In 2016, Erie County Democratic Committee Member Bryan Ball walked in lockstep with the party as a supporter and delegate for Hillary Clinton in New York.

Four years later though, the party has fostered an open primary environment.

"I have greatly welcomed that the party organization has been so supportive to all of us and not leaving anyone out," Ball, Stonewall Democrats of Western New York president, said.

While some committee members have gone with familiar faces like former Vice President Joe Biden, or U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Ball said this year he was drawn to a newcomer.

"Pete (Buttigieg) makes sense to me," he said. “I think that his very unique, very empathetic and intelligent, intellectual brand of politics and governing is what we need more of in our politics and government."

Ball is running as a delegate for Buttigieg in the 26th Congressional District. The Stonewall Democrats are an LBGTQ caucus within the party. Ball said it does mean a great deal to him to see an openly gay candidate be taken so seriously.

"We have made great progress in getting legislation passed and equal rights for all LGBTQ Americans across the country but we still have a long way to go and representation certainly matters and to have a gay candidate for president, that means so much to the community and it shows us just the result of all the hard work," he said.

He said just because Buttigieg hasn't received much attention yet, among New York voters, doesn't mean people should underestimate his chances.

"We have been somewhat quiet but we have an ever-growing base of volunteers here who are very hard-working and they believe in Pete and they're going to do what they can to help us bring this home in the April primary," Ball said.

He said Mayor Pete volunteers are working phone banks, making calls to state's with upcoming primaries, as well as preparing for the New York contest.