Tom Menino and James Brett are the top finishers in the preliminary election for mayor.

Acting mayor Menino (D), with 30,060 votes, and state senator Brett (D-Dorchester), with 25,052, finish ahead of Suffolk County sheriff Robert Rufo (22,517), city councilor Rosaria Salerno (19,605), city councilor Bruce Bolling (6,654), former Boston police commissioner Francis Roache (3,362), journalist Christopher Lydon (3,630), and Diane Moriarty (991). Turnout is 113,117 or 50.7%.