India Walton claims upset in Buffalo mayoral race; Byron Brown pins hopes on absentees

India B. Walton, the community activist barely known to many Buffalo voters just months ago, shocked four-term incumbent Byron W. Brown in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for mayor in what may rank as the most historic upset in the city’s political history.

Brown refused to concede late Tuesday night until “every vote is counted,” and absentee votes must also be tabulated; 1,536 were returned as of Tuesday. But based on the vast majority of votes cast during early voting and on Tuesday, and insider views that the absentee ballots most likely will not affect the outcome, Walton appeared to be headed toward a win and a January inauguration as the 63rd mayor of Buffalo – the first woman to hold the office.

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