Jake Wilson
Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts since 2026
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jake Wilson (born 1977) is an American politician who has served as the 37th mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts since January 2, 2026. Wilson had previously served as an at-large member of the Somerville City Council between January 2022 and January 2026.
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1977 (age 48–49)
Jake Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson in 2025 | |
| 37th Mayor of Somerville | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Katjana Ballantyne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacob D. Wilson 1977 (age 48–49) Minnesota, U.S. |
| Spouse | Catherine Evans |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Wilson was born in the Twin Cities. He and his family moved to a family farm in Iowa two years after he was born.[1] He later earned his B.A. in English at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.[2]
Career
From 1997 to 2001, Wilson worked in Technology consulting and advisory services. From 2001 to 2006, he worked as a Journalist.[3] In 2018, Wilson became president of Somerville Youth Soccer, and held that position until 2021.[1][4] Before becoming president of the organization, Wilson was the communications director, and also coached for the organization [5]
After several Somerville at-large City Councillors announced their retirement from the council, Wilson ran for one of the four at-large seats in 2021. He won with 7,067 votes.[6] In 2023 he successfully ran for reelection.[7]
On December 16, 2024, Wilson announced his candidacy for mayor, challenging incumbent Katjana Ballantyne.[8] Ballantyne was eliminated in the September 2025 preliminary election, and Wilson won the November 2025 municipal election. Wilson won with the most votes in both elections.[9]
Personal life
Wilson married his wife in 2002. They have two children and live in the Somerville neighborhood of Winter Hill.[1]
Electoral history
City Council
| 2021 Somerville City Council election (At-large) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Municipal election[12] | |
| Votes | % | |
| Kristen Strezo | 10,314 | 17.8 |
| Willie Burnley, Jr. | 9,735 | 16.8 |
| Charlotte Kelly | 9,700 | 16.7 |
| Jake Wilson | 7,067 | 12.2 |
| Eve Seitchik | 6,478 | 11.2 |
| Justin Klekota | 5,532 | 9.5 |
| Tracey Leah Pratt | 5,113 | 8.8 |
| Virginia Hussey | 3,869 | 6.7 |
| Write-in | 308 | 0.5 |
| Total | 58,116 | 100 |
| 2023 Somerville City Council election (At-large) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Municipal election[13] | |
| Votes | % | |
| Kristen Strezo (inc.) | 11,993 | 21.9 |
| Willie Burnley, Jr. (inc.) | 11,344 | 20.7 |
| Will Mbah | 11,088 | 20.2 |
| Jake Wilson (inc.) | 10,909 | 19.9 |
| Charlotte Kelly (inc.) | 9,032 | 16.5 |
| Write-in | 448 | 0.8 |
| Total | 54,814 | 100 |
Mayor
| 2025 Somerville mayoral election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Preliminary election[14] | Municipal election[15] | ||
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Jake Wilson | 5,190 | 42.1 | 11,294 | 55.1 |
| Willie Burnley, Jr. | 4,174 | 33.9 | 9,144 | 44.6 |
| Katjana Ballantyne (inc.) | 2,927 | 23.7 | ||
| Write-in | 40 | 0.3 | 59 | 0.3 |
| Total | 12,331 | 100 | 20,497 | 100 |