CHELSEA, Mass. — It was the day after a Latina community activist in New York toppled an entrenched congressman of her own party in one of the biggest political upsets of the decade. And the shock waves reverberated 200 miles away in Boston, where another woman of color who is challenging an entrenched incumbent was clearly buoyed by the surprising turn of events.

Ayanna Pressley, a Boston city councilwoman, appearing at a candidate forum at a senior center Wednesday night, gave a brief, impassioned speech about economic inequality and concluded that she — “this woman!” — could be a disruptive force for change. The audience whooped and hollered in support.

In an interview afterward, Ms. Pressley, her voice raspy from pollen in the air, said she was inspired by the stunning success of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Tuesday in a New York Democratic House primary.

“What her victory has done is reaffirmed for us that there’s a path to victory, that this is winnable and that it’s going to come down to the field,” Ms. Pressley said, referring to how campaign workers get out the vote.