India Walton: Byron Brown Is a “Sore Loser” Whose Pro-Corporate Policies Have Failed Buffalo
Buffalo mayor Byron Brown lost the Democratic Party primary against socialist India Walton. Now he’s elbowed his way back on the ballot for the general election. In an interview with Jacobin, Walton argues that Brown’s defense of the status quo will lose to her vision of democratic socialism.
India Walton is running against four-term incumbent Byron Brown for mayor of Buffalo, New York. (India Walton For Buffalo / Facebook)
India Walton is a Democratic Socialists of America–endorsed candidate for mayor of Buffalo. Her campaign staged a major upset to defeat four-term incumbent Byron Brown in the Democratic primary in June. Democrats have occupied the Buffalo mayor’s office since 1966, and winning the Democratic primary is usually enough to secure victory in the general election. But after losing the Democratic primary, Brown has gotten back on the ballot under a newly created “Buffalo Party.”
Despite the Erie County Board of Elections dismissing the new ballot line — which missed the filing deadline by several months — as invalid, District Judge John Sinatra (brother of Brown supporter Nick Sinatra) has filed an injunction to allow Brown onto the ballot. Yesterday, Walton’s campaign filed a notice of appeal, asking the US Court of Appeals to review Judge Sinatra’s ruling.
In an interview, Walton spoke to Jacobin’s Hadas Thier about Brown’s attempt to circumvent democracy, and what’s at stake for Buffalo.
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