Progressives Just Won Big in New York's Second-Largest City
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
New York state Senator Sean Ryan defeated acting Mayor Chris Scanlon in Buffalo's Democratic primary for mayor in another victory for progressives as they celebrate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City mayoral primary.
Why It Matters
Democrats in several of New York's largest cities backed more progressive candidates on Tuesday as the party remains divided over the direction it should take after losses in the 2024 elections.
Some Democrats have argued that the party should take a more moderate path and reject more progressive ideas, while others believe a more left-leaning approach would revitalize enthusiasm among the base.
New York state Senator Sean Ryan (right), who unseated the acting mayor of Buffalo, campaigns with former mayoral candidate India Walton on October 23, 2021, in Buffalo.
New York state Senator Sean Ryan (right), who unseated the acting mayor of Buffalo, campaigns with former mayoral candidate India Walton on October 23, 2021, in Buffalo.
AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File
What To Know
Ryan established himself as a more progressive alternative and received the endorsement of the left-leaning group Working Families Party of New York.
Scanlon has been viewed as a more moderate candidate. He had been supportive of former Mayor Byron Brown, who ran as an independent in 2021 after losing to a more progressive candidate, India Walton.
According to The New York Times, Ryan was up with 46.5 percent of the vote on Tuesday, while Scanlon received 35.3 percent, with 94 percent of the vote counted.
Newsweek reached out to the Ryan and Scanlon campaigns for comment via email, as well as the Working Families Party via its press contact form.
In New York City, Mamdani appeared poised to clinch the Democratic nomination for mayor, placing first in ranked-choice voting over former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
With 96 percent of the vote in, Mamdani led with 43.5 percent of the vote, while Cuomo had 36.4 percent, according to the New York City Board of Elections. While the final ranked choice tabulation will not be declared until July 1, Cuomo conceded the race. A path to 50 percent appeared unlikely for Cuomo.
There are notable differences between Ryan and Mamdani. Ryan has not been endorsed by socialist organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) but sought to cast himself as a "real Democrat" on the campaign trail and raised concerns about Scanlon's alleged ties to Republican politician Carl Paladino.
Scanlon criticized Ryan as "too extreme," raising concerns about his position on policing and bail reform.
Working Families Party-backed candidates also won primaries in Albany and Syracuse.
What People Are Saying
The Working Families Party of New York celebrated Ryan's win in a statement posted to Instagram: "@seanryanforbuffalo has been committed to fighting for working families during his time in Assembly and the Senate, and we know he will carry that fight on to City Hall. We are looking forward to continuing to work with Sean Ryan as we head into the general election."
New York state Senator Sean Ryan, on Facebook: "Tonight, the people of Buffalo, in every neighborhood, in every corner of our city, have said loud and clear, Buffalo Deserves Better! Thank you to everyone who put their faith in me in this election. It is an honor of a lifetime to be the Democratic nominee for Mayor of the City of Buffalo. It's time to unite, not just as Democrats, but as Buffalonians."
Daniel Nichanian, founder and editor-in-chief of Bolts, on X: "RESULT: State Senator Sean Ryan has won Dems' mayoral primary in Buffalo, defeating Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon. Ryan was the more liberal, WFP-endorsed candidate. (In the 2021 race between Byron Brown & India Walton, in the general, Ryan backed Walton; Scanlon backed Brown.)
What Happens Next
Scanlon could still appear on the ballot in November on the Good Neighbors Party independent line, according to Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
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