BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Democratic mayoral primary features half a dozen candidates, including longtime politicians and public servants.

However, first-time candidates and activists Anthony Tyson-Thompson and Michael Gainer said they're embracing their role as underdogs.

"I don't have millions of dollars in my war chest. I have people. I have people coming together for the sake of this city to kind of bring a new resilience and new leadership to it,” Tyson-Thompson said. “My message is strong and it's about just how can I resonate with other people to bring them in.”

Gainer said he feels like an underdog when he's trying to get attention of people in power. 

"When I'm talking to the community, I feel like a leader and I think that's what we need,” he said. “We need people that are willing to engage with the community.”

Tyson-Thompson was born and raised on the East Side of Buffalo. His higher ed background includes time at Morgan State, a Historically Black University, Canisius in Buffalo, Columbia and Harvard.

He believes the diversity in his educational background gives him a unique perspective.

"This is the first time in 20 years that we've had an open primary,” Tyson-Thompson said. “I think that diversity of ideas improves any situation or circumstances, and I think when people hear my ideas and platform it resonates with them deeply.” 

Gainer moved to Buffalo from Boston 20 years ago and was immediately taken with the city. He has focused on training programs for young adults and is the founder of Buffalo ReUse, which salvaged building materials as the previous administration tore down blighted houses.

"That's been the attitude and approach that I've taken over the last 20 years to solve problems. It's identifying a need and trying to figure out resources to connect and fill those voids," Gainer said.

He said he entered the race out of frustration at the city for creating obstacles to new ideas, progress and innovation. Recently, he was involved in the successful lawsuit to block planned construction of a project that included tunnel over the city's Kensington Expressway, and says while Buffalo's finances are an important issue, the future of that project is close to his heart.

"We are at a point now where shovels are about to be in the ground, money is about to be spent and our future is about to be written right now and decisions are going to be made that are going to affect this community for the next 50 to 60 years," Gainer said. 

Tyson-Thompson, also a former state Assembly staffer, said there is not one issue that is the biggest in this election because everything is connected.

"There's no way I can talk about economic opportunity first without fixing the infrastructure so people can get to and from their jobs, from work or to school. We can't talk about childhood poverty if parents don't have access to opportunities," he said.

Both candidates face specific challenges to their petitions to get on the ballot, which the Erie County Board of Elections will review Thursday. They both say they are confident those petitions will stand up to scrutiny.