Dear Friends, It’s been four years since I upset the political establishment in Buffalo and won the Democratic primary for mayor against a 16-year incumbent. Many of you know the story by now: Backed by big real estate and Republican money, the incumbent ran a write-in campaign and defeated me in the general election in November. It still hurts. We were so close. Let’s not just get close in New York City’s upcoming mayor’s race. Please help my friend ZOHRAN MAMDANI win! (He needs no money, just volunteers. Sign up here.) If Zohran wins, it will reverberate across the country. For a short time there was a popular app called Clubhouse, where I met a group of inspiring, progressive members of the state assembly from NY City. The conversations were about the state budget and how then-Governor Andrew Cuomo worked with Republicans and conservative Democratic defectors – the infamous “Independent Democratic Caucus” – to stifle progress. One day I mustered up the courage to talk about Buffalo and my frustration with the incumbent mayor. I said I wished I could run for mayor and the voice on the other end of the line said, “Why can’t you?” Eight months later on primary day, state legislator Zohran Mamdani from Queens was in Buffalo knocking on doors and encouraging people to vote for me at the polls. After I grabbed him some eggplant wings, we watched the results come in at a local family-owned bar. We’d shocked the political/corporate establishment of Buffalo by winning the primary. I’ve been watching Zohran’s campaign from Buffalo, and it took me back to 2021. I feel that same sense of hope – the feeling that we are within striking distance of electing a true people's champion. Learn more at his campaign website. The exciting news is that Zohran Mamdani is within single digits of Cuomo and closing in on victory. A win in NYC will be a win for all of us – throughout NY state and beyond. Zohran has built one of the most exciting grassroots campaigns in the history of New York. Be part of it. For inspiration, watch this 4-min video, “Action is the Antidote to Despair.” And then sign up. In solidarity and with the highest hopes, India Walton |
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