Byron Brown
Byron Brown | |
|---|---|
Brown in 2016 | |
| Chair of the New York Democratic Party | |
| In office May 23, 2016 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sheila Comar |
| Succeeded by | Jay Jacobs |
| 62nd Mayor of Buffalo | |
| In office January 1, 2006 – October 15, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Anthony Masiello |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Scanlon (acting) |
| Member of the New York Senate | |
| In office January 8, 2001 – December 31, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Al Coppola |
| Succeeded by | Marc A. Coppola |
| Constituency |
|
| Member of the Buffalo Common Council from the Masten district | |
| In office January 1, 1996 – January 1, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | David Collins |
| Succeeded by | Antoine Thompson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Byron William Brown September 24, 1958 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic (1995–present) Buffalo Party (2021) |
| Spouse | Michelle Austin |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Buffalo State College (BA) |
Byron William Brown II (born September 24, 1958) is an American politician who served as the 62nd mayor of Buffalo, New York from 2006 until his resignation in 2024. He was the city's first African-American mayor and the longest-serving mayor. He previously served as a member of the New York State Senate and the Buffalo Common Council.
Brown was born and raised in Queens, New York, and rose to office after serving in a variety of political roles. He began as an aide to local representatives the Buffalo Common Council, Erie County Legislature and New York State Assembly and was appointed to the Erie County cabinet-level Director of Equal Employment Opportunity post.
In 2001, Brown became the first African-American politician elected to the New York State Senate to represent a district outside New York City and the first minority to represent a majority-white New York State Senate district.
He was elected Mayor of Buffalo in 2006 and was repeatedly re-elected. In 2021, he lost the Democratic primary to challenger India Walton, but defeated her in the general election as a write-in candidate. He later announced in a September 2024 press conference that he would resign as mayor of Buffalo sometime in October. Brown's resignation took effect on October 15, 2024, with Christopher Scanlon serving as acting mayor until the next mayoral election in 2025.