‘First of many’: Socialist India Walton defeats four-term Buffalo mayor in primary upset
WHAT A GREAT VICTORY!
Normally, the results of a mayor’s race in the 49th largest city in the United States wouldn’t be newsworthy. But when a socialist defeats a four-term incumbent (especially in upstate NY which tends to be more conservative than, let’s say NYC), this comes as a stunning political event and a wonderfully encouraging outcome.
Mayors typically don’t wield enormous powers and the reach of a socialist mayor will be somewhat limited (and yes, she still must win in the general election, which now seems a given). However, the electoral outcome here is a clear and bold statement that many Americans are embracing PROGRESSIVE ideals and are fed up with the fractured and dysfunctional two-party system. It wasn’t long ago that another socialist mayor was elected in a city in Vermont, which 40 years ago was shocking news. That mayor went on to win a seat in the House, then the U.S. Senate, and has since reshaped the entire national political landscape.
Let’s hope this is the start of many more successful socialist candidates and a continuing blow to a broken two-party system.
“The times they are a-changin.”