Buffalo's Black Women Pitted Against Each Other in City Council Race

Strategic Insights -

In a tense and dramatic turn of events, two Black women are vying for a seat on Buffalo's Common Council, one of many local government offices at stake in primary elections being held across New York on Tuesday. The two candidates, India Walton and Zeneta Everhart, are no strangers to the city's politics, but their contrasting backgrounds and approaches to governing have set them on a collision course. While Walton's experiences as a democratic socialist and nurse-turned-labor organizer have given her a unique perspective, Everhart's involvement in the city's efforts to combat racism and gun violence have earned her a reputation as a coalition-builder.

Key Takeaways:

  • India Walton, a democratic socialist and former nurse, is running in her second attempt to represent Buffalo's Common Council after a surprise defeat in the city's mayoral race in 2021.
  • Walton's opponent, Zeneta Everhart, a former television producer and aide to a state senator, was thrust into the spotlight after her son survived a racist mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.
  • Everhart, 42, has spoken publicly about the attack and its aftermath, including testifying before Congress and creating the organization "Zaire's Gift," which aims to promote awareness about gun violence and racism.
  • The two women have expressed respect for each other, with Everhart stating, "We're not adversaries, in my book."
  • Walton has been endorsed by the left-leaning Working Families Party, while Everhart has been endorsed by the county Democratic Party.

Statistics:

  • 10 people were killed in the racist mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.
  • 47 people died in the December blizzard that hit Buffalo and its suburbs, with a disproportionate number of victims coming from Black neighborhoods.
  • The supermarket mass shooting was perpetrated by an 18-year-old white supremacist.
  • By winning the mayoral primary in 2021, India Walton became the first woman to win the primary for the office in Buffalo's history.
  • Zeneta Everhart's son, Zaire Goodman, survived the Tops Friendly Market shooting with shrapnel still in his body.

Sources:

  • The New York Times: "Two Black Women Pitted Against Each Other in Buffalo Council Race"