By: Alyssa Wilson

Kim Janey has broken barriers after becoming Boston’s first Black and first woman mayor.

Congratulations on your confirmation, Secretary Walsh. You are a proud son of Dorchester who will bring our city with you to the @USDOL. The working people of America will benefit greatly from your passion.

Now, we look ahead to a new day — a new chapter — in Boston’s history. https://t.co/Tp2802GKd4

— Kim Janey (@Kim_Janey) March 22, 2021

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Senate confirmed the former mayor Marty Walsh as the Biden administration’s Secretary of Labor. 

Hello, Boston! Your Mayor is a Black woman from Roxbury, who rides public transit, speaks Spanish, and makes the best sweet potato pie ever! When’s the last time you could say that? #Alcaldesa #SheReady #HerStory #bospoli pic.twitter.com/KEG9vUEyml

— Kim Janey (@Kim_Janey) March 24, 2021

She officially stepped into the role on Monday evening. Under Boston’s charter, the sitting council president serves as acting mayor if the sitting mayor resigns mid-term. 

Janey was sworn into office on Wednesday afternoon in a historic moment as she was introduced and sworn in by Ayanna Pressley and Kimberly Budd.

HISTORY | @AyannaPressley, Massachusetts’ first Black Congresswoman, introduced Kimberly Budd, the first Black woman to lead the state’s highest court, who administered the oath of office to @Kim_Janey, who will serve as the first Black and first woman mayor for Boston. @BNCNews https://t.co/OJxMHojrhm

— Alyssa C. Wilson (@acwnews) March 24, 2021 

Janey is a fourth-generation Boston resident who was elected to the Boston City Council in 2017. In 2020, she became the president of the most diverse City Council in the city’s history.

According to her transition website, her focuses as mayor will be on recovery from COVID-19, vaccine distribution, getting students back in the classroom, and economic recovery for communities hardest hit by the pandemic. 

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Support for Janey poured in on social media. 

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

— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 23, 2021

Congratulations to @Kim_Janey who will become Boston’s First Black person and First Woman to serve as Mayor of the #Boston.
It gives so much pride to see this historic moment. I’m proud to see this awesome sister serve in this transformative role#BlackGirlMagic #BlackHistory

— Tito Jackson (@titojackson) March 22, 2021

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

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

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

It’s with excitement and joy that I congratulate our Council President, now Acting-Mayor @Kim_Janey. This is a historic moment for our City, and absolutely the beginning of a new era of female leadership in Boston. pic.twitter.com/4BH9L7Njs1

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

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

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) March 23, 2021

Janey will serve until a new mayor is elected in the November race. 

The current slate of candidates features several city councilors and city leaders, all of whom are people of color. 

The candidates are city councilor Michelle Wu, city councilor Andrea Cambell, city councilor Annissa Essaibi George, State Representative Jon Santiago and former city economic development chief John Barros.  

It is unclear if Janey will run in the November election.