BUFFALO (WBEN) - Incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown on Monday said he would undertake a write-in campaign for the general election after losing in the Democratic primary to India Walton, a Democratic Socialist candidate in her first run for office.
Brown has refused to concede in the race, which The Associated Press called for Walton last week after it became clear there weren’t enough absentee ballots for Brown to overcome Walton’s lead.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there is only one mayor of the City of Buffalo, and that is Mayor Byron Brown."
Six days after unofficially losing the mayoral primary to Walton, Brown announced he will run as a write-in candidate for the November 2 General Election.
"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 and clearly," said Brown, who's seeking an unprecedented fifth term as mayor. "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 a write-in candidate."
More than a dozen city and community leaders joined Brown on as he made the announcement, including City Councilmembers Ulysees Wingo, Joe Golombek and Chris Scanlon.
"It is important to note that no election is completed...until the General Election takes place," Brown continued. "Now, we've heard a lot of talk about a mayor-elect, but let's be clear, until after the General Election, there is no mayor-elect."
While Brown refused to address India Walton by name, he insisted that many Buffalo residents he's spoken to are afraid for the city's future.
"I have also heard from voters that there is tremendous fear that has spread across this community," said Brown. "People are fearful about the future of our city; they are fearful about the future of their families; they are fearful about the future of their children, and they have said to me that they do not want a radical socialist occupying the mayor's office in Buffalo City Hall."
In reaction to Brown's announcement and his attack against her Democratic Socialist platform, Walton said she's going to continue to run her campaign the way she has been, as well as work toward a smooth transition of power to City Hall come January.
"I plan on running the same type of campaign we ran as a primary race - that's focused on organizing, that's focused on people, and that's focused on elevating the voices that often go unheard," said Walton.
"I am a Democratic Socialist - Democrat is the first word in that," Walton continued. "I think that socialism is used a dog whistle to ignore the fact that this campaign is centered on people and rooted in love and care. The policies that we implement are going to focus on working class people, on affordable housing, on a quality education."
Walton also issued this statement: "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. It would be a shame for Brown to ruin his legacy by partnering with right-wing real estate developers in this pointless effort. The people of Buffalo deserve so much better than this."
Brown certainly gave an impassioned speech Monday afternoon, and many were left wondering where that passion was prior to the election, as it seemed his strategy was simply to ignore that he was even being challenged.
“I take full responsibility, but I can’t go back," Brown answered when asked why there wasn't this organized level of support a few weeks ago.
Walton's campaign also called for a debate with Brown several times before the primary, but Brown neglected that opportunity. When asked if he'd be willing to debate Walton prior to the General Election in November, Brown carried a much different tone than the one he carried in the weeks leading up to the primary.
“I will debate my opponent any place, any time, anywhere," he said, which of course prompted the obligatory follow-up question of 'why not a few weeks ago?'
He again reiterated, 'I can't go back...'
During the primary campaign, Brown, in his fourth term, largely ignored his challengers and declined Walton’s request to debate.
With no Republican in the race, Walton, a nurse and union leader, would ordinarily be all but guaranteed to win the general election. If elected, she would be Buffalo's first woman mayor.
Brown, a long-time ally of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has matched the record for longest-serving Buffalo mayor.