India Walton
Walton in 2022
Personal details
Born (1982-06-14) June 14, 1982
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseVernon Walton
Children4
EducationState University of New York, Erie (AS)
WebsiteCampaign website

India B. Walton (born June 14, 1982)[1] is an American political activist and nurse. She defeated incumbent Mayor Byron Brown in the Democratic Party primary for the 2021 election for mayor of Buffalo, New York, before losing to Brown in the general election, where he ran as a write-in candidate.[2]

Early life and education

Walton was born on the east side of Buffalo, New York[3] to Doris Siddiq and Louis Kelly. She was raised by her mother, who was a pharmacy technician, with five siblings.[3] She attended Lorraine Elementary and Leonardo da Vinci High School. Walton gave birth to her first child when she was fourteen,[4][5] dropped out of high school, worked at Family Dollar and McDonald's, and lived in a group home for young mothers.[3][5] She married Vernon Walton Jr. and left high school after giving birth to twin sons at the age of nineteen.[4] Walton later earned a General Educational Development certificate[4] and graduated with a nursing degree from SUNY Erie. She has said she decided to pursue a career in nursing after her experience following the birth of her twins, who were born premature and required months of intensive care.[3] She later gave birth to another son.[6][7][8]

After she completed her nursing degree, she began work at Children's Hospital.[3] In 2014, she was arrested on a charge of harassment, and the case was dismissed by the court.[9][10][11] In 2014, she also moved out of her home due to what she has described as abuse and physical violence by her husband, and later divorced her husband after an attempt to reconcile in 2015 was unsuccessful.[3]

Career

Activism

Walton became active in politics at the age of twelve when she protested Rockefeller Drug Laws with her mother as part of the activist group Families Against Mandatory Minimums.[6][7][8] While working as a nurse, she served as a representative for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.[12] In 2016, after participating in meetings held by the Community First Alliance, a local organization focused on advocacy for residents in the majority-Black Fruit Belt neighborhood, she held a protest against parking practices in the neighborhood.[3] She left her nursing career after being hired by Open Buffalo as a community organizer with a focus on criminal justice and policing reforms.[3] In 2017, she became executive director of Fruit Belt Community Land Trust.[3][13][14]

She was also a leader in local Black Lives Matter protests,[13][14] and advocated for Mayor Byron Brown to sign Cariol's Law.[15] She has said the shoving of Martin Gugino by a Buffalo police officer was one of her inspirations to run for political office.[16]

Mayoral campaign

Walton announced her campaign for the mayoralty of Buffalo in the 2021 election on December 13, 2020.[17] During the primary campaign, Byron Brown, who had served as mayor for four terms, refused to debate Walton.[6][18] The Working Families Party endorsed and supported Walton during her campaign,[19][20] after having previously endorsed Brown in his past campaigns.[3] She was also endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America[21] and the Buffalo Teachers Federation, a union with 3800 members.[3] Walton defeated Brown and Le'Candice Durham in the primary election on June 22, 2021,[22] 52 to 45 percent.[23][24] After her primary win, The Buffalo News reported, "observers saw Walton's win as yet another signal that a dynamic candidate can knock off a complacent incumbent anytime, anywhere – which might just encourage more challengers to take on long-serving elected officials elsewhere in New York and beyond."[25]

During the course of her campaign, Walton was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams, and supported by Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[19] She was also endorsed by the Erie County Democratic Committee.[26] Her campaign raised $150,000 compared to Brown, who raised over $500,000[27] and received support from the Police Benevolent Association and Republicans.[3][13][28] On October 23, 2021, CNN reported the mayoral election "escalated over the summer and into the fall as a proxy fight between the city and state's growing progressive movement and more business-friendly, establishment Democrats determined to block Walton's ascent".[29]

Walton is a democratic socialist,[4][13][30][31] and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[27] In an interview with Rolling Stone, published in July 2021, she stated, "It's my responsibility to explain to folks that being a democratic socialist does not mean that I'm interested in seizing people’s private property."[32] During a mayoral election debate in late October 2021, in response to Brown stating, "I don't see Ms. Walton as a Democrat," she replied, "I won the Democratic primary. Secondly, I am a self-avowed democratic socialist. The first word in that is 'Democrat.'"[19]

If elected in the general election, she would have been the first socialist mayor of a large city since Frank Zeidler left office as mayor of Milwaukee in 1960, and she would have been the first socialist mayor in New York since John H. Gibbons was elected mayor of Lackawanna in 1919.[33][34] She would have also been the first woman to serve as mayor of Buffalo.[19]

After his primary election defeat to Walton, Brown announced a write-in campaign,[35] after his lawsuit that sought to add his name to the ballot was unsuccessful.[3] On November 3, 2021, Walton publicly acknowledged that she did not appear to be the winner of the election, while votes were still being counted,[36] but did not officially concede.[37][30] According to The Buffalo News on November 6, 2021, despite her apparent loss, "Walton may have awakened a potent progressive force in Buffalo politics."[38] On November 8, 2021, Politico reported she joined advocacy for Brown to be removed from his position in the Democratic National Committee.[39] Walton received a letter of support from Barack Obama following her election loss. In an interview with WGRZ, Walton stated that Obama's letter to her, "sort of put the final stamp of approval that I was doing the right thing."[40]

Working Families Party

Following the mayoral election, the Working Families Party announced Walton's new role with them as a Senior Advisor for Special Projects. In an article by Spectrum News, Walton spoke about the role, stating, "I’m so excited to work with the WFP to build power for the multiracial working class and elect a new generation of progressive leaders in this state."[41]

Common Council campaign

On February 1, 2023, Walton announced she would run for a seat on the Buffalo Common Council.[42] On February 11, Democratic incumbent Ulysses Wingo, Sr. announced he would not seek re-election. In response, Walton said, "I think that it's a good decision, and there's time to make way for new ideas."[43]

In April, two community activists filed a complaint with the Erie County Board of Elections claiming Walton was not eligible to run based on not meeting residency requirements. The board ruled they did not have the authority to disqualify Walton from the race for residency reasons, and ruled they could not certify her for the Working Families Party ballot line in the November general election because her nomination petitions did not state she is a commissioner of deeds.[44]

Walton was endorsed by the Working Families Party and competed in the Democratic primary in June 2023.[44] Her opponents were Murray Holman, the executive director of the Stop the Violence Coalition in Buffalo, and Zeneta Everhart, a staffer for state senator Tim Kennedy, who was endorsed by the Erie County Democratic Committee.[44] Everhart won the June 27 Democratic primary, while Walton indicated that she would appear on the general election ballot as the nominee of the Working families party.[45]

Political positions

During her mayoral campaign, she supported the establishment of a publicly-run bank, neighborhood-owned grocery stores, a municipal broadband network, and support for homeowners with delinquent property taxes due to job loss or medical emergency.[16] She supported increased funding for public schools and a moratorium on the creation of new charter schools,[46] and said she would make Buffalo a sanctuary city.[47] She also expressed support for business owners and landlords,[48] including financing to small landlords for building maintenance including lead removal, as well as strengthening Buffalo tenant protections.[49] In October 2021, after Walton revealed the impoundment of her car due to unpaid parking tickets and an expired inspection, she described the experience as indicating a need for the city government to focus on how to support residents with the management of fines and fees.[50][51] In 2021, Walton said she would decrease the budget of the Buffalo Police Department by $7.5 million by having unarmed first responders, rather than police, answer mental health calls or enforce minor traffic violations.[52][53] She also supports establishing a civilian police oversight board.[49]

Electoral history

2021 Buffalo mayoral Democratic primary

2021 Buffalo mayoral Democratic primary[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic India Walton 11,132 51.85%
Democratic Byron Brown (incumbent) 9,625 44.83%
Democratic Le’Candice Durham 650 3.03%
Write-in 62 0.29%
Total votes 21,469 100.00%

2021 Buffalo mayoral election

2021 Buffalo mayoral election[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Byron Brown (incumbent, write-in) 38,338 59.57
Democratic India Walton 25,773 39.88
Independent Ben Carlisle (write-in) 219 0.34
Republican Jaz Miles (write-in) 23 0.04
Republican William O'Dell (write-in) 8 0.01
Total votes 64,361 100%
Independent gain from Democratic

References

  1. ↑ Walton, India [@Indiawaltonbflo] (June 7, 2022). "There are 7 days until my 40th birthday" (Tweet). Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Ryan, Patrick (November 19, 2021). "Write-ins are counted: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown wins reelection, defeating India Walton". WIVB. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Taylor, Keeanga-Yamahtta (October 29, 2021). "Another Buffalo Is Possible". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Salam, Erum (July 11, 2021). "'My story resonates': India Walton details the life experience that put her on a mayoral path". The Guardian. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Chamlee, Virginia (November 1, 2021). "How India Walton Surprised Everyone by Winning a Mayoral Primary: 'I Was Not Tied Into the Establishment'". People. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Tcholakian, Danielle (June 18, 2021). "Can the Socialist Mayor Rise Again?". The New Republic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Sullivan: India Walton is out to conquer the world, or at least Buffalo". WIVB-TV. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Who is India Walton and Why is She Running for Mayor?". Challenger Community News. March 5, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Horvatits, Chris (July 8, 2021). "India Walton on her past: 'I am an open book". WIVB4. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  10. ↑ "In India Walton's 2014 arrest, conflicting claims of threats and bullying". Buffalo News. June 29, 2021.
  11. ↑ Thompson, Carolyn (October 28, 2021). "India Walton beat Buffalo's mayor once. Can she do it again?". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (September 27, 2021). "India Walton Beat the Buffalo Mayor in a Primary. He Won't Give Up". The New York Times. Retrieved November 6, 2021. updated November 3, 2021
  13. 1 2 3 4 Yuan, Jada; McGrady, Clyde (November 1, 2021). "Who's afraid of India Walton?". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Aleem, Zeeshan (October 29, 2021). "Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton vulnerable on police reform". MSNBC (Opinion). Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Brown told to 'put your signature where your mouth is,' sign Cariol's Law". The Buffalo News. October 21, 2020. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Campbell, Jon (July 28, 2021). "Buffalo's India Walton is making history. It's not just because she's a socialist". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Buffalo activist India Walton launches campaign for mayor". WIVB-TV. December 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  18. ↑ "In Buffalo, New York, Voters Consider a Socialist Mayor". Mother Jones. June 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 4 McKinley, Jesse (November 2, 2021). "India Walton Beat Byron Brown in Buffalo. He's Back With a Rubber Stamp". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Working Families' nod to Walton sets primary, general election challenge to Brown". The Buffalo News. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  21. ↑ "India Walton: Corporate Democrats Gave Us Austerity, We Need Something Different". Jacobin. May 22, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  22. ↑ "India Walton defeats Buffalo mayor in Democratic primary". Associated Press. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  23. ↑ Shabad, Rebecca (June 23, 2021). "Socialist candidate India Walton defeats Buffalo's four-term mayor". NBC News. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  24. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (June 23, 2021). "How a socialist captured Buffalo, a moderate Democratic stronghold". Politico. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ Zremski, Jerry (June 25, 2021). "India Walton's win could inspire more outsiders to challenge incumbents". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 16, 2021. updated November 1, 2021
  26. ↑ Ryan, Patrick (August 26, 2021). "Erie County Democrats make Walton endorsement official". WIVB-TV. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Socialist India Walton Will Be Buffalo's Next Mayor". The Intercept. October 21, 2020. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  28. ↑ Barkan, Ross (November 3, 2021). "A Socialist Dream Deferred in Buffalo". Intelligencer. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  29. ↑ Krieg, Gregory (October 23, 2021). "Buffalo's India Walton won the Democratic primary for mayor. Now she has to defeat incumbent Byron Brown -- again". CNN. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  30. 1 2 Linton, Caroline; Silverstein, Jason (November 3, 2021). "Democratic socialist India Walton says victory in Buffalo mayoral race "seems unlikely" after incumbent's write-in campaign". CBS News. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  31. ↑ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (June 23, 2021). "How India Walton Pulled It Off in the Buffalo Mayoral Primary: Ms. Walton, 38, a democratic socialist who has never held political office, defeated Byron Brown, a four-term incumbent". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  32. ↑ Bort, Ryan (July 13, 2021). "India Walton's Blueprint for the Future of Progressive Politics". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  33. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (June 22, 2021). "Buffalo's Walton on verge of becoming first big city socialist mayor in 60 years". Politico. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Erik Brady: India Walton surprised many. 100 years ago in Lackawanna, John Gibbons did her one better". The Buffalo News. June 28, 2021. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  35. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (June 23, 2021). "Mayor Byron Brown weighing write-in campaign against India Walton". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  36. ↑ McKinley, Jesse (November 3, 2021). "India Walton says that she likely cannot beat the write-in incumbent, Byron Brown, in the race for Buffalo's mayor". The New York Times. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  37. ↑ Wypijewski, JoAnn (November 5, 2021). "India Walton Lost, but She Started Something That Could Last". The Nation. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  38. ↑ McCarthy, Robert J. (November 6, 2021). "Why India Walton's candidacy could pave way for left-leaning politics in Buffalo". The Buffalo News. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  39. ↑ Siders, David; Otterbein, Holly (November 8, 2021). "'It's a disgrace': Progressives take aim at Buffalo mayor's DNC post". Politico. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  40. ↑ "India Walton takes on a new job with NY Working Families Party". wgrz.com. January 4, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  41. ↑ "India Walton joins Working Families Party as a senior advisor". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  42. ↑ Ewing, Claudine (February 1, 2023). "India Walton says she is running for the Buffalo Common Council". Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Ulysees Wingo not seeking re-election for Buffalo Common Council seat".
  44. 1 2 3 "Residency challenge to India Walton's Buffalo Common Council bid dismissed".
  45. ↑ Williams, Deidre; Franklin, A. J. (June 27, 2023). "Zeneta Everhart trounces India Walton in Masten District race". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, NY.
  46. ↑ "6 priorities India Walton outlined in her campaign for Buffalo mayor". The Buffalo News. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  47. ↑ "'What is rightfully ours': Socialist candidate India Walton upsets incumbent Democratic mayor of Buffalo". Yahoo! News. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  48. ↑ "India Walton wants Buffalo to know she's not anti-business". News 4 Buffalo. June 24, 2021.
  49. 1 2 Thier, Hadas. "India Walton: Byron Brown Is a "Sore Loser" Whose Pro-Corporate Policies Have Failed Buffalo". Jacobin. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  50. ↑ McKinley, Dave (October 8, 2021). "India Walton addresses unpaid parking tickets, expired inspection, impounded car". WGRZ2. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  51. ↑ Wolfe, Liz (November 5, 2021). "Democratic Socialists Lost Big on Election Night With India Walton Defeat". Reason. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  52. ↑ "India Walton Could Become The First Socialist Mayor Of A Major U.S. City In Decades". NPR. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  53. ↑ Stuck, Leanne (September 15, 2021). "VERIFY: Claims made against India Walton in Byron Brown's latest campaign ad". WGRZ. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  54. ↑ "How India Walton upset Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: a district-by-district breakdown". WKBW-TV. June 25, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  55. ↑ "2021 General Election UnOfficial Results". Erie County Board of Elections. November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
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