Ryan elected as next mayor of City of Buffalo

With Information Submitted by Sean Ryan, Democratic nominee for mayor of Buffalo

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan, Democratic nominee for mayor of Buffalo, declared victory Tuesday night, following a landslide election in which he earned nearly 72% of the vote, winning the three-way race by a decisive 49-point margin. It marks the largest victory in a contested Buffalo mayoral election since 1993.

Republican James Gardner netted 22.86% of the vote.

Since launching his campaign in late November 2024, Ryan has centered his message on restoring the fundamentals of city government – delivering core services effectively and efficiently, improving transparency, and getting Buffalo’s fiscal house in order. In the general election, he appealed to voters as the self-described “only candidate with the experience and relationships to tackle the basics while also addressing Buffalo’s crises of poverty and housing affordability.”

“I’m humbled by the trust voters have placed in me,” Ryan said. “They sent a message – loud, clear, and resoundingly: Buffalo deserves better. It’s the honor of a lifetime to be elected the next Mayor of the City of Buffalo, and I’m ready to get to work.”

In his victory speech, Ryan celebrated the beginning of a new era for Buffalo, pledging to build a city government that’s responsive to the needs of its residents and invests in every part of the city. He reflected on his nearly year-long campaign and thanked the coalition of supporters, volunteers, and community leaders who propelled him to victory. The grassroots effort included a broad coalition of volunteers, supporters in every part of the city, and nearly 1,500 unique donors.

With the election decided, Mayor-Elect Ryan now turns his focus to building an administration ready to deliver a better Buffalo for residents in every neighborhood.

Christopher Scanlon was named mayor in the City of Buffalo following former Mayor Byron Brown’s resignation in October 2024. Brown is currently the president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting.