BUFFALO, N.Y. — It appears, after an upset loss in the Democratic primary, Byron Brown's write-in campaign for Buffalo mayor was successful.

Nothing will be certain until later this month, but so far, 59% percent of votes were cast for write-ins while Democratic nominee India Walton received 41% of the vote.

"I never gave up on our great city because we're from Buffalo and we never quit," said Mayor Brown.

It was a vastly different scene Tuesday night at incumbent Byron Brown's campaign party than in June when he was stunned by India Walton in the Democratic primary.

With a majority of Buffalo city voters casting a write-in vote, and Brown expecting the lion's share of those votes, he declared victory.

"The people chose four more years of the Brown administration," Brown said.

"The people chose one of the greatest comeback stories in our history," Brown added.

There have been few write-in campaigns like it staged in the nation and it appears to have led to an unprecedented fifth term for Brown.

"The people of the city of Buffalo battled heart and soul for the remarkable progress we've achieved over the past 16 years and against those calling for ill-conceived policies that would reverse our progress and undermine the future stability of our city, our state, and in fact our nation," said Brown.

Walton, who is trying to make history of her own as the first mayor of a large city in decades to identify as a socialist, made it clear she is not conceding.

"Every vote needs to be counted," said Walton. "Right now it's Walton against write-in, whoever that is. So I think who write-in is, remains to be seen."

However, in reflecting on what may have gone differently this time around than the primary, she pointed to a lot of big money coming into the race.

"What we have seen is my opponent actively cooperating and colluding with Republicans and dark money to defeat a person who was going to be a champion for the little guy," Walton said.

Walton says she is pleased with the level of engagement in the election.

The board of elections won't begin the process of counting write-ins for about two weeks.