Sean Ryan endorsed by Erie County Democratic Committee for Buffalo mayor

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — New York State Senator Sean Ryan was endorsed by the Erie County Democratic Committee for Buffalo mayor, the committee announced Saturday.

The endorsement became official at Saturday’s meeting among ECDC leaders. Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon was the other finalist.

“We’ve taken a straw poll at several of these (convention meetings) and I believe after Tuesday that the rank-and-file really, really supported Senator Ryan at a big rate,” Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner said in an interview with WIVB News 4 on Thursday. “And I would expect that on Saturday our executive committee is gonna take their recommendation for that.”

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Those who were not endorsed can still run for the position, including Scanlon, Buffalo Common Council member Rasheed Wyatt and former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, all of whom still have active campaigns. The primary election will be held on June 24.

“I am deeply grateful to have earned the trust and endorsement of the Erie County Democratic Committee after months of hard work knocking on doors, meeting with committee members, and listening to concerns of people across Buffalo,” Ryan said in a statement. “This campaign is about building a better Buffalo. Our city deserves leadership that works as hard as its people, and I’m ready to do the work to move Buffalo forward.”

Zellner said he spoke with Scanlon earlier in the day Thursday to inform him of the decision.

Ryan, who represents New York’s 61st district that encompasses parts of Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, Kenmore, Grand Island and Williamsville, was re-elected to state senate in November with over 61% of the vote. He grew up in Lackawanna and has served in the senate since 2020.

Ryan has sponsored numerous bills to support New York schools, renters, and the working class. He championed clean air, water and environmental protection as an assemblyman, as well as protecting taxpayer dollars.

“We heard a lot about people wanting change,” Zellner said. “We heard a lot about people saying we need to change the culture in city hall and I think they thought Senator Ryan was the one to do that, people are tired of the status quo and they want something different.”

Scanlon has been acting mayor since mid-October when former Mayor Byron Brown stepped down to take the position of CEO at Western Regional Off-Track Betting. He was elected Common Council president in January of last year and announced his run for mayor last month.

Scanlon has sponsored free sports and reading camps, advocated for small businesses, and passed legislation to support public safety.

Democrats on Saturday also endorsed incumbent James Bargnesi and attorney Jessica Kulpit for county court along with incumbent family court judge Brenda Freedman, the ECDC said.

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