Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to Run as Write-In Candidate

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has announced that he will run as a write-in candidate in the general election. His slogan is "Write down, Byron Brown.” He lost to India Walton in the recent Democratic primary election. Mayor Brown held a press conference yesterday, Monday, June 28, 2021, to announce that he would not concede, but run as a write-in candidate. According to WIVB, Mayor Brown said,

“Let’s be clear that until November, there is no mayor-elect. There is only one mayor of Buffalo, and that is Mayor Byron Brown.”

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Mayor Brown has held the position of Mayor of the City of Buffalo for four terms. In the primary election, Walton, who is a community activist and ran a grassroots campaign, won against the established Democrat 11,132 to 9,625. The turnout for voting in the elections a week ago, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, was very low, considering the population in the city.

According to WGRZ, Mayor Brown explained why he has been quiet for the past week,

"I have stayed out of the public spotlight for a few days, because I wanted to hear from the people of Buffalo, and the people of Buffalo are speaking loudly. Clearly, I have literally heard from thousands of residents of Buffalo, who have said to me, that they want me to continue my campaign for re-election as mayor of the City of Buffalo as a write-in candidate."

India Walton responded to the Mayor's announcement, according to WIVB, saying in part,

Byron Brown’s decision to run a write-in campaign supported by Carl Paladino and the PBA is deeply disappointing. Brown can attempt to distance himself from Paladino all he wants, but it is clear who is really behind this campaign. We urge Brown to accept the will of the voters, end this futile campaign, and help us work towards a seamless transition.

You can read her full statement here.