Pearson welcomed about 150 supporters to a campaign event at a South Boston bar, where she emphasized collaboration, advocacy and service over confrontation.

"Let's build a campaign that respects and reflects District 2," she told the crowd. "I may not have all of the answers, but I promise to be present."

District 2 includes South Boston, Chinatown and parts of the South End.

Pearson has lived in Boston for more than 22 years. She has led the South Boston Moms Club, a parental support group, raised money for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, and worked as a substitute teacher at the Oliver Hazard Perry School, which serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade.

She did not mention Flynn during her launch. The incumbent, a South Boston native, Navy veteran, former probation officer and youth sports coach, declined to comment on her announcement. He is the son of a former Boston mayor.

Flynn has built a campaign war chest of nearly $1 million, an unusually large sum for a city councilor. Every other member of the 13-person body is currently reporting less than $75,000 in campaign funds, according to finance records.

For years, Flynn has been one of the most vocal critics of Mayor Michelle Wu, opposing many of her administration's policies on public safety and spending. Some residents view his role on the council as a counterweight to the mayor; others see it as a nuisance.

Pearson's political giving suggests alignment with the mayor's wing of city politics. Campaign finance records show she has contributed $1,050 to Wu's past campaigns and an additional $1,100 to City Councilors Ruthzee Louijeune and Sharon Durkan.

Wu did not attend Pearson's launch, but a spokesperson said the mayor "is always thrilled when great people step forward to serve their communities."

Wu's support could prove valuable. This fall, she backed two state Senate candidates who mounted competitive but ultimately unsuccessful campaigns against incumbents after clashing with longtime lawmakers over her proposal to shift the city's property tax burden from homeowners to commercial property owners.

More candidates could enter the District 2 race soon. With annual individual donor caps of $1,000 that reset in January, some potential contenders may choose to announce their campaigns or begin fundraising before the end of the year, allowing them to seek a second round of contributions from the same donors in 2027.