Rob Galbraith
Template:TOCnestleft Rob Galbraith
India Walton victory
In Buffalo in 2021, one shocking upset win made national headlines: first-time candidate India Walton soundly defeated four-term incumbent Byron Brown. Brown has since announced that he will run in the general election as a write-in candidate, but he faces an uphill battle to hold on to his seat.
Even so, Walton’s supporters are taking his challenge seriously. “Byron Brown is going to have a lot of resources, he has pretty much 100% name ID, and it’s the general, so there are more conservative voters who aren’t open to India,” said Ryan Stempien, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America - Buffalo steering committee.
Progressive groups in the city, having tasted victory, say they’ve just whetted their appetite. “Now that we’ve got one win under our belt, we’re going to be looking for more,” Stempien said of Buffalo DSA. “We will be running at least two common council seats at the bare minimum” in 2023.
Rob Galbraith, a policy researcher and Democratic Socialists of America - Buffalo member, pointed to council member Dave Rivera, who represents the Niagara neighborhood, which Walton won overwhelmingly, as someone likely to be amenable to Walton’s platform. “If in two years time he decides he wants another term, I think he could very likely see a challenger, and would need to appease that base,” he said.[1]
Facebook discussion group
Democratic Socialists of America - Buffalo, public Facebook discussion group, as of March 12, 2017;[2]
- This is the home of general discussion for the Buffalo Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. You don't have to be a member to post here, but we do encourage you to consider joining our efforts by visiting
Admins
- Donna Grace, SUNY Empire State College
- Ethan Maxwell
- Mike Heubusch, Cook and barista at Sweet_ness 7 Cafe
- Laura Adelaide Kerrigan, Teaching Assistant/Graduate Student at University at Buffalo
- Ryan Slomiany, Kenmore, New York
- Michael James, Buffalo, New York
- Patrick M. Francis, University at Buffalo
- Rob Galbraith, SUNY Buffalo
- Eric Lingenfelter, Buffalo State
- Joe LiButti, SUNY Buffalo