The WBEN morning duo of Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski reacted to the shocking news Wednesday of an unexpected win in the Democratic primary by a self-described Democrat-Socialist named India Walton.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Walton was not officially named the winner, and incumbent Byron Brown has not conceded due to the absentee ballots still outstanding.
Rose and Mazurowski welcomed Bernie Tolbert, who challenged Brown as well. Tolbert said he was just as shocked as anybody to hear about Walton’s presumptive victory.
“I couldn’t imagine anybody not being surprised, it was quite a stunning upset last night,” Tolbert said. “I think this victory reflects the times that we are in. We are in a different time in this country. Our country is changing and the issues that we are facing are different ones.”
Walton’s victory would make her the first woman mayor of Buffalo.
“People are looking more and more at progressive candidates,” Tolbert said. “In terms of India Walton, she is an aggressive politician, she saw a path to victory and she took that path.”
WBEN’s A New Morning with Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski can be heard weekdays from 5-9 am online and on the Audacy app.
