In 2025, for the first time in two decades, there will be a Buffalo mayoral race with no incumbent in office. Thursday evening, seven potential candidates made their case to members of the Erie County Democratic Committee as they seek the parties endorsement.

"We want to make sure our rank and file committee members have a say in this process," ECDC Chair Jeremy Zellner said.

Zellner said the party is committed to an open process and while media was not allowed in the meeting at the Buffalo Convention Center, each candidate got a turn to speak with about 150 committee members.

"It should be able to raise all of the candidates profiles," Zellner said. "It should be able to give them all an opportunity to answer questions."

The most high-profile names Thursday were Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon, current state Sen. Sean Ryan and former Buffalo Fire Commissioner and civil rights activist Garnell Whitfield.

Whitfield, whose mother was killed in the May 2022 Buffalo mass shooting at a Tops supermarket, said he's unimpressed with how the city has handled crisis and brings fresh perspective to the race.

"They are entrenched," Whitfield said. "They are politicians. They've been here for awhile. I'm new to this scene. This is not my first rodeo. They have some advantages but so do I."

Ryan believes the city can do better not just on long-term quality of life issues but day-to-day ones.

"I've been a party stalwart for many years now, so I'm going to fight hard to get the endorsement of the party," he said.

Scanlon has not formally announced his candidacy yet but said he wants to take part in the endorsement process.

"It's important to me as a lifelong Democrat, someone who was raised in a household full of Democrats that believe in Democratic values," he said. "If the party were to endorse me should I decide to run that would mean a lot to me for that reason."

Four other candidates, community organizer James Payne, Buffalo ReUse founder Michael Gainer, activist Terrence Robinson and former city Judge James McLeod, also took part.

"All I ask is that they listen carefully and attentively and I think it will come down to a fair shake," Robinson said.

Both Robinson and Gainer are active in the East Side Parkways Coalition that is challenging in court the state's plan to overhaul the Kensington Expressway. They said its an important issue in this election.

"Our city needs ideas," Gainer said. "Our city needs dialogue and debate engagement and we need multiple voices in this. I say bring on all the voices."

The committee plans to host two more similar events and decide who or if to endorse in late-February. Several candidates said they plan to run whether they get the endorsement or not.