Buffalo Mayoral Candidate Poised to Become City's First Socialist Mayor After Winning Democratic Primary

Socialist India Walton defeated incumbent Byron Brown in the Democratic primary for mayor of Buffalo, New York on Tuesday in an upset, poising the city to elect its first socialist mayor.

Supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the Working Families Party (WFP), two progressive socialist organizations, Walton beat Brown by seven percentage points, HuffPost reported.

Not only do the groups that back Walton confirm her socialist tendencies, but the candidate herself affirmed it too.

“Oh, absolutely,” Walton said after being asked if she considers herself a socialist, according to The Buffalo News. “The entire intent of this campaign is to draw down power and resources to the ground level and into the hands of the people.”

With no Republican candidate for mayor and one possible independent candidate, Walton is poised to become the first socialist and first female mayor of the city come January.

Walton declared victory Tuesday night and called her mother to share the news.

“Mommy, I’m the mayor of Buffalo—well, not until January, but yeah!” she exclaimed.

Later on election night while addressing supporters, Walton gave a socialist rallying cry of progress and change.

“Today is only the beginning,” she said. “We set out not only to change Buffalo but to change the way progressive politics are run.”