How to delete rows from a table using an SQLAlchemy query without ORM?

Looking through some code where I did something similar, I believe this will do what you want.

d = addresses_table.delete().where(addresses_table.c.retired == 1)
d.execute()

Calling delete() on a table object gives you a sql.expression (if memory serves), that you then execute. I've assumed above that the table is bound to a connection, which means you can just call execute() on it. If not, you can pass the d to execute(d) on a connection.

See docs here.

When you call delete() from a query object, SQLAlchemy performs a bulk deletion. And you need to choose a strategy for the removal of matched objects from the session. See the documentation here.

If you do not choose a strategy for the removal of matched objects from the session, then SQLAlchemy will try to evaluate the query’s criteria in Python straight on the objects in the session. If evaluation of the criteria isn’t implemented, an error is raised.

This is what is happening with your deletion.

If you only want to delete the records and do not care about the records in the session after the deletion, you can choose the strategy that ignores the session synchronization:

address_table = Table('address', metadata, autoload=True)
addresses = session.query(address_table).filter(address_table.c.retired == 1)
addresses.delete(synchronize_session=False)