The Race For Mayor Is On In Buffalo, New York

With the completion of the 2024 election cycle and the election of a new President, along with all the open other offices, people now look forward to the holidays. That is, except those in Buffalo, who are now looking to the 2025 election when Buffalo will select a new mayor.

When Byron Brown resigned from office to take a new job as the President and CEO of the Western Region OTB. With Brown leaving office, and according to the Buffalo City Charter, South District Common Council Member and Buffalo Common Council President Christopher Scanlon took over control of the city as Acting Mayor.

Scanlon will fill out the remainder of Brown's fifth term in office, but if he wants to remain in control of the city, he'll need to run and win in the 2025 election. However, it looks like he's going to have some competition, as several other people are interested in taking over the mayor's office.

While no one has officially declared to run for office yet, the number of people expressing interest is growing.:

Who's Up Next To Be Buffalo's Mayor

Christopher Scanlon
- Mr. Scanlon assumed the mayor's office in October when Byron Brown resigned last month. He has been the council member for the South district since 2012. Scanlon graduated from Timon St. Jude and Buffalo State University. Before taking public office, He worked for UPS and the Western New York Pub Group. As the current Acting Mayor, Scanlon will benefit from incumbency.
India Walton
- Ms. Walton is a nurse by education who has dedicated many years to the Buffalo community and public service. Her potential candidacy is significant as she is the only person to have beaten Byron Brown over the last 20 years, and she earned a substantial victory over him in the Democratic primary election in 2021. If she does run, she should be considered a serious candidate.
Sean Ryan
- Mr. Ryan is the current Senator for New York State's 61st district, representing a large swath of Buffalo, Grand Island, and the northern suburbs. Before taking office in the Senate, Ryan had served in the New York Assembly for ten years. Before public office, Ryan held positions with Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company, Inc., and Neighborhood Legal Services as an attorney. Ryan made it clear he is interested in seeking the mayor's office, and his time serving Buffalo is well known and may be seen as a plus to many potential voters.
Garnell Whitfield
- Whitfield has spent nearly 40 years in public service, more than 30 of which were with the Buffalo Fire Department, serving in various capacities, including seven years as commissioner. In addition to serving as BFD Commissioner, Whitfield served as Assistant Commissioner of New York State's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. According to reporting from WIVB-TV, former City of Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield is gearing up to run for mayor in 2025.
Zeneta B. Everhart
- Everhart, the mother of one of the 5/14 shooting victims, spent several years in broadcasting and news media before working with New York State Senator Tim Kennedy as the Director of Diversity and inclusion. Everhart, who now serves as the Masten District Council Member, grew up on Buffalo's east side and attended Villa Maria College and Canisius University.
Rasheed N.C. Wyatt
- With a Master's in Organizational Leadership from Medaille College, Wyatt serves as the Council Member for the University District. Before representing the city's University District, Wyatt was a Chief of Staff for the council and had a long career in corporate banking and finance.
Leah Halton-Pope
- Halton-Pope, the Common Council Member for Buffalo's Ellicott District and the Council's Democratic Majority Leader, spent several years as a Senior Advisor to Crystal Peoples-Stokes, the Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly. Before that, she held various positions with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Obama for America, and Girl Scouts of Western New York.

The number of people interested in this office will grow over the next few months. According to WIVB, the Erie County Democratic Committee will hold a series of forums for people interested in being candidates for office. Those who want to be considered for the democratic endorsement can present their policy platforms and answer questions for members of the democratic committee.

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