India Walton Explained

India Walton
Birth Date:14 June 1982
Birth Place:Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Vernon Walton
Children:4
Education:State University of New York, Erie (AS)

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. Walton later earned a General Educational Development certificate 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. 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. She left her nursing career after being hired by Open Buffalo as a community organizer with a focus on criminal justice and policing reforms. In 2017, she became executive director of Fruit Belt Community Land Trust.[13]

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

Mayoral campaign

Walton announced her campaign for the mayoralty of Buffalo in the 2021 election on December 13, 2020.[16] During the primary campaign, Byron Brown, who had served as mayor for four terms, refused to debate Walton.[17] The Working Families Party endorsed and supported Walton during her campaign,[18] after having previously endorsed Brown in his past campaigns. She was also endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America[19] and the Buffalo Teachers Federation, a union with 3800 members. Walton defeated Brown and Le'Candice Durham in the primary election on June 22, 2021,[20] 52 to 45 percent.[21] [22] 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."[23]

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. She was also endorsed by the Erie County Democratic Committee.[24] Her campaign raised $150,000 compared to Brown, who raised over $500,000 and received support from the Police Benevolent Association and Republicans.[25] 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".[26]

Walton is a democratic socialist,[27] [28] [29] and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[30] 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."[31] 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.'"[32]

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.

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. 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] 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 creation 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. 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 small 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 election

See also: 2021 New York state elections.

External links

Notes and References

  1. India . Walton . Indiawaltonbflo . 1534199386447699969 . 15 June 2022 . June 7, 2022 . There are 7 days until my 40th birthday..
  2. News: Ryan . Patrick . Write-ins are counted: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown wins reelection, defeating India Walton . November 19, 2021 . WIVB . https://web.archive.org/web/20230524110849/https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/your-local-election-headquarters-new-york-state/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/write-ins-are-counted-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-wins-reelection-defeating-india-walton/ . live . May 24, 2023 .
  3. Taylor . Keeanga-Yamahtta . Another Buffalo Is Possible . 16 November 2021 . . October 29, 2021.
  4. News: Salam . Erum . 'My story resonates': India Walton details the life experience that put her on a mayoral path . 11 July 2021 . The Guardian . July 11, 2021.
  5. News: Chamlee . Virginia . How India Walton Surprised Everyone by Winning a Mayoral Primary: 'I Was Not Tied Into the Establishment' . 4 November 2021 . . November 1, 2021.
  6. June 18, 2021 . Can the Socialist Mayor Rise Again? . . Danielle . Tcholakian . live . https://archive.today/20210623034301/https://newrepublic.com/article/162788/india-walton-buffalo-socialist-mayor . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  7. News: May 7, 2021 . Sullivan: India Walton is out to conquer the world, or at least Buffalo . . live . https://archive.today/20210623034941/https://www.wivb.com/jerry-sullivan/sullivan-india-walton-is-out-to-conquer-the-world-or-at-least-buffalo/ . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  8. News: March 5, 2021 . Who is India Walton and Why is She Running for Mayor? . Challenger Community News . live . https://archive.today/20210623040602/https://thechallengernews.com/2021/03/who-is-india-walton-and-why-is-she-running-for-mayor/ . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  9. News: Horvatits . Chris . India Walton on her past: 'I am an open book . 16 November 2021 . WIVB4 . July 8, 2021.
  10. News: In India Walton's 2014 arrest, conflicting claims of threats and bullying . Buffalo News . 29 June 2021.
  11. News: Thompson . Carolyn . India Walton beat Buffalo's mayor once. Can she do it again? . 6 November 2021 . ABC News . . October 28, 2021.
  12. News: McKinley . Jesse . India Walton Beat the Buffalo Mayor in a Primary. He Won't Give Up. . 6 November 2021 . . September 27, 2021 . updated November 3, 2021.
  13. News: Aleem . Zeeshan . Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton vulnerable on police reform . 9 November 2021 . MSNBC (Opinion) . October 29, 2021.
  14. News: October 21, 2020 . Brown told to 'put your signature where your mouth is,' sign Cariol's Law . . live . https://archive.today/20210623140340/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/brown-told-to-put-your-signature-where-your-mouth-is-sign-cariols-law/article_3846ac5c-13d2-11eb-9686-4ff251a82576.html . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  15. News: Campbell . Jon . Buffalo's India Walton is making history. It's not just because she's a socialist. . 7 November 2021 . . July 28, 2021.
  16. News: December 13, 2020 . Buffalo activist India Walton launches campaign for mayor . . live . https://archive.today/20210623035246/https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo-activist-india-walton-launches-campaign-for-mayor/ . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  17. News: June 22, 2021 . In Buffalo, New York, Voters Consider a Socialist Mayor . . live . https://archive.today/20210623033731/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/06/in-buffalo-new-york-voters-consider-a-socialist-mayor/ . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  18. News: February 24, 2021 . Working Families' nod to Walton sets primary, general election challenge to Brown . . live . https://archive.today/20210623040013/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/working-families-nod-to-walton-sets-primary-general-election-challenge-to-brown/article_f23709a6-76ae-11eb-ba94-b75b30bb0f29.html . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  19. News: May 22, 2021 . India Walton: Corporate Democrats Gave Us Austerity, We Need Something Different . . live . https://archive.today/20210623041328/https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/05/india-walton-interview-buffalo-mayor-race-democratic-primary . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  20. News: June 23, 2021 . India Walton defeats Buffalo mayor in Democratic primary . . live . https://archive.today/20210623164252/https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-health-care-reform-government-and-politics-72e99937b2b11267c667b2b3d017606f . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  21. Web site: Socialist candidate India Walton defeats Buffalo's four-term mayor. June 23, 2021. Rebecca. Shabad. NBC News. June 24, 2021.
  22. Web site: How a socialist captured Buffalo, a moderate Democratic stronghold. June 23, 2021. Bill. Mahoney. Politico. June 24, 2021.
  23. News: Zremski . Jerry . India Walton's win could inspire more outsiders to challenge incumbents . 16 November 2021 . . June 25, 2021 . updated November 1, 2021.
  24. Web site: Ryan. Patrick. 2021-08-26. Erie County Democrats make Walton endorsement official. live. 2021-11-07. WIVB-TV. https://web.archive.org/web/20230524110254/https://www.wivb.com/news/political-news/your-local-election-headquarters-new-york-state/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/erie-county-democrats-make-walton-endorsement-official/ . May 24, 2023 . en-US.
  25. News: Barkan . Ross . A Socialist Dream Deferred in Buffalo . 9 November 2021 . . November 3, 2021.
  26. News: Krieg . Gregory . Buffalo's India Walton won the Democratic primary for mayor. Now she has to defeat incumbent Byron Brown -- again . 13 November 2021 . CNN . October 23, 2021.
  27. News: Yuan . Jada . McGrady . Clyde . Who's afraid of India Walton? . 4 November 2021 . . November 1, 2021.
  28. News: Linton . Caroline . Silverstein . Jason . Democratic socialist India Walton says victory in Buffalo mayoral race "seems unlikely" after incumbent's write-in campaign . 4 November 2021 . . November 3, 2021.
  29. News: 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 . . Luis . Ferré-Sadurní . live . https://archive.today/20210624124622/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/nyregion/india-walton-socialist-nyc-primary-buffalo.html . June 24, 2021 . June 24, 2021.
  30. News: October 21, 2020 . Socialist India Walton Will Be Buffalo's Next Mayor . . live . https://archive.today/20210624001806/https://theintercept.com/2021/06/23/buffalo-mayor-socialist-india-walton/ . June 24, 2021 . June 23, 2021 .
  31. Bort . Ryan . India Walton's Blueprint for the Future of Progressive Politics . 6 November 2021 . . July 13, 2021.
  32. News: McKinley . Jesse . India Walton Beat Byron Brown in Buffalo. He's Back With a Rubber Stamp. . 7 November 2021 . . November 2, 2021.
  33. News: Bill . Mahoney . June 22, 2021 . Buffalo's Walton on verge of becoming first big city socialist mayor in 60 years . . live . https://archive.today/20210623033303/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/06/22/buffalos-walton-on-verge-of-becoming-first-big-city-socialist-mayor-in-60-years-1386839 . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021.
  34. News: June 28, 2021 . Erik Brady: India Walton surprised many. 100 years ago in Lackawanna, John Gibbons did her one better . . live . https://archive.today/20210703185543/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/erik-brady-india-walton-surprised-many-100-years-ago-in-lackawanna-john-gibbons-did-her/article_f94042b8-d80a-11eb-af04-2378cb8b6e10.html . July 3, 2021 . July 3, 2021 .
  35. News: Robert J. . McCarthy . June 23, 2021 . Mayor Byron Brown weighing write-in campaign against India Walton . . live . https://archive.today/20210623202410/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/mayor-byron-brown-weighing-write-in-campaign-against-india-walton/article_65362894-d44a-11eb-aca4-8b2f3ee46519.html . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021 .
  36. News: McKinley . Jesse . India Walton says that she likely cannot beat the write-in incumbent, Byron Brown, in the race for Buffalo's mayor. . 4 November 2021 . . November 3, 2021.
  37. News: Wypijewski . JoAnn . India Walton Lost, but She Started Something That Could Last . 5 November 2021 . . November 5, 2021.
  38. News: McCarthy . Robert J. . Why India Walton's candidacy could pave way for left-leaning politics in Buffalo . 6 November 2021 . . November 6, 2021.
  39. News: Siders . David . Otterbein . Holly . 'It's a disgrace': Progressives take aim at Buffalo mayor's DNC post . 13 November 2021 . . November 8, 2021.
  40. Web site: January 4, 2022 . India Walton takes on a new job with NY Working Families Party . 2022-04-15 . wgrz.com . en-US.
  41. Web site: India Walton joins Working Families Party as a senior advisor . 2022-04-15 . spectrumlocalnews.com . en.
  42. News: India Walton says she is running for the Buffalo Common Council. https://archive.today/20230524110335/https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/politics/india-walton-says-she-is-running-for-the-buffalo-common-counci-politics/71-dcee63b4-07ca-40b8-9622-0d727e168d1d . Claudine . Ewing . live . May 24, 2023 . May 24, 2023 . February 1, 2023 .
  43. News: Ulysees Wingo not seeking re-election for Buffalo Common Council seat.
  44. News: Residency challenge to India Walton's Buffalo Common Council bid dismissed.
  45. News: Williams . Deidre . Franklin . A. J. . June 27, 2023 . Zeneta Everhart trounces India Walton in Masten District race . . Buffalo, NY.
  46. News: June 23, 2021 . 6 priorities India Walton outlined in her campaign for Buffalo mayor . . live . https://archive.today/20210623105943/https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/6-priorities-india-walton-outlined-in-her-campaign-for-buffalo-mayor/article_14acb824-d3d8-11eb-be66-332b245c9e11.html . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021 .
  47. News: June 23, 2021 . 'What is rightfully ours': Socialist candidate India Walton upsets incumbent Democratic mayor of Buffalo . . live . https://archive.today/20210623204548/https://news.yahoo.com/what-is-rightfully-ours-socialist-candidate-india-walton-upsets-incumbent-democratic-mayor-of-buffalo-174301969.html . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021 .
  48. News: India Walton wants Buffalo to know she's not anti-business . News 4 Buffalo . 24 June 2021.
  49. Web site: Thier . Hadas . India Walton: Byron Brown Is a "Sore Loser" Whose Pro-Corporate Policies Have Failed Buffalo . Jacobin . September 8, 2021.
  50. News: McKinley . Dave . India Walton addresses unpaid parking tickets, expired inspection, impounded car . 8 November 2021 . WGRZ2 . October 8, 2021.
  51. News: Wolfe . Liz . Democratic Socialists Lost Big on Election Night With India Walton Defeat. . 9 November 2021 . November 5, 2021.
  52. News: June 23, 2021 . India Walton Could Become The First Socialist Mayor Of A Major U.S. City In Decades . . live . https://archive.today/20210623204301/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/23/1009432941/india-walton-could-become-the-first-socialist-mayor-of-a-major-u-s-city-in-decad . June 23, 2021 . June 23, 2021 .
  53. News: Stuck . Leanne . VERIFY: Claims made against India Walton in Byron Brown's latest campaign ad . 4 November 2021 . WGRZ . September 15, 2021.

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