2021 Buffalo mayoral election
The 2021 Buffalo mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021. Democratic Mayor Byron Brown won his fifth term in office as a write-in candidate. Brown's victory marked the first time since 1985 that Buffalo did not elect the Democratic nominee for mayor.
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Brown: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Walton: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Tie: 40–50% 50% No votes: | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in New York State |
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Four-time incumbent Democratic Mayor Byron Brown lost the June Democratic primary to India Walton, a political activist and nurse. Brown chose to run in the general election as a write-in candidate, and then attempted to obtain ballot access, but continued as a write-in when he was unable to secure a place on the ballot. The race attracted national attention as a proxy battle between progressives and moderates with Walton running as a socialist, and Brown running with moderate Democratic as well as Republican support. In addition to Brown, there were at least three other write-in candidates.
On the night of November 3, 2021, Brown declared his victory over Walton although tabulation of the write-in votes in Erie County (of which Buffalo is a part of) would not commence until November 17. The day after the election, Walton released a statement stating that although a victory "seems unlikely," her campaign would not concede until all votes were counted. Brown's victory became official on November 19, 2021.
Brown's victory made him the longest serving Mayor of Buffalo once he began his fifth term on January 1, 2022, breaking the record held by James D. Griffin.