:India Walton

{{Infobox politician

| name = India Walton

| image = India Walton on Jenerational Change (cropped).png

| caption = Walton in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|6|14}}

| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = Vernon Walton

| children = 4

| education = State University of New York, Erie (AS)

| website = {{URL|indiawalton.com|Campaign website}}

}}

India B. Walton (born June 14, 1982){{cite tweet |first=India |last=Walton |user=Indiawaltonbflo |number=1534199386447699969 |access-date=15 June 2022 |date=June 7, 2022 |title=There are 7 days until my 40th birthday.}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Patrick |title=Write-ins are counted: Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown wins reelection, defeating India Walton |url=https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/write-ins-are-counted-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-wins-reelection-defeating-india-walton/ |date=November 19, 2021 |work=WIVB |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live |archive-date=May 24, 2023 }}

Early life and education

Walton was born on the east side of Buffalo, New York{{cite magazine |last1=Taylor |first1=Keeanga-Yamahtta |title=Another Buffalo Is Possible |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/another-buffalo-is-possible |access-date=16 November 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 29, 2021}} to Doris Siddiq and Louis Kelly. She was raised by her mother, who was a pharmacy technician, with five siblings. She attended Lorraine Elementary and Leonardo da Vinci High School. Walton gave birth to her first child when she was fourteen,{{cite news |last1=Salam |first1=Erum |title='My story resonates': India Walton details the life experience that put her on a mayoral path |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/11/india-walton-buffalo-new-york-mayor |access-date=11 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=July 11, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Chamlee |first1=Virginia |title=How India Walton Surprised Everyone by Winning a Mayoral Primary: 'I Was Not Tied Into the Establishment' |url=https://people.com/politics/how-india-walton-went-from-homeless-to-winning-a-mayoral-primary/ |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=People |date=November 1, 2021}} dropped out of high school, worked at Family Dollar and McDonald's, and lived in a group home for young mothers. 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. She later gave birth to another son.{{Cite magazine |date=June 18, 2021 |title=Can the Socialist Mayor Rise Again? |magazine=The New Republic |first=Danielle |last=Tcholakian |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/162788/india-walton-buffalo-socialist-mayor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623034301/https://newrepublic.com/article/162788/india-walton-buffalo-socialist-mayor |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2021 |title=Sullivan: India Walton is out to conquer the world, or at least Buffalo |work=WIVB-TV |url=https://www.wivb.com/jerry-sullivan/sullivan-india-walton-is-out-to-conquer-the-world-or-at-least-buffalo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623034941/https://www.wivb.com/jerry-sullivan/sullivan-india-walton-is-out-to-conquer-the-world-or-at-least-buffalo/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=March 5, 2021 |title=Who is India Walton and Why is She Running for Mayor? |work=Challenger Community News |url=https://thechallengernews.com/2021/03/who-is-india-walton-and-why-is-she-running-for-mayor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623040602/https://thechallengernews.com/2021/03/who-is-india-walton-and-why-is-she-running-for-mayor/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}}

After she completed her nursing degree, she began work at Children's Hospital. In 2014, she was arrested on a charge of harassment, and the case was dismissed by the court.{{cite news |last1=Horvatits |first1=Chris |title=India Walton on her past: 'I am an open book |url=https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/walton-on-her-past-i-am-an-open-book/ |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=WIVB4 |date=July 8, 2021}}{{cite news |title=In India Walton's 2014 arrest, conflicting claims of threats and bullying |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/in-india-waltons-2014-arrest-conflicting-claims-of-threats-and-bullying/article_4f8feacc-fe96-11eb-9536-7bc90d3df81d.html |work=Buffalo News |date=29 June 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Carolyn |title=India Walton beat Buffalo's mayor once. Can she do it again? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/india-walton-beat-buffalos-mayor-80828712 |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |date=October 28, 2021}} 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.

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.{{cite news |last1=McKinley |first1=Jesse |title=India Walton Beat the Buffalo Mayor in a Primary. He Won't Give Up. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/27/nyregion/india-walton-buffalo-mayor-race.html |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=September 27, 2021 |quote=updated November 3, 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Aleem |first1=Zeeshan |title=Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton vulnerable on police reform |url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/buffalo-mayoral-candidate-india-walton-vulnerable-police-reform-n1282674 |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=MSNBC (Opinion) |date=October 29, 2021}}

She was also a leader in local Black Lives Matter protests, and advocated for Mayor Byron Brown to sign Cariol's Law.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Brown told to 'put your signature where your mouth is,' sign Cariol's Law |work=The Buffalo News |url=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 |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} She has said the shoving of Martin Gugino by a Buffalo police officer was one of her inspirations to run for political office.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Jon |title=Buffalo's India Walton is making history. It's not just because she's a socialist. |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2021/07/28/india-walton-buffalo-mayor-socialist/7899685002/ |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |date=July 28, 2021}}

=Mayoral campaign=

Walton announced her campaign for the mayoralty of Buffalo in the 2021 election on December 13, 2020.{{Cite news |date=December 13, 2020 |title=Buffalo activist India Walton launches campaign for mayor |work=WIVB-TV |url=https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo-activist-india-walton-launches-campaign-for-mayor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623035246/https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/buffalo-activist-india-walton-launches-campaign-for-mayor/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} During the primary campaign, Byron Brown, who had served as mayor for four terms, refused to debate Walton.{{Cite news |date=June 22, 2021 |title=In Buffalo, New York, Voters Consider a Socialist Mayor |work=Mother Jones |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/06/in-buffalo-new-york-voters-consider-a-socialist-mayor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623033731/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/06/in-buffalo-new-york-voters-consider-a-socialist-mayor/ |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} The Working Families Party endorsed and supported Walton during her campaign,{{Cite news |date=February 24, 2021 |title=Working Families' nod to Walton sets primary, general election challenge to Brown |work=The Buffalo News |url=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 |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} after having previously endorsed Brown in his past campaigns. She was also endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2021 |title=India Walton: Corporate Democrats Gave Us Austerity, We Need Something Different |work=Jacobin |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/05/india-walton-interview-buffalo-mayor-race-democratic-primary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623041328/https://www.jacobinmag.com/2021/05/india-walton-interview-buffalo-mayor-race-democratic-primary |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} 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,{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2021 |title=India Walton defeats Buffalo mayor in Democratic primary |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-health-care-reform-government-and-politics-72e99937b2b11267c667b2b3d017606f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623164252/https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-health-care-reform-government-and-politics-72e99937b2b11267c667b2b3d017606f |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}} 52 to 45 percent.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/socialist-candidate-track-defeat-buffalo-s-four-term-incumbent-mayor-n1272091|title=Socialist candidate India Walton defeats Buffalo's four-term mayor|date=June 23, 2021|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|work=NBC News|accessdate=June 24, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/06/23/how-a-socialist-captured-buffalo-a-moderate-democratic-stronghold-1386882|title=How a socialist captured Buffalo, a moderate Democratic stronghold|date=June 23, 2021|first=Bill|last=Mahoney|work=Politico|accessdate=June 24, 2021}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Zremski |first1=Jerry |title=India Walton's win could inspire more outsiders to challenge incumbents |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/india-waltons-win-could-inspire-more-outsiders-to-challenge-incumbents/article_005c8ea8-d518-11eb-bb5c-6ffc8ce1a2db.html |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=The Buffalo News |date=June 25, 2021 |quote=updated November 1, 2021}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Ryan|first=Patrick|date=2021-08-26|title=Erie County Democrats make Walton endorsement official|url=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/ |url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=WIVB-TV|archive-url=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/ |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |language=en-US}} Her campaign raised $150,000 compared to Brown, who raised over $500,000 and received support from the Police Benevolent Association and Republicans.{{cite news |last1=Barkan |first1=Ross |title=A Socialist Dream Deferred in Buffalo |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/11/buffalo-election-2021-results-india-walton-defeated.html |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=Intelligencer |date=November 3, 2021}} 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".{{cite news |last1=Krieg |first1=Gregory |title=Buffalo's India Walton won the Democratic primary for mayor. Now she has to defeat incumbent Byron Brown -- again |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/23/politics/buffalo-mayor-race-india-walton/index.html |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=CNN |date=October 23, 2021}}

Walton is a democratic socialist,{{cite news |last1=Yuan |first1=Jada |last2=McGrady |first2=Clyde |title=Who's afraid of India Walton? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/11/01/india-walton-socialist-mayor-buffalo/ |access-date=4 November 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 1, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Linton |first1=Caroline |last2=Silverstein |first2=Jason |title=Democratic socialist India Walton says victory in Buffalo mayoral race "seems unlikely" after incumbent's write-in campaign |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-walton-buffalo-mayor-campaign-loss-incumbent-byron-brown-write-in/ |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=CBS News |date=November 3, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2021 |title=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 |work=The New York Times |first=Luis |last=Ferré-Sadurní |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/nyregion/india-walton-socialist-nyc-primary-buffalo.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210624124622/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/nyregion/india-walton-socialist-nyc-primary-buffalo.html |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 24, 2021}} and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 2020 |title=Socialist India Walton Will Be Buffalo's Next Mayor |work=The Intercept |url=https://theintercept.com/2021/06/23/buffalo-mayor-socialist-india-walton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210624001806/https://theintercept.com/2021/06/23/buffalo-mayor-socialist-india-walton/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021 }} 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."{{cite magazine |last1=Bort |first1=Ryan |title=India Walton's Blueprint for the Future of Progressive Politics |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/india-walton-buffalo-democratic-socialist-mayor-1195612/ |access-date=6 November 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 13, 2021}} 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.'"{{cite news |last1=McKinley |first1=Jesse |title=India Walton Beat Byron Brown in Buffalo. He's Back With a Rubber Stamp. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/01/nyregion/india-walton-byron-brown-buffalo-mayor.html |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=November 2, 2021}}

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.{{Cite news |first=Bill |last=Mahoney |date=June 22, 2021 |title=Buffalo's Walton on verge of becoming first big city socialist mayor in 60 years |work=Politico |url=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 |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=June 28, 2021 |title=Erik Brady: India Walton surprised many. 100 years ago in Lackawanna, John Gibbons did her one better |work=The Buffalo News |url=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 |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=July 3, 2021 |access-date=July 3, 2021 }} 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,{{Cite news |first=Robert J. |last=McCarthy |date=June 23, 2021 |title=Mayor Byron Brown weighing write-in campaign against India Walton |work=The Buffalo News |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/mayor-byron-brown-weighing-write-in-campaign-against-india-walton/article_65362894-d44a-11eb-aca4-8b2f3ee46519.html |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021 }} 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,{{cite news |last1=McKinley |first1=Jesse |title=India Walton says that she likely cannot beat the write-in incumbent, Byron Brown, in the race for Buffalo's mayor. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/nyregion/byron-brown-buffalo-mayor.html |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 2021}} but did not officially concede.{{cite news |last1=Wypijewski |first1=JoAnn |title=India Walton Lost, but She Started Something That Could Last |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/india-walton-buffalo-loss/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |work=The Nation |date=November 5, 2021}} According to The Buffalo News on November 6, 2021, despite her apparent loss, "Walton may have awakened a potent progressive force in Buffalo politics."{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Robert J. |title=Why India Walton's candidacy could pave way for left-leaning politics in Buffalo |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/government-and-politics/why-india-waltons-candidacy-could-pave-way-for-left-leaning-politics-in-buffalo/article_055a4dbc-3e51-11ec-ba96-abc7b28c9a93.html |access-date=6 November 2021 |work=The Buffalo News |date=November 6, 2021}} On November 8, 2021, Politico reported she joined advocacy for Brown to be removed from his position in the Democratic National Committee.{{cite news |last1=Siders |first1=David |last2=Otterbein |first2=Holly |title='It's a disgrace': Progressives take aim at Buffalo mayor's DNC post |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/11/08/buffalo-mayor-progressives-dems-520327 |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Politico |date=November 8, 2021}} 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."{{Cite web |date= January 4, 2022 |title=India Walton takes on a new job with NY Working Families Party |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/india-walton-takes-on-a-new-job-with-ny-working-families-party-race-for-mayor-western-new-york/71-6a283b0d-8f4e-4049-9603-f468ccd2035e |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=wgrz.com |language=en-US}}

= 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."{{Cite web |title=India Walton joins Working Families Party as a senior advisor |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/ny-state-of-politics/2022/01/04/india-walton-joins-wfp-as-a-senior-advisor |access-date=2022-04-15 |website=spectrumlocalnews.com |language=en}}

= Common Council campaign =

On February 1, 2023, Walton announced she would run for a seat on the Buffalo Common Council.{{cite news |url=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 |archive-url=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 |first=Claudine |last=Ewing |url-status=live |archive-date=May 24, 2023 |access-date=May 24, 2023 |date=February 1, 2023 |title=India Walton says she is running for the Buffalo Common Council}} 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."{{cite news |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/politics/ulysses-wingo-not-seeking-re-election-for-buffalo-common-council-seat-goverment-wny-vote/71-59d4f021-10bd-4279-9869-2e3ba62e4cce |title=Ulysees Wingo not seeking re-election for Buffalo Common Council seat}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/residency-challenge-to-india-waltons-common-council-bid-dismissed-masten-district/article_e2678a46-e399-11ed-966a-c7db88498cf8.html |title=Residency challenge to India Walton's Buffalo Common Council bid dismissed}}

Walton was endorsed by the Working Families Party and competed in the Democratic primary in June 2023. 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. 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.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Deidre |last2=Franklin |first2=A. J. |date=June 27, 2023 |title=Zeneta Everhart trounces India Walton in Masten District race |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/zeneta-everhart-trounces-india-walton-in-masten-district-race/article_f1c98c1a-1557-11ee-aad3-f3c005b15eed.html |work=The Buffalo News |location=Buffalo, NY}}

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,{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2021 |title=6 priorities India Walton outlined in her campaign for Buffalo mayor |work=The Buffalo News |url=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 |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021 }} and said she would make Buffalo a sanctuary city.{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2021 |title='What is rightfully ours': Socialist candidate India Walton upsets incumbent Democratic mayor of Buffalo |work=Yahoo! News |url=https://news.yahoo.com/what-is-rightfully-ours-socialist-candidate-india-walton-upsets-incumbent-democratic-mayor-of-buffalo-174301969.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210623204548/https://news.yahoo.com/what-is-rightfully-ours-socialist-candidate-india-walton-upsets-incumbent-democratic-mayor-of-buffalo-174301969.html |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021 }} She also expressed support for small business owners and landlords,{{cite news |title=India Walton wants Buffalo to know she's not anti-business |url=https://www.wivb.com/india-walton-buffalo-mayor/india-walton-wants-buffalo-to-know-shes-not-anti-business/ |work=News 4 Buffalo |date=24 June 2021}} including financing to small landlords for building maintenance including lead removal, as well as strengthening Buffalo tenant protections.{{cite web |last1=Thier |first1=Hadas |title=India Walton: Byron Brown Is a "Sore Loser" Whose Pro-Corporate Policies Have Failed Buffalo |url=https://jacobinmag.com/2021/09/india-walton-byron-brown-buffalo-local-mayoral-elections-pro-corporate |publisher=Jacobin |access-date=September 8, 2021}} 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.{{cite news |last1=McKinley |first1=Dave |title=India Walton addresses unpaid parking tickets, expired inspection, impounded car |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/buffalo-mayoral-candidate-india-walton-addresses-unpaid-parking-tickets-expired-inspection/71-db02dfb4-0c3f-467b-8631-917e78dc2ff9 |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=WGRZ2 |date=October 8, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Liz |title=Democratic Socialists Lost Big on Election Night With India Walton Defeat|work=Reason |url=https://reason.com/2021/11/05/democratic-socialists-lost-big-on-election-night-with-india-walton-defeat/ |access-date=9 November 2021 |date=November 5, 2021}}

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.{{Cite news |date=June 23, 2021 |title=India Walton Could Become The First Socialist Mayor Of A Major U.S. City In Decades |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/23/1009432941/india-walton-could-become-the-first-socialist-mayor-of-a-major-u-s-city-in-decad |url-status=live |archive-url=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 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |access-date=June 23, 2021 }}{{cite news |last1=Stuck |first1=Leanne |title=VERIFY: Claims made against India Walton in Byron Brown's latest campaign ad |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/verify/verify-claims-against-india-walton-in-mayor-byron-brown-campaign-ad/71-f704a448-bae4-4974-b82e-421c3455bbac |access-date=4 November 2021 |work=WGRZ |date=September 15, 2021}} She also supports establishing a civilian police oversight board.

Electoral history

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2021 Buffalo mayoral election{{Cite news |date=June 25, 2021 |title=How India Walton upset Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown: a district-by-district breakdown |work=WKBW-TV |url=https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/how-india-walton-upset-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-a-district-by-district-breakdown |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210625182551/https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/how-india-walton-upset-buffalo-mayor-byron-brown-a-district-by-district-breakdown |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2021 }}{{cite web|url=https://elections.erie.gov/Default|title=2021 General Election UnOfficial Results|website=Erie County Board of Elections|date=19 November 2021|accessdate=20 November 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = India Walton

|votes = 11,132

|percentage = 51.85

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Byron Brown (incumbent)

|votes = 9,625

|percentage = 44.83

}}