Shaunna O’Connell Re-Elected as Mayor of Taunton

Taunton, Massachusetts – November 4, 2025

Voters in Taunton have re-elected Mayor Shaunna O’Connell to a fourth two-year term, reaffirming her leadership despite a heated campaign and recent controversies. O’Connell, the city’s first female mayor, defeated City Councilor Estele Borges by roughly 600 votes, earning just over 52 percent of the total ballot count.

The race drew strong attention across Bristol County as both candidates emphasized different visions for the city’s future. O’Connell’s campaign focused on her record of economic development, infrastructure improvement, and local government modernization since first taking office in 2020. Borges, meanwhile, campaigned on transparency, accountability, and what she called a need to restore trust in City Hall.

Throughout her campaign, O’Connell cited steady progress under her administration, including downtown revitalization and capital investment in public services. “We’ve done a lot of really great work over the past five years,” she told supporters before Election Day, pledging to continue those efforts in her next term.

O’Connell’s re-election follows public scrutiny earlier this year after the dismissal of a 2024 domestic-assault case upon completion of probation. Her ability to overcome that controversy and retain voter confidence highlights the resilience of her base and the community’s focus on results over personal matters.

With a new term ahead, the mayor is expected to prioritize infrastructure upgrades, strengthen public safety, and improve communication between city departments and residents. Collaboration with the newly seated City Council will be key to advancing major projects.

The 2025 election results reaffirm O’Connell’s standing as one of the region’s most durable municipal leaders, with Taunton voters choosing continuity over change in a closely watched local race.