This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.Byron Brown
Democratic PartyPrior offices:Mayor of BuffaloYears in office: 2005 - 2024Successor: Christopher ScanlonNew York State Senate District 60Years in office: 2003 - 2005New York State Senate District 57Years in office: 2001 - 2003Buffalo Common Council Masten DistrictYears in office: 1995 - 2001Report an officeholder change
Elections and appointmentsLast electionNovember 2, 2021EducationHigh schoolAugust Martin High SchoolBachelor'sBuffalo State CollegeContactCampaign websiteCampaign FacebookCampaign XCampaign InstagramPersonal websiteByron Brown (Democratic Party) was the Mayor of Buffalo in New York. He assumed office on December 31, 2005. He left office on October 15, 2024.
Brown (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Mayor of Buffalo in New York. He won as a write-in in the general election on November 2, 2021. He did not appear on the ballot for the Working Families Party primary on June 22, 2021.
Brown resigned as mayor on October 15, 2024, to pursue a role as president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.[1]
Before becoming mayor, Brown was a member of the New York State Senate, representing District 57 from 2001 to 2003 and District 60 from 2003 to 2005. Brown was also a member of the Buffalo City Council from 1995 to 2001, representing the Masten District.[2][3]
Contents 1 Biography 2 Elections 2.1 2021 2.2 2017 3 Campaign themes 3.1 2021 3.1.1 Campaign website 4 Presidential preference 4.1 2016 presidential endorsement 5 Noteworthy events 5.1 Events and activity following the death of George Floyd 6 See also 7 External links 8 Footnotes Biography Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.Brown graduated from August Martin High School in New York City. He obtained a B.A. in journalism and political science from Buffalo State College.[3]
Below is an abbreviated outline of Brown's political career.
2005-2024: Mayor of Buffalo 2003-2005: New York State Senate, District 60 2001-2003: New York State Senate, District 57 1995-2001: Buffalo City Council, Masten District Elections 2021See also: Mayoral election in Buffalo, New York (2021)
General electionGeneral election for Mayor of BuffaloThe following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of Buffalo on November 2, 2021.
Candidate%Votes✔
Byron Brown (D) (Write-in)
58.2
38,108
India Walton (D)
39.4
25,806
Submit photoBenjamin Carlisle (Independent) (Write-in)
0.3
219Submit photoSean Miles (R) (Write-in)
0.0
23Submit photoWilliam O’Dell (Independent) (Write-in)
0.0
8Submit photoTaniqua Simmons (Independent) (Write-in)
0.0
0 Other/Write-in votes
2.0 1,309
Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results he been certified. Source
Total votes: 65,473
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.
Democratic primary election Democratic primary for Mayor of BuffaloIndia Walton defeated incumbent Byron Brown and Le'Candice Durham in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo on June 22, 2021.
Candidate%Votes✔India Walton
50.5
11,718Byron Brown
46.0
10,669
Le'Candice Durham
3.1
729 Other/Write-in votes
0.3 70
Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results he been certified. Source
Total votes: 23,186 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidatesScott Wilson (D)Republican primary electionWithdrawn or disqualified candidatesRoss M. Kostecky (R)Working Families Party primary electionWithdrawn or disqualified candidatesByron Brown (Working Families Party)India Walton (Working Families Party) Working Families Party nomination New York allows for fusion voting, which is where more than one political party can support a common candidate. Consequently, the name of a single candidate can appear on the same ballot multiple times under multiple party lines. The Working Families Party of New York endorsed and nominated Walton in February 2021, but, on April 1, election officials ruled that she was ineligible to appear on the ballot as a Working Families Party candidate after she missed the deadlines to formally accept the group's nomination.[4] 2017 See also: Municipal elections in Buffalo, New York (2017)The city of Buffalo, New York, held an election for mayor and two city judges on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on September 12, 2017. In addition to running as a Democrat, Brown also filed as an Independence, Women's Equality, and Working Families candidate. He was the only candidate to file under those parties.
Incumbent Byron Brown (Democratic/Independence/Women's Equality/Working Families) defeated Mark Schroeder (Reform), Anita Howard (Conservative), and Terrence Robinson (Green) in the Mayor of Buffalo general election.[5]
Mayor of Buffalo, General Election, 2017 Party Candidate Vote % Votes Democratic/Independence/Women's Equality/Working Families
Byron Brown Incumbent
67.67%
29,688
Reform
Mark Schroeder
26.09%
11,446
Conservative
Anita Howard
3.09%
1,357
Green
Terrence Robinson
2.91%
1,276
Write-in votes
0.23%
102Total Votes
43,869
Source: Erie County Board of Elections, "General Election Official Results," accessed December 18, 2017
Incumbent Byron Brown defeated Mark Schroeder and Betty Jean Grant in the Mayor of Buffalo Democratic primary election.[6]
Mayor of Buffalo, Democratic Primary Election, 2017 Candidate Vote % Votes Byron Brown Incumbent
51.62%
13,999Mark Schroeder
35.17%
9,538Betty Jean Grant
12.71%
3,446Write-in votes
0.5%
136Total Votes
27,119
Source: Erie County Board of Elections, "Official Democratic Primary Election Results," September 12, 2017
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responsesSee also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Byron Brown did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign websiteBrown's campaign website stated the following:
“Dear Friends,
When you elected me as Buffalo’s Mayor in 2005, I promised that I would work to revitalize our City, build a safer, smarter, stronger Buffalo and ensure that every community shares in our opportunity and success. And we’ve made incredible progress.
We he made progress by growing our City for the first time in 70 years! Census numbers show a growth in our population to 278,000. Our Buffalo Complete Count Committee worked with community stakeholders to educate people in every community to show how an accurate count would direct hundreds of millions of dollars to Buffalo over the next ten years.
We he made progress by hiring the most diverse workforce in the history of the City of Buffalo. And we will continue to provide dependable, experienced leadership and management in City government. We will promote the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion to increase the chance for every resident to succeed.
We he made progress by building a stronger economy. With 8 billion in new economic activity and the creation of more than 12,000 jobs, we are experiencing one of the fastest recovery rates from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. And we will accelerate economic development, job creation and job training to continue to improve quality of life Citywide, as we implement a plan for a complete and rapid post-pandemic recovery.
We he made progress by keeping Buffalo affordable. We reduced residential property tax rates in Buffalo by 16%, making it much easier for families to own homes. Hundreds of millions he been spent on affordable housing, and when the moratorium on eviction and foreclosure expires, we will partner with the State to connect qualified residents with HUD-certified mortgage counselors to assist with loan modifications and provide referrals, as well as providing up to 12 months of rental and utility assistance to residents impacted by the pandemic.
We he made progress by making our neighborhoods safer. We he hired more than 200 new police officers, torn down more than 6,000 blighted vacant structures, installed hundreds of surveillance cameras, and taken over 15,000 illegal guns off our streets. We’ve created and deployed a specially trained behioral health team to respond to mental health crises with mental health professionals from Endeor Health Services alongside police officers. All of our police officers are, and will continue to be, trained community police officers.
We he made progress by dedicating resources to our Citywide Infrastructure Program. We he allocated more than $200 million for engineering capital improvements since 2006, including ping, and curb and sidewalk upgrades. We he returned cars to Main Street and rehabilitated commercial corridors in every neighborhood across the City of Buffalo.
We he made progress by creating opportunity for Buffalo youth. 12,000 children he completed our Reading Rules! Summer Reading Program. We he provided millions for free college tuition for high school graduates, created 22,000 job opportunities through our Summer Youth Internship and Employment Program, and he provided more than a billion dollars in direct funding to the Buffalo Public Schools. And we’re investing in broadband Internet access in every community across our City.
We he made progress by investing in our local businesses and our workers. Throughout the pandemic, the City of Buffalo facilitated direct aid for our local businesses through grants and programs, and we stood up a 100 percent virtual employment center with counseling, referrals and job placements for our residents. The Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center serves as the region’s only dedicated business assistance center focused on minority owned businesses. We’ve completed the first two phases of the Northland Workforce Training Center, a massive mixed-use development under construction on Northland Avenue, which is training residents for high-paying manufacturing jobs, while transforming an entire neighborhood on the East Side of Buffalo.
We he made progress by investing in our community centers and cultural institutions, and by re-imagining our parks and open spaces. We’ve invested more than $77 million in parks and parks facilities since 2006, including courts, pools, rinks and splashpads, and we he built more than 100 miles of contiguous bicycle lanes. We will continue to ensure that Buffalo is a world-class City for arts, culture, parks and recreation.
We he made progress by earning the designation of a Climate Smart City. The Buffalo Sewer Authority has issued a $50 million green bond to support sewer and water facility upgrades to improve the quality of our water treatment systems and increase our capacity to build green infrastructure, and our award-winning Raincheck 2.0 program helps guide future City infrastructure investments that manages rainwater and takes on other challenges in a more sustainable manner. Our investment in replacing old lead lines has increased the ailability of healthy, affordable housing that Buffalo will need to serve our growing population in the future.
We must keep the progress going.
Thank you for taking the time to visit my campaign website. It would be my honor to continue to serve as your Mayor in this next phase of recovery and revival, and I know that, together, we can build on our progress and continue to improve and strengthen every neighborhood in Buffalo.
I’m humbly asking you to WRITE DOWN BYRON BROWN for Mayor on your ballot – vote by absentee ballot, vote early starting October 23rd, or vote on Election Day on Tuesday, November 2nd.
Truly yours,
Mayor Byron Brown
I’m humbly asking you to WRITE DOWN BYRON BROWN for Mayor on the November 2nd ballot. When I was elected in 2005, I promised that I would work to revitalize our City, build a safer, smarter, stronger Buffalo and ensure that every community shares in our opportunity and our success. And we’ve made incredible progress. I’m running in the General Election because there is far too much at stake to stop now. We cannot afford to turn back Buffalo’s progress.[7]
” —Byron Brown's campaign website (2021)[8] Presidential preference 2016 presidential endorsement✓ Brown endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[9]
See also: Endorsements for Hillary Clinton 2016 Presidential Endorsements by Mayors Mayor Candidate Date Source
Tom Henry
Hillary Clinton
April 2016
NBC 33
Paul Soglin
Bernie Sanders
April 2016
The Cap Times
Buddy Dyer
Hillary Clinton
June 2015
The Orlando Political Observer
Steven Fulop
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Hillary Clinton campaign website
Rick Kriseman
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Hillary Clinton campaign website
Edwin M. Lee
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Hillary Clinton campaign website
Stephen Adler
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Hillary Clinton campaign website
Rahm Emanuel
Hillary Clinton
March 2016
NBC Chicago
Eric Garcetti
Hillary Clinton
November 2015
Los Angeles Times
Chris Coleman
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Star Tribune
Paula Hicks-Hudson
Hillary Clinton
March 2016
The Blade
Nancy B. Vaughan
Hillary Clinton
March 2016
Triad City Beat
Byron Brown
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Hillary Clinton campaign website
John Cranley
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Sunshine State News
Bill Peduto
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Sunshine State News
Francis Slay
Hillary Clinton
February 2016
Sunshine State News
Kirk Caldwell
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
Sunshine State News
Bob Buckhorn
Hillary Clinton
November 2015
Examiner.com
Mitch Landrieu
Hillary Clinton
February 2016
The Advocate
Betsy Hodges
Hillary Clinton
June 2015
CBS Minnesota
James Kenney
Hillary Clinton
February 2016
WITF
Greg Stanton
Hillary Clinton
March 2016
The Arizona Republic
Lenny Curry
Marco Rubio
February 2016
First Coast News
Megan Barry
Hillary Clinton
February 2016
Nashville Business Journal
Kevin Faulconer
Marco Rubio
January 2016
Los Angeles Times
Martin Walsh (Massachusetts)
Hillary Clinton
November 2015
MSNBC
Bill de Blasio
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
CNN
Kasim Reed
Hillary Clinton
October 2015
NBC News
Noteworthy events
Events and activity following the death of George Floyd
See also: Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020
Brown was mayor of Buffalo during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in Buffalo, New York, began on Saturday, May 30, 2020.[10] The same day, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz (D) instituted a curfew.[10] The national guard was not deployed.
To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right.On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill.[11] Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a White officer, arrived at the scene and pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck as Floyd laid face-down on the street in handcuffs.[12] Both the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and an independent autopsy conducted by Floyd's family ruled Floyd's death as a homicide stemming from the incident.[13] The medical examiner's report, prepared by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, said that it was "not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process."[13] On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death.[14]
Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. The first events took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 26.[15] An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death.[16]
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Website Footnotes↑ Spectrum Local News, “Byron Brown thanks staff, people of Buffalo on his last day in office" accessed October 18, 2024 ↑ City of Buffalo, "Office of the Mayor," accessed October 16, 2014 ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Buffalo News, "Two who would be mayor - An achiever since boyhood, Brown is disciplined, polished -- and 'sphinxlike'," accessed October 16, 2014 ↑ WBFO, "Walton misses deadline for Working Party mayoral nomination," April 1, 2021 ↑ Erie County Board of Elections, "2017 Petitions Filed," accessed July 14, 2017 ↑ Erie County Board of Elections, "2017 Petitions Filed," accessed July 14, 2017 ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. ↑ Byron Brown's campaign website, “About," accessed Sept. 17, 2021 ↑ Hillary Clinton campaign website, "Clinton Campaign Announces Support of Over 50 African American Mayors from Across the Country," October 20, 2015 ↑ 10.0 10.1 WGRZ, "Peaceful protest turns violent in the City of Buffalo," May 31, 2020 ↑ Washington Post, "The death of George Floyd: What video and other records show about his final minutes," May 30, 2020 ↑ The New York Times, "8 Minutes and 46 Seconds: How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody," May 31, 2020 ↑ 13.0 13.1 USA Today, "Medical examiner and family-commissioned autopsy agree: George Floyd's death was a homicide," June 1, 2020 ↑ Associated Press, "Chauvin guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death," April 20, 2021 ↑ CNN, "Protests across America after George Floyd's death," accessed June 2, 2020 ↑ Cite error: Invalid tag; no text was provided for refs named chi1
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