Buffalo mayor who lost to socialist India Walton can’t be on ballot, court rules

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A Federal Court of Appeal and a Federal Court of Appeal the two ruled on Thursday that the mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown, cannot appear on the mayor’s ballot in November. Brown tried to start a campaign for a third after losing the Democratic primary to socialist India Walton.

The two losses mean Brown cannot officially appear on the ballot, although he can still continue to urge supporters to write to him. Although Brown’s campaign wrote a petition to allow him to appear on the ballot, they made the petition month later the deadline for standing as a third party candidate had passed.

“We are very happy that the Fourth Department [appellate court] upheld the rule of law. Buffalo voters deserve clear and transparent election laws, ” said Walton in a report. “If everyday Buffalonians are late for rent, parking or schoolwork, they suffer the consequences. There is no reason why the rules should not apply to my GOP-backed opponent as well.

Brown’s campaign had argued that not allowing his name to appear on the ballot was unconstitutional and would violate voters’ right to choose.

Erie County Election Board argued in response that Brown’s challenge, if successful, would wreak “havoc.” If Brown, the outgoing mayor, were allowed to appear on the ballot so long after the deadline had expired, then there would be no reason not to accept further late ballot entries – essentially voiding the ballot. deadline.

Brown and many establishment Democrats in the region fought fiercely to prevent Walton from winning mayoralty. After Walton won the mayor’s primary in June, Brown refused to accept defeat, citing Republican strategies undermine the legitimacy of the election.

Corporate interests and deep-pocketed donors rushed over Walton’s victory, pay money in Brown’s campaign and alarmist on socialism.

Meanwhile, establishment Democrats like Brown’s longtime ally and disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have aligned themselves against Walton. The Democratic leaders of the Buffalo Common Council have gone to great lengths, exploring the possibility of removing town hall altogether just to prevent Walton from becoming mayor.

Meanwhile, Brown even Republicans courted and right-wing elements to sign the petition for his third party candidacy. Local press briefings also tried to dig up skeletons in Walton’s closet, posting negative claims without evidence.

“Today is a big day”, Walton said in a video after the decision of the court of appeal. “But we still have a long way to go. It’s going to be a huge fight. They spend tons of money slandering me in advertisements.

Brown will probably continue to carry out his writing campaign, which he launched just days after losing the primary to Walton.

Walton ran a transparency campaign around public security and divesting the police force. If she wins in November, she will be the first socialist mayor of a large American city for over 60 years.


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