Who will represent Western New York at the Democratic National Convention?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Democratic National Convention in Chicago is just under four weeks away.

On Monday night, New York State’s 200-plus Democratic delegates unanimously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after Sunday’s news that President Joe Biden was dropping out of the race.

Who are the people who pick the party leader, and how do they get that kind of power?

The process isn’t too complicated. Some of them are picked in an election, others are appointed by other party leaders, and more are given automatic spots based on their current or past positions.

Who made the cut to represent Western New York at the DNC? Eight of them were selected in an election in April, while five more were given spots on their own, making for 12 total representing Buffalo and its surrounding areas.

• Howard Johnson
• Current position: Erie County Legislator, District 1
• How he got picked: April election

• Jeremy Zellner
• Current position: Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman
• How he got picked: April election

• Mark Poloncarz
• Current position: Erie County Executive
• How he got picked: April election

• Bonnie Kane Lockwood
• Position: Senior field representative for former Congressman Brian Higgins
• How she got picked: April election

• April McCants-Baskin
• Current position: Erie County Legislator, District 2
• How she got picked: April election

• Leah Halton-Pope
• Current position: Ellicott District Councilwoman, Buffalo Common Council (also serves as majority leader)
• How she got picked: April election

• Mitch Nowakowski
• Current position: Fillmore District Council Member, Buffalo Common Council
• How he got picked: April election

• Melissa Bochenski
• Current position: Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Kathy Hochul
• How she got picked: April election

• Byron Brown
• Current position: Mayor of Buffalo
• How he got picked: Automatic selection as former Chair of New York State Democratic Party

• Zeneta Everhart
• Current position: Masten District Councilwoman, Buffalo Common Council
• How she got picked: At-large selection

• Crystal Peoples-Stokes
• Current position: New York State Assembly Member, 141st District (also serves as majority leader)
• How she got picked: Selected as elected official

• Tim Kennedy
• Current position: U.S. Representative, New York’s 26th District
• How he got picked: Automatic selection

• Jessica Schuster

• Current position: Associate deputy comptroller and chief of staff, Erie County Comptroller
• How she got picked: April election in 23rd District

Other state representatives include both U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer as well as Governor Kathy Hochul. The most famous on New York’s list is former President Bill Clinton, who lives in Chappaqua in Westchester County and has a delegate as a “distinguished party leader.”

The Democratic National Convention begins on Aug. 19 in Chicago.

Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here .