Run for governor presents a tough challenge for Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado: Unseating his boss
A Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law School graduate, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado was the first African American to win an upstate congressional seat. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
ALBANY — Everyone says it can’t happen. No way a lieutenant governor can unseat an incumbent governor — of his own party — in New York.
Yet Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is going for it, running to replace his boss, Gov. Kathy Hochul, in part because Democrats can't be afraid to "call out the party" after what he called a deeply disappointing 2024 election cycle.
Delgado, a former Hudson Valley congressman who became Hochul’s running mate in 2022, says New York needs "bold, decisive" leadership, implying it has been lacking. He launched his campaign last week and began a mini-tour of the state.
By jumping in so early and against his boss, Delgado’s bid raises questions about whether he has any path to the governor’s office and about party unity one year ahead of an election year.
Delgado will face some huge obstacles, analysts say: raising millions of dollars in campaign money, boosting his profile, wooing influential unions and convincing Democrats to give up their standard-bearer. Beating the governor would be unprecedented.
"The idea of a lieutenant governor beating a governor is hard to imagine," Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic strategist, said. "It doesn’t happen."
Even Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who once ran his own unsuccessful primary against Hochul, took a humorous shot: "Based on my experience, this might not be the most well-thought-out idea."
For his part, Delgado, 48, of Rhinebeck, says New York Democrats need a "bolder, more decisive" vision — implicitly criticizing Hochul but not naming her — on housing, wages and affordability. He says "simply tinkering around the edges" of problems won’t help people or the party. Lack of results hurts the Democratic brand and brews cynicism among voters, he said.
"Where is the accountability in government?" Delgado said in an NY1 interview after he kicked off his campaign. "If we don’t have accountability in government, people will continue to dismiss the value of it, particularly the value of democracy altogether."
As for "bucking the party," he said more Democrats need to do that, especially after losing the 2024 presidential election.
"We have Donald Trump in the White House again," Delgado said. "Was it because people were too afraid to call out the party?"
A Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law School graduate, Delgado burst on to the political scene by defeating incumbent Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) in 2018 in a big year for Democrats.
Delgado was the first African American to win an upstate congressional seat. He was reelected in 2020 but left in 2022 to become Hochul’s running mate.
But after the 2024 presidential election, he began criticizing the middling direction of the party. In February, he said he wouldn’t run again for lieutenant governor and began traveling the state.
Democratic state chairman Jay Jacobs said he was personally disappointed in Delgado’s decision and questioned his vision.
"He is an excellent speaker. He is very charismatic," Jacobs said. "But as hard as you listen, there’s no substance. Whereas [Hochul] has been full of substance."
Jacobs, who doubles as Nassau County Democratic chairman, acknowledged "there is a price" to the party in holding a primary, citing 2022 when Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams challenged Hochul.
"County chairs want a coordinated campaign. Well, the governor raises the lion’s share for a coordinated campaign," Jacobs said. "Now, she’s got to make those calls to raise money for a primary ... and that impacts everyone down the ballot."
Delgado has to be viewed as a "deep underdog," said Lawrence Levy, dean of suburban studies at Hofstra University. His name recognition is low and Hochul already has $16 million in campaign funds, to Delgado's $969,000.
"Delgado has spent a lot of time traveling the state as lieutenant governor but I’m not sure what kind of network he built up," Levy said.
Further, Delgado so far has espoused a more progressive tack for Democrats — which Levy calls a "loser with swing voters."
Sheinkopf said it would take a "major scandal or chaos" for Democrats to rethink Hochul and choose someone else.
"You’re asking Democrats to reject their standard-bearer and replace her with someone you don’t know," Sheinkopf said.
Delgado is pushing forward. So far, he’s said the state needs to raise the minimum wage, consider tax rates for corporations and the wealthy, and improve health care and child care. He said he wanted to be part of the Hochul administration's conversation on these issues but basically was shut out.
"I wanted to be part of that decision-making process. Unfortunately, I wasn’t part of that decision-making process," Delgado said on NY1. He added: "It’s important to understand that, right now, the status quo is broken."
ALBANY — Everyone says it can’t happen. No way a lieutenant governor can unseat an incumbent governor — of his own party — in New York.
Yet Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is going for it, running to replace his boss, Gov. Kathy Hochul, in part because Democrats can't be afraid to "call out the party" after what he called a deeply disappointing 2024 election cycle.
Delgado, a former Hudson Valley congressman who became Hochul’s running mate in 2022, says New York needs "bold, decisive" leadership, implying it has been lacking. He launched his campaign last week and began a mini-tour of the state.
By jumping in so early and against his boss, Delgado’s bid raises questions about whether he has any path to the governor’s office and about party unity one year ahead of an election year.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
- Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado launched a campaign for governor last week, saying he is challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul, in part because Democrats can't be afraid to "call out the party" after a deeply disappointing 2024 election cycle.
- Delgado says New York Democrats need a "bolder, more decisive" vision on housing, wages and affordability. He says "simply tinkering around the edges" of problems won’t help people or the party.
- Analysts say Delgado will face huge obstacles in taking on an incumbent: raising millions of dollars, boosting his profile, wooing influential unions and convincing Democrats to give up their standard-bearer.
Delgado will face some huge obstacles, analysts say: raising millions of dollars in campaign money, boosting his profile, wooing influential unions and convincing Democrats to give up their standard-bearer. Beating the governor would be unprecedented.
"The idea of a lieutenant governor beating a governor is hard to imagine," Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran Democratic strategist, said. "It doesn’t happen."
Even Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who once ran his own unsuccessful primary against Hochul, took a humorous shot: "Based on my experience, this might not be the most well-thought-out idea."
For his part, Delgado, 48, of Rhinebeck, says New York Democrats need a "bolder, more decisive" vision — implicitly criticizing Hochul but not naming her — on housing, wages and affordability. He says "simply tinkering around the edges" of problems won’t help people or the party. Lack of results hurts the Democratic brand and brews cynicism among voters, he said.
"Where is the accountability in government?" Delgado said in an NY1 interview after he kicked off his campaign. "If we don’t have accountability in government, people will continue to dismiss the value of it, particularly the value of democracy altogether."
As for "bucking the party," he said more Democrats need to do that, especially after losing the 2024 presidential election.
"We have Donald Trump in the White House again," Delgado said. "Was it because people were too afraid to call out the party?"
Political rise
A Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law School graduate, Delgado burst on to the political scene by defeating incumbent Rep. John Faso (R-Kinderhook) in 2018 in a big year for Democrats.
Delgado was the first African American to win an upstate congressional seat. He was reelected in 2020 but left in 2022 to become Hochul’s running mate.
But after the 2024 presidential election, he began criticizing the middling direction of the party. In February, he said he wouldn’t run again for lieutenant governor and began traveling the state.
Democratic state chairman Jay Jacobs said he was personally disappointed in Delgado’s decision and questioned his vision.
"He is an excellent speaker. He is very charismatic," Jacobs said. "But as hard as you listen, there’s no substance. Whereas [Hochul] has been full of substance."
Jacobs, who doubles as Nassau County Democratic chairman, acknowledged "there is a price" to the party in holding a primary, citing 2022 when Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams challenged Hochul.
"County chairs want a coordinated campaign. Well, the governor raises the lion’s share for a coordinated campaign," Jacobs said. "Now, she’s got to make those calls to raise money for a primary ... and that impacts everyone down the ballot."
Long odds
Delgado has to be viewed as a "deep underdog," said Lawrence Levy, dean of suburban studies at Hofstra University. His name recognition is low and Hochul already has $16 million in campaign funds, to Delgado's $969,000.
"Delgado has spent a lot of time traveling the state as lieutenant governor but I’m not sure what kind of network he built up," Levy said.
Further, Delgado so far has espoused a more progressive tack for Democrats — which Levy calls a "loser with swing voters."
Sheinkopf said it would take a "major scandal or chaos" for Democrats to rethink Hochul and choose someone else.
"You’re asking Democrats to reject their standard-bearer and replace her with someone you don’t know," Sheinkopf said.
Delgado is pushing forward. So far, he’s said the state needs to raise the minimum wage, consider tax rates for corporations and the wealthy, and improve health care and child care. He said he wanted to be part of the Hochul administration's conversation on these issues but basically was shut out.
"I wanted to be part of that decision-making process. Unfortunately, I wasn’t part of that decision-making process," Delgado said on NY1. He added: "It’s important to understand that, right now, the status quo is broken."
SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Interview with Massapequa's Tom Sheedy On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra interviews Massapequa baseball coach Tom Sheedy and sends a tribute to Chaminade lacrosse coach Jack Moran.
SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Interview with Massapequa's Tom Sheedy On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra interviews Massapequa baseball coach Tom Sheedy and sends a tribute to Chaminade lacrosse coach Jack Moran.
