In Buffalo with India Walton: An Insurgent Candidate Runs for Mayor

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Eyes across the nation are on the mayoral election in Buffalo, New York, where insurgent candidate India Walton could become the first Black woman—and first Democratic Socialist—to lead the city. Laura Flanders first interviewed Walton in 2019 as part of a profile of community organizations in that city. Two years later in June 2021, Walton shocked the Democratic establishment when she won Buffalo’s Democratic primary. Supporters say her win speaks to the strength of grassroots organizing around the city’s plans for its economic future  and signals a shift in power at the local level. But Buffalo’s four-term incumbent Byron Brown, also a Democrat, challenged Walton’s primary victory, and ran as a write-in candidate. Will the election prove to be a referendum on centrist versus progressive Democrats? And what has it been like to be Walton, in this campaign? Flanders returned to Buffalo for an interview with Walton just as the first time candidate was receiving support from Rep Ocasio Cortez and Senators Schumer and Gillebrand but the state party chairman had just compared her to David Duke and Democratic Governor Hochul had refused to take a position. What is the significance of this election?

Guests:

India Walton, Mayoral Candidate, Democrat, Buffalo, NY

Jesse Myerson, Communications Director, India Walton Campaign

Drisana Hughes, Campaign Manager, India Walton Campaign

Christopher P. Scanlon, South District Council Member, Buffalo, New York

Louisa Pocheco, Chair of Western New York Chapter, Working Families Party

Divya Sundaram, New York Working Families Party

Jay Jacobs, New York State Democratic Committee Chair

Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Gina Kim, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner. 

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