“Fall River deserves a city government that works as hard as its people,” Flanagan said in announcing his candidacy. He said his priorities include protecting essential services, curbing what he called wasteful spending, supporting small businesses and considering the needs of working families and older residents.

Flanagan also said residents should be able to see that their tax dollars are used wisely and get a response when they contact City Hall. He did not provide further campaign details in his announcement.

He first became mayor in 2010 and won two additional two-year terms. In 2014, partway through his final term, he faced a recall election amid public frustration that included disputes over trash-pickup fees. Then-City Councilor Jasiel Correia accused Flanagan of showing him a gun to intimidate him after Correia signed the recall petition; the accusation was reported at the time as an allegation.

In 2019, Flanagan said he would not make another mayoral run in a recall effort against then-Mayor Correia. He was also stabbed near a dispensary he owns in Fall River in 2025.

Flanagan’s announcement sets up a 2027 contest over the city’s leadership and the priorities he has highlighted, including municipal services and public spending. No other candidates were identified in the announcement.