead characterized the motivations of those players as having been, "religious beliefs or political back home beliefs".{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Expanded playoffs, the flat cap and the Olympics: Union head Marty Walsh on the state of the NHL |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38068200/nhlpa-boss-marty-walsh-ahead-league-players |website=ESPN |access-date=18 December 2023 |language=en |date=27 July 2023}} The league adopted a policy which prohibits such pride-themed jerseys from being worn. After this new policy was adopted, Walsh stated that he expected all teams would still continue to hold Pride Nights without warmup jerseys, commenting,

{{quote|Wearing the jerseys is one aspect to Pride night, but most of the Pride festivities happen in or around the arena. It's unfortunate, it being a controversial issue as far as wearing the jerseys.}}

Walsh made resolving the Arizona Coyotes arena situation a significant priority for himself.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Emily |last2=Wyshynski |first2=Greg |title=Inside the tumultuous tenure of the Coyotes in Arizona and their stunning move to Utah |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40024660/inside-coyotes-stunning-move-arizona-utah |website=ESPN |access-date=5 June 2024 |language=en |date=30 April 2024}} Walsh was critical of the Coyotes playing with Mullett Arena (a 5,000-seat college hockey arena) as their temporary home arena, lacking any definite plans for a new permanent venue. He opined in February 2024 that the team should be relocated to a new market if the situation cannot be quickly remedied.{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=NHLPA boss backs Coyotes move if no arena plan |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39445639/nhlpa-walsh-says-coyotes-arena-limbo-not-way-run-business |website=ESPN.com |access-date=1 March 2024 |language=en |date=2 February 2024}} One concern was that the Coyotes' arena situation was decreasing the team's revenue due to its limited seating capacity and lack in luxury seating options. With the team experiencing the league's worst financial losses, it was of concern that the arena situation was a drag the amount that players received from their revenue-sharing agreement with the league.

Walsh's public comments on the situation heightened pressure for action by the league. By the end of the 2023–24 NHL season, plans had been formalized to render the Coyotes inactive and transfer their assets to a new expansion team in Salt Lake City (effectively moving the team to that location), with there being a possibility that the Coyotes can be reactivated as an additional team in the league at some point in the next five years if an arena is secured for them.{{cite web |title=NHL BOG approves establishment of new franchise in Utah {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-bog-approves-establishment-of-new-franchise-in-utah |website=NHL.com |access-date=5 June 2024 |language=en |date=18 April 2024}}

In September 2023, Paul Bissonnette made claims on his hockey podcast Spittin' Chiclets alleging that he had been informed by a whistleblower that Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock was demanding to see photographs stored on the private phones of the team's players. Soon after, Walsh held meetings with Columbus Blue Jackets players executives in order to look into the allegations. He then met with team and league executives. Within days of the assertions having been publicized by Bissonnette, Babcock resigned from his coaching position.

Walsh was supportive of the NHL and NHLPA reaching an agreement with the IOC and IIHF to allow NHL players to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics. An agreement was reached by the parties in February 2024 to allow players to compete in both the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics{{cite web |last1=Whyno |first1=Stephen |title=NHL players are headed back to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030, cleared to play for 1st time since '14 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2024/02/02/nhl-players-are-headed-back-to-the-olympics-in-2026-and-2030-cleared-to-play-for-1st-time-since-14/72459969007/ |website=USA Today |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=February 2, 2024}}

In 2023, Walsh began to increase his public profile in Boston. Adam Reilly of WGBH observed in August 2023, "after keeping a relatively low profile locally during his time as President Biden's labor secretary, former Mayor Marty Walsh has been raising his profile in Boston over the past few months with a series of notable public appearances."{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Adam |title=What does Marty Walsh's local resurgence say about his political future? |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2023-07-14/what-does-marty-walshs-local-resurgence-say-about-his-political-future |website=WGBH |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en |date=14 July 2023}} After having had his political activities limited by the Hatch Act while secretary of labor, he began again involving himself in Boston politics after leaving the office. He made his first political endorsements since leaving office as mayor by endorsing two candidates in the 2023 Boston City Council election.{{cite web |last1=Cawley |first1=Gayla |title=Marty Walsh backs Ruiz over Arroyo for Boston City Council |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/09/07/marty-walsh-backs-ruiz-over-arroyo-for-boston-city-council/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=7 September 2023}}

In March 2024, Walsh clarified that he had no present intention of making a full-time return to politics, declaring, "my job is at the NHLPA. I did politics for 25 years, I’ve moved on to the next phase of my life. I have no future political aspirations – and maybe not ever."

After President Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election and Vice President Harris took his place as the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president, Walsh was a member of a team of advisors that aided Harris in her selection of a running-mate. Harris selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz.{{cite web |title=Picking a running mate: Inside the 16 days between Kamala Harris' launch and her choice of Tim Walz |url=https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54 |website=The Associated Press |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=en |date=7 August 2024}} Walsh had become acquaintances with Harris during her time as a U.S. senator, and was reported by The New York Times to have been one of her most trusted advisors at the time of her presidential campaigns.{{cite web |title=The Confidants Guiding Harris for the Most Important Days of Her Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/17/us/politics/harris-inner-circle-advisers.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=September 28, 2024}}

On February 29, 2024, President Biden nominated Walsh to serve as a governor of the United States Postal Service. Walsh was nominated to the seat left vacant by the departure of Lee Moak, for a term that would have expired on December 8, 2029. The nomination came at a time when Biden was receiving pressure from members of the House Democratic Caucus to fill open seats on the board due to concerns regarding slow delivery of mail.{{cite web |title=Nominations Sent to the Senate

|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/02/29/nominations-sent-to-the-senate-139/ |website=The White House |access-date=1 March 2024 |date=29 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Ganley |first1=Shaun |title=President Biden nominates former Boston mayor for governor |url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/marty-walsh-boston-mayor-governor-usps-president-joe-biden/60030991 |website=WCVB |access-date=29 February 2024 |language=en |date=29 February 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Alanez |first1=Tonya |title=Biden withdraws Marty Walsh nomination to USPS governing board - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/14/metro/usps-governing-board-nomination-withdrawal |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=19 November 2024 |date=November 14, 2024}}

Walsh declared that he did not intend to resign his players union leadership position if confirmed, noting that the duties postal service board membership are not a full-time job. Walsh clarified, "I'm very committed to the players, I love my job at the NHLPA. My job is at the NHLPA." Walsh further remarked, "It's not unfamiliar for a person in a labor union position to serve on a board, President Biden knows what I bring working for people and drawing on that labor experience."{{cite web |last1=Seravalli |first1=Frank |title=NHLPA Executive Director Marty Walsh Tapped By President Biden to Join USPS board |url=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/nhlpa-executive-director-marty-walsh-tapped-by-president-biden-to-join-usps-board |website=Daily Faceoff |access-date=8 November 2024 |language=en |date=March 1, 2024}}

On June 13, Republican senators JD Vance, Bill Hagerty, Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt, and Tommy Tuberville pledged to slow the confirmation of Walsh and a number of other pending Biden nominees for federal office and judgeships as a form of protest over the conviction of Donald Trump in New York State criminal court.{{cite web |title=Senate Conservatives Announce Sweeping Hold Policy On Biden Lawfare Nominees |url=https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-conservatives-announce-sweeping-hold-policy-on-biden-lawfare-nominees |website=Senator Roger Marshall |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=June 13, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Kapur |first1=Sahil |last2=Thorp |first2=Frank, V |title=Six GOP senators vow to slow down Biden nominees to protest Trump's guilty verdict |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/six-gop-senators-vow-slow-biden-nominees-protest-trumps-guilty-verdict-rcna157009 |website=NBC News |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=en |date=13 June 2024}} On November 14 (as a lame-duck president following the 2024 election), Biden withdrew the nomination from Senate consideration without providing an immediate explanation.

Unwed during his mayoralty, Walsh was the first bachelor elected mayor of Boston in more than six decades. When he took office, his girlfriend Lorrie Higgins was dubbed the city's "first girlfriend" by The Boston Globe. After many years as unwed partners, in March 2024 Walsh and Higgins were married. They were wed by a local justice of peace on a trip in the Caribbean. The two first met each other when Walsh was a state representative and Higgins was working as an aide to his state house colleague Eugene O'Flaherty.{{cite web |last1=Dumcius |first1=Gintautas |title=Marty Walsh, Biden’s Former Labor Chief and Ex-Mayor, Gets Married |url=https://commonwealthbeacon.org/politics/marty-walsh-bidens-former-labor-chief-and-ex-mayor-gets-married |website=CommonWealth Beacon |access-date=31 August 2024 |date=8 July 2024}} Even prior to marrying Higgins, Walsh had considered himself to be have a grandfather role in relation to her grandchild.{{cite web |last1=Bernstein |first1=David |title=Just What Is Marty Walsh up to, Anyway? |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2023/07/05/marty-walsh-2023/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=19 July 2023 |date=5 July 2023}}

Walsh and Higgins reside in the Lower Mills neighborhood of Dorchester.[https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/24/mayor-martin-walsh-moving-lower-mills-neighborhood/7OGjwb8MueWCxhu72osMuI/story.html Mayor Walsh set to move to Lower Mills home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220085300/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/07/24/mayor-martin-walsh-moving-lower-mills-neighborhood/7OGjwb8MueWCxhu72osMuI/story.html |date=December 20, 2016 }}, July 24, 2015[https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/07/what-call-woman-side-mayor-elect-martin-walsh/uFD2hrxzyiMINHmXkuas6J/story.html Profile of Mayor-elect Walsh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135638/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/11/07/what-call-woman-side-mayor-elect-martin-walsh/uFD2hrxzyiMINHmXkuas6J/story.html |date=January 1, 2018 }}, November 7, 2013. They have resided there since 2015. Despite the NHLPA being headquartered in Toronto, Canada, of 2023, Walsh was described as staying "firmly rooted in Boston." Even while serving as secretary of labor, Walsh spent a large portion of his time in Boston. Walsh had never established a residence in Washington, D.C. during his tenure as secretary of labor, instead opting to stay in hotels while in Washington, D.C. over the work week and returning to his Dorchester residence for weekends.

Walsh has been a season ticket holder of the NFL's New England Patriots since franchise owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4762580/robert-kraft-likes-idea-of-draft-in-boston|title=Robert Kraft likes idea of draft in Boston|work=ESPNBoston.com|date=May 8, 2014|access-date=May 9, 2014|archive-date=May 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509054754/http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4762580/robert-kraft-likes-idea-of-draft-in-boston|url-status=live}}

Walsh is a Roman Catholic.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/09/01/martin-walsh-drive-become-mayor-was-forged-challenges/8R0YiSW4m5UwG7vFcFnJ3M/story.html |title=Early struggles gave Martin Walsh a solid underpinning |work=Boston Globe |access-date=November 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125025923/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/09/01/martin-walsh-drive-become-mayor-was-forged-challenges/8R0YiSW4m5UwG7vFcFnJ3M/story.html |url-status=live }} He speaks Irish and holds both American and Irish citizenship.{{Cite news|last=Deegan|first=Gordon|title=Boston mayor welcomed back to the land of his parents|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/boston-mayor-welcomed-back-to-the-land-of-his-parents-1.1935390|access-date=2021-01-08|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107200024/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/boston-mayor-welcomed-back-to-the-land-of-his-parents-1.1935390|url-status=live}}

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Walsh is a recovering alcoholic. By the time he ran for mayor in 2013, he was eighteen years sober in a twelve-step program.[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/us/in-race-for-boston-mayor-former-addicts-back-candidate-with-a-past.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1385150587-iNFz8tr7lUcwRrGtuAAJQg In race for Boston mayor, former addicts back candidate with a past] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013309/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/us/in-race-for-boston-mayor-former-addicts-back-candidate-with-a-past.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1385150587-iNFz8tr7lUcwRrGtuAAJQg |date=January 2, 2018 }}, nytimes.com; accessed April 22, 2014. Walsh has recounted that his experience with alcohol began when he started drinking beer as a teenager because he, "liked the taste." He has further recounted that he sought help for his alcoholism by entering a detox program sometime after hitting "rock bottom" in April 1995 when he was asked to leave a Boston Bruins ice hockey match due to his excessive drunkenness. Walsh also attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in order to facilitate his recovery. This is something Walsh had continued. During his tenure as secretary of labor, Walsh continued to attend meetings at his local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter. In his speech to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Walsh spoke about his alcoholism. He opened the speech with the words, "My name is Marty Walsh, and I'm an alcoholic"{{cite news |last1=Stubbs |first1=Roman |title=Marty Walsh 'sees people.' Here's what NHL players saw in him. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/06/18/marty-walsh-nhlpa-union/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=4 July 2023 |date=19 June 2023}} (using the format which Alcoholics Anonymous participants use to introduce themselves at meetings).{{cite web |title=My Name Is... and I’m an Alcoholic - AA History, Program Theory |url=https://www.aacle.org/my-name-is-and-im-an-alcoholic |website=Alcoholics Anonymous Cleveland |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=7 February 2020}}

Walsh's experience with addiction was a component of the life story of him overcoming adversity which he told as a portion of his stump pitch to voters during the 2013 mayoral election. This aspect of his life story has been credited with helping Walsh to set himself apart as a candidate.

Being the first Cabinet secretary to openly be in a twelve-step program for recovery from addiction, Walsh represented the Biden administration at a number of addiction recovery-related events during his time as secretary of labor.

File:2014Graduation169 - 14038730987.jpg address at the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology]]

After he delivered the college's 2014 commencement address, Walsh was presented with an honorary degree by the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology for his "commitment to civic responsibility, access to quality education, and workforce development". This was Walsh's first honorary degree.{{cite web |last1=Irons |first1=Meghan E. |title=In commencement speech, Walsh focuses on personal story |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/05/17/martin-walsh-gives-his-first-commencement-speech-mayor/NmcYJ9RnRVU8CKyOsxz6bP/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=May 18, 2014}} After he delivered the university's 2018 commencement address, the Wentworth Institute of Technology awarded Walsh an honorary doctorate of engineering from its technical school.{{cite web |last1=Sutherland |first1=Brooks |title=Marty Walsh tells Wentworth grads: Take ownership in our democracy |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/08/20/marty-walsh-tells-wentworth-grads-take-ownership-in-our-democracy/ |website=Boston Herald |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=20 August 2018}} After he delivered the commencement speech at Bridgewater State University's 2019 undergraduate graduation ceremony, Walsh was awarded an honorary degree.{{cite web |last1=Benson |first1=Brian |title=Commencement Speakers Announced |url=https://www.bridgew.edu/news-events/news/commencement-speakers-announced |website=Bridgewater State University |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=April 2, 2019}} After he delivered the college's 2022 commencement address, Endicott College awarded Walsh an honorary doctorate in law.{{cite web |last1=Manganis |first1=Julie |title=Walsh: 'Don't ever be afraid to dream' |url=https://www.eagletribune.com/news/north_of_boston/walsh-dont-ever-be-afraid-to-dream/article_c91852c8-d96d-11ec-bdb6-ef46e0478f1f.html |website=Eagle-Tribune |access-date=18 July 2023 |language=en |date=23 May 2022}} After Walsh delivered its 2023 commencement address, Suffolk University (which Walsh had previously attended before dropping-out after a single semester) awarded Walsh an honorary doctorate of public service.{{cite web |last1=Cotter |first1=Sean |title=Marty Walsh talks about overcoming obstacles at Suffolk graduation |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/21/metro/marty-walsh-talks-covid-overcoming-obstacles-suffolk-graduation/ |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=May 21, 2023}} That same year, after Walsh delivered the university's commencement address, Walsh was awarded an honorary degree by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Kevin |title=Massachusetts Maritime Academy Holds Commencement and Commissioning Exercises |url=https://www.citybiz.co/article/436909/massachusetts-maritime-academy-holds-commencement-and-commissioning-exercises/ |website=CityBiz |access-date=18 July 2023 |date=5 July 2023}} Additionally, at its 2023 commencement ceremony, Dean College awarded Walsh an honorary Doctor of Public Service.{{cite web |title=Dean College to Award Honorary Degrees to Andrea Kremer, Marty Walsh and Rutina Wesley at the 157th Commencement Exercises |url=https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/dean-college-award-honorary-degrees-andrea-kremer-marty-walsh-rutina-wesley-157th-commencement-exercises/ |website=Dean College |access-date=18 July 2023 |language=en |date=26 April 2023}}

In November 2020, Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect described Walsh as being a "working-class progressive". In 2017, Larry Donnelly of Irish Central described Walsh's ideology as "undeniably left of center", while noting that Walsh both managed to appeal to left-wing activist and a share of the city's more conservative voters who had supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Larry |title=Boston Mayor Marty Walsh - A Beacon Of Light For Democrats |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/others/boston-mayor-marty-walsh-a-beacon-of-light-for-democrats |website=IrishCentral.com |access-date=2 July 2025 |language=en |date=23 February 2017}} In March 2021, Kevin Cullen of The Boston Globe opined that Maurice J. Tobin and Martin Patrick Durkin were the former United States secretaries of labor whose personal backgrounds and ideologies most overlapped with Walsh's own.{{cite web |last1=Cullen |first1=Kevin |title=Marty Walsh And The Fight For Te Midde Class |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/22/metro/marty-walsh-fight-middle-class |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=2 July 2025 |date=March 22, 2021}} In January 2021, The Hill opinion contributor John Logan noted,{{quote|[While] the building trades [from which Walsh hails] have traditionally been viewed as the most conservative bloc within the labor movement,...[and] Walsh understands the culture of the building trades,...[Walsh] is significantly more progressive than many former building trades officials...[As mayor, Walsh] has supported many progressive causes, such as greater police accountability, declaring racism a public health issue, tackling wage theft, championing workplace safety in the construction industry, using city contracts to promote diversity, and pushing parental leave for city employees.{{cite web |last1=Logan |first1=John |title=Five Reasons Marty Walsh Could Be An Excellent Choice For Secretary of Labor |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/labor/533491-five-reasons-marty-walsh-could-be-an-excellent-choice-for-secretary |website=The Hill |access-date=3 July 2025 |date=January 9, 2021}}}}

Walsh has also been described as having been elected mayor in 2013 and 2017 on a more moderate platform than his successor Michelle Wu was elected on in 2021. Wu has been described as being positioned to Walsh's left,{{cite web |last1=Canty |first1=Chip |title=Mayoral race reshapes Boston’s political map |url=https://www.serlinhaley.com/2021/11/04/mayoral-race-reshapes-bostons-political-map |website=Serlin Haley |access-date=3 July 2025 |date=November 4, 2021}} including on issues such as climate change, economic equity, and racial equity. David Bernstein of Boston magazine observed in July 2023, that Wu's mayoral agenda's focus on reform was, "implicitly—and sometimes openly—a repudiation of Walsh’s [mayoral] tenure."

As both a state legislator and as mayor, Walsh supported more-compassionate policies in regards to handling undocumented immigrants. In both offices, he also opposed the legalization of recreational cannabis in Massachusetts.{{cite web |last1=Vaccaro |first1=Adam |title=The Marijuana Legalization Campaign Now Has Some Politicians In Its Corner |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2016/08/02/pro-pot-campaign-now-collecting-politicians-corner/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=5 September 2021 |date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905081902/https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2016/08/02/pro-pot-campaign-now-collecting-politicians-corner/ |url-status=live }} He also Walsh aligned himself in support of LGBTQ+ causes, including supporting same-sex marriage. In 2017, Walsh criticized President Trump's executive order imposing a moratorium on military service by transgender individuals, calling it "shameful" and "un-American".{{cite web |last1=Heyward |first1=Jasmine |title=Marty Walsh calls Trump's transgender service ban ‘shameful’ and ‘un-American’ |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2017/07/26/marty-walsh-calls-trumps-transgender-service-ban-shameful-and-un-american |website=Boston.com |access-date=2 July 2025 |date=July 26, 2017}} In Mach 2017, Walsh remarked of his administration's approach in regards to transgender people, {{quote|We are listening to our transgender community by making the city more inclusive. Its important for us to every now and then send a message, to let people know we will not be intimidated by discrimination or harassment. When you deny the experience of transgender individuals, you are denying the experience of basic human civil rights - in Boston and Massachusetts we are better than that. Together we are going to continue to fight intolerance with love and acceptance.{{cite web |title='Anti-Transgender' Bus Is Met By Protests In Boston |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39455371 |website=BBC News |access-date=2 July 2025 |language=en-gb |date=31 March 2017}}}}

In mid-2025, Walsh expressed concern that the Democratic Party and its messaging had fallen out-of-touch with the sentiments of the American working class.{{cite web |last1=Sorapuru |first1=Julian E.J. |title=Walsh On The Democratic Party: 'We Don’t Have A Message' |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/06/nation/marty-walsh-criticizes-democratic-party |website=The Boston Globe |access-date=2 July 2025 |date=May 6, 2025}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=1996 Massachusetts House of Representatives 13th Suffolk district general election{{cite web |title=PD43+ » 1996 State Representative General Election 13th Suffolk District |url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/97880/ |website=electionstats.state.ma.us |publisher=Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |access-date=17 July 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James T. Brett

| votes = 4145

| percentage = 48.04

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 1,953

| percentage = 22.63

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Charles Tevnan

| votes = 492

| percentage = 9.82

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Others

| votes = 2039

| percentage = 23.63

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8629

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=1997 13th Suffolk District state representative special election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/106166/|title=1997 State Representative Special Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115210815/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/106166|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/106169/|title=1997 State Representative Special General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213000/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/106169/|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 2,085

| percentage = 32.76

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = James W. Hunt III

| votes = 1,839

| percentage = 28.89

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Charles R. Tevnan

| votes = 1,039

| percentage = 16.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Martha Coakley

| votes = 746

| percentage = 11.72

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Edward M. Regal

| votes = 612

| percentage = 9.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Charles P. Burke

| votes = 42

| percentage = 0.66

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 2

| percentage = 0.03

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6,365

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 842

| percentage = 98.83

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 10

| percentage = 1.17

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 852

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=1998 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/98664/|title=1998 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213003/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/98664/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/98666/|title=1998 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213001/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/98666/|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 4,184

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,184

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 6,282

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6,282

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2000 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/99612/|title=2000 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213023/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/99612/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/99614/|title=2000 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213004/https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/99614/|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 1,023

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,023

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 8,113

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8,113

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2002 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/109653/|title=2002 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/110287/|title=2002 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 3,760

| percentage = 80.67

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Edward L. Geary, Jr.

| votes = 901

| percentage = 19.33

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,661

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 6,756

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 6,756

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2004 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/111195/|title=2004 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/111806/|title=2004 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 2,826

| percentage = 98.36

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 47

| percentage = 1.64

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,873

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 9,532

| percentage = 88.51

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = John P. O'Gorman

| votes = 1,196

| percentage = 11.10

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 42

| percentage = 0.39

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 10,770

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2006 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/102887/|title=2006 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/103297/|title=2006 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 4,041

| percentage = 98.97

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 42

| percentage = 1.03

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,083

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 7,624

| percentage = 98.56

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 111

| percentage = 1.44

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 7735

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2008 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/103961/|title=2008 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/104579/|title=2008 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 2,120

| percentage = 99.02

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 21

| percentage = 0.98

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,141

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 10,678

| percentage = 98.64

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 147

| percentage = 1.36

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 10,825

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2010 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/105114/|title=2010 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/105619/|title=2010 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 2,257

| percentage = 98.73

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 29

| percentage = 1.27

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,286

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 7,903

| percentage = 98.21

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 144

| percentage = 1.79

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 8,047

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2012 13th Suffolk District state representative election{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/113367/|title=2012 State Representative Democratic Primary|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://electionstats.state.ma.us/elections/view/112833/|title=2012 State Representative General Election|website=Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=6 March 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 2,058

| percentage = 98.56

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 30

| percentage = 1.44

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,088

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 13,744

| percentage = 98.19

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 253

| percentage = 1.81

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 13,997

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2013 Boston mayoral election{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2009-24-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20%26%20Precinct%20Results_tcm3-40789.pdf|title=Preliminary Municipal Election|website=cityofboston.gov|date=24 September 2013|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=February 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202112158/https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2009-24-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20%26%20Precinct%20Results_tcm3-40789.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2011-05-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20&%20Precinct%20Results%20(1)_tcm3-41970.pdf|title=Municipal Election|website=cityofboston.gov|date=5 November 2013|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721203317/https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/2013%20-%2011-05-13%20-%20Mayor%20Ward%20%26%20Precinct%20Results%20%281%29_tcm3-41970.pdf|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 20,854

| percentage = 18.47

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = John R. Connolly

| votes = 19,435

| percentage = 17.21

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Charlotte Golar Richie

| votes = 15,546

| percentage = 13.77

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Daniel Conley

| votes = 12,775

| percentage = 11.32

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Felix Arroyo

| votes = 9,895

| percentage = 8.76

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = John Barros

| votes = 9,148

| percentage = 8.10

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Robert Consalvo

| votes = 8,603

| percentage = 7.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Michael Ross

| votes = 8,164

| percentage = 7.23

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Bill Walczak

| votes = 3,825

| percentage = 3.39

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Charles Yancey

| votes = 2,389

| percentage = 2.12

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Charles Clemons

| votes = 1,800

| percentage = 1.59

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = David Wyatt

| votes = 334

| percentage = 0.30

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 130

| percentage = 0.12

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 112,898

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Marty Walsh

| votes = 72,583

| percentage = 51.54

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = John R. Connolly

| votes = 67,694

| percentage = 48.07

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 560

| percentage = 0.40

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 140,837

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2017 Boston mayoral election{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/2/2017_-_09-26-17_-_mayor_ward_precinct_results.pdf|title=Preliminary Municipal Election|website=cityofboston.gov|date=26 September 2017|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101072455/https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/2/2017_-_09-26-17_-_mayor_ward_precinct_results.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/2/2017_-_11-07-17_-_mayor_ward_precinct_results.pdf|title=Municipal Election|website=cityofboston.gov|date=7 November 2017|access-date=6 March 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101180643/https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/embed/2/2017_-_11-07-17_-_mayor_ward_precinct_results.pdf|url-status=live}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 34,882

| percentage = 62.52

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Tito Jackson

| votes = 16,216

| percentage = 29.07

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Robert Cappucci

| votes = 3,736

| percentage = 6.70

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Joseph Wiley

| votes = 529

| percentage = 0.95

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 428

| percentage = 0.77

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 55,791

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Marty Walsh (incumbent)

| votes = 70197

| percentage = 65.37

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Nonpartisan politician

| candidate = Tito Jackson

| votes = 36472

| percentage = 33.97

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 708

| percentage = 0.66

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 107377

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{election box end}}

• Timeline of Boston, 2010s
• List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Wikisource|Author:Martin Joseph Walsh|Marty Walsh}}

• [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/osec Biography] at the United States Department of Labor
• [http://www.martywalsh.org/ Marty Walsh for Mayor] campaign website
• {{C-SPAN}}
• "[https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/25/most-interesting-mayors-america-215295/ America's 11 Most Interesting Mayors]" from Politico magazine

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 13th Suffolk district|years=1997–2014}}

{{s-aft|after=Daniel J. Hunt}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Thomas Menino
• (tenure) •}}

{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Boston|years=2014–2021
• (tenure) •}}

{{s-aft|after=Kim Janey
Acting}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Eugene Scalia}}

{{s-ttl|title=United States Secretary of Labor|years=2021–2023}}

{{s-aft|after=Julie Su
Acting}}

|-

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=Xavier Becerra|as=Former US Cabinet Member}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Cabinet Member}}|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=Patrick Leahy|as=Former US Senate President Pro Tempore}}

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