Meet the candidates running for Syracuse mayor Emily Steinberger | Photo Editor (Clockwise from top left) Thomas Babilon, Khalid Bey, Janet Burman, Michael Greene and Ben Walsh are all running for Syracuse mayor. Facebook Subscribe to our newsletter here. Five candidates are running for election in the 2021 Syracuse mayoral race — two Republicans, two Democrats and incumbent Mayor Ben Walsh running as an independent. The Democrats and Republicans will face each other in the June 22 primary with the winners of both primaries going up against Walsh on Nov. 9. Here’s a breakdown of each candidate’s background and plan for the city, in alphabetical order: