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The Lieutenant Governor of New York is mounting a primary challenge against his own running mate, Governor Kathy Hochul, in the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado came to power following the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo amid multiple sexual harassment allegations. As New York’s first female governor, Hochul pledged a new era of transparency and accountability. In May 2022, she appointed then-Representative Antonio Delgado, a Democratic congressman from the Hudson Valley, to fill the vacant lieutenant governor seat after Brian Benjamin resigned due to federal bribery charges. Delgado officially took office on May 25, 2022, becoming the first person of Latino heritage elected to statewide office in New York. The Hochul-Delgado ticket was later elected to a full four-year term in November 2022.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado announced his plans to take on Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary, a rare move that underscores a deepening rift within New York’s executive leadership. In a video and accompanying interview with The New York Times, Delgado framed his campaign around a lack of meaningful leadership in the state, saying, “People are hurting, and New York deserves better leadership.” He repeatedly criticized what he described as an “absence of bold, decisive, transformational leadership” and stated, “I’m not here to play the game. I’m here to change it.“
Delgado’s decision follows years of tension with Hochul. Their relationship went to shit in 2023 after policy disagreements and high-profile public breaks. Delgado publicly called for President Biden to step aside and demanded Mayor Eric Adams’s resignation, positions that Hochul rejected. In response, Hochul removed Delgado’s state-issued devices, revoked office permissions, reassigned his staff, and also led to his removal from key meetings.
Governor Hochul has not directly addressed Delgado’s campaign announcement but continues to receive firm backing from party leadership. Meghan Meehan-Draper, executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, issued a statement calling Hochul “a proven leader” and said the DGA was “100 percent” behind her reelection. She added, “For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong.”
