n the Democratic primary, self-proclaimed socialist and community activist India Walton defeated Buffalo, NY’s four-term incumbent mayor.
If elected, Walton is to be Buffalo’s first female mayor and will be leading New York’s second-largest city. After the primary results were released, Walton told supporters at a nightclub, “All that we are doing in this moment is claiming what is rightfully ours. We are the workers. We do the work. And we deserve a government that works with and for us.”
Walton has gained endorsement from numerous socialist organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party, and the progressive People’s Action. When asked if she identifies as a socialist, Walton told reporters, “Oh absolutely.” Her campaign has focused on affordable housing, health care, and criminal justice reform.
Current Mayor Byron Brown has held office for four terms and is Walton’s main competition, and there are no Republican candidates running for the office. As campaign season tapers out, poll analysts predict current frontrunners will maintain their lead, as with the New York City mayoral race.
