Buffalo is a city that doesn't like change very much. For twenty years, if you walked into City Hall, you knew exactly who was in charge and how things worked. But that era ended with a thud when Byron Brown packed his bags for a new gig at Western Regional Off-Track Betting. Now, as of January 2026, Sean Ryan is the one holding the keys.
Honestly, the transition hasn't just been a change of faces; it's felt like a total vibe shift. Ryan didn't just walk in and sit down. He basically walked in and started moving the furniture around. After a landslide victory in November 2025, where he pulled in a massive 72% of the vote against Republican James Gardner, it’s clear the city was hungry for something different.
The Long Road to the Mayor's Office
You've probably seen Sean Ryan around for a while. He isn't some political newcomer who appeared out of nowhere. He spent years in the State Assembly and then the State Senate representing Buffalo's West Side and North Buffalo. He’s an attorney by trade, a Lackawanna native, and the son of a firefighter and a teacher. That background kinda matters because he talks a lot about "working-class roots," and in a town like Buffalo, that actually carries weight.
The primary in June 2025 was the real bloodbath. He went up against acting mayor Christopher Scanlon. It was messy. Scanlon had the "incumbent-ish" advantage, but Ryan had the backing of 22 labor unions. That union density in Buffalo is no joke. When those guys show up to knock on doors, they move the needle. Ryan ended up beating Scanlon by 11 percentage points, which basically signaled the end of the old guard.
One of the funniest moments of the campaign—depending on who you ask—was when Byron Brown tried to donate $1,500 to Ryan’s campaign. Ryan basically said, "Thanks, but no thanks," and sent the money right back. He’s spent a lot of time distancing himself from the previous administration, often blaming "decades of tired leadership" for the city's current headaches.
What is Sean Ryan Actually Doing?
Everyone wants to know: what's different? For starters, the budget. Buffalo’s finances are, to put it bluntly, a disaster. Ryan hasn't sugarcoated it. He’s been very vocal about the "budget hole" he inherited. One of his first big moves was bringing in new commissioners for finance and parking to try and find some lost change in the couch cushions.
The "Fix the Damn Roads" Strategy
It sounds like a meme, but for people living in the Elmwood Village or the East Side, it’s a daily struggle. Potholes in Buffalo can swallow a small car. Ryan made "Fixing the Damn Roads" a literal campaign slogan. He’s pushing for a more aggressive paving schedule and better snow removal.
It’s about the "basics." While previous leaders might have focused on big-ticket stadium deals or fancy downtown lofts, Ryan is leaning into the stuff that annoys people on their commute. He’s also looking at:
- Lead Poisoning: Buffalo has some of the oldest housing stock in the country. Ryan has prioritized tackling lead paint issues that have plagued the city’s children for generations.
- Affordable Housing: Rents are spiking. He's pushing for more density and protections for renters so people aren't priced out of their own neighborhoods.
- Ethics and Transparency: He’s trying to scrub the "nepotism" label off City Hall. He even sent out letters to a bunch of City Hall employees lately, basically saying their services were no longer needed as he builds his own team.
The Challenges Ahead
Is it all going to be sunshine and Loganberry soda? Probably not. Buffalo is facing a massive fiscal crisis. The city has been relying on one-time federal aid for too long, and that well is drying up. Ryan has to figure out how to pay for those road repairs without hiking property taxes so high that people flee to the suburbs.
He’s also got to navigate a Common Council that isn't always on his side. While he has a mandate from the voters, the legislative branch in Buffalo has its own set of power players who liked the old way of doing things.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
A lot of folks thought Ryan would be a "radical" change because he had support from the Working Families Party. In reality, he’s a relatively moderate progressive. He’s an attorney who knows how the state system works. He isn't trying to burn down the building; he's trying to rewire it.
His victory wasn't just about his policies, though. It was about turnout. He won 6 out of 9 Council districts. He dominated in the Delaware and Ellicott districts. Even in areas where he was expected to struggle, like the East Side, he spent months visiting churches and community centers, proving he was willing to put in the "awkward" work to get to know voters outside his North Buffalo bubble.
Actionable Steps for Buffalo Residents
If you're living in Buffalo and want to see if Sean Ryan actually keeps his promises, there are a few things you should be doing right now.
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- Watch the Common Council Meetings: This is where the budget fights happen. If you want to know if your street is getting paved, this is where the money is allocated.
- Use the 311 System: Ryan has promised a more responsive city government. Test it. Report that pothole or that broken street lamp and see if the response time actually improves under the new administration.
- Check the Transition Website: He set up a site called "Build a Better Buffalo" specifically for public input. They are still looking for feedback on priorities for the first 100 days.
- Follow the Lead Remediation Grants: If you own an old home, keep an eye on the new funding Ryan is pushing through for lead abatement. There’s likely going to be more money available for homeowners soon.
The next few months are going to be telling. Between the Harvard "New Mayors" program he just attended and the reality of a cold Buffalo winter, Sean Ryan is officially in the hot seat. Whether he can actually "fix the damn roads" while balancing a broken checkbook is the multi-million dollar question.