Byron Brown

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Byron Brown
62nd Mayor of Buffalo
In office January 1, 2006 – October 15, 2024
Preceded by	Anthony Masiello
Succeeded by	Christopher Scanlon
Chair of the New York Democratic Party
In office May 23, 2016 – January 14, 2019
Preceded by	Sheila Comar
Succeeded by	Jay Jacobs
Member of the New York Senate from the 60th district
In office January 8, 2003 – December 31, 2005
Preceded by	Mary Lou Rath
Succeeded by	Marc Coppola
Member of the New York Senate from the 57th district
In office January 1, 2001 – January 8, 2003
Preceded by	Al Coppola
Succeeded by	Patricia McGee
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 (1958-09-24) September 24, 1958 (age 66) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1995–present) Buffalo Party (2021)
Spouse	Michelle Austin
Children	1
Education	Buffalo State College (BA)
Website	Official website

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 longest-serving mayor of Buffalo. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council. He is the first African-American politician elected to the New York State Senate to represent a district outside New York City and the first member of any minority race to represent a majority-white New York State Senate district. He announced in a September 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.^[1][2]

Brown was born and raised in Queens, New York. He rose to office after serving in a variety of political roles. He began his political career as an aide to local representatives in several legislative bodies (Buffalo Common Council, Erie County Legislature, and New York State Assembly) and later became involved in a regional political organization. After several roles as a legislative aide, he was appointed to the Erie County cabinet-level Director of Equal Employment Opportunity post.