Delgado Launches Campaign Against NY Gov. Kathy Hochul \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado announced he will run against Gov. Kathy Hochul in the 2026 Democratic primary. His decision follows months of tension and public disagreements with Hochul over leadership and party direction. Delgado promises “bold, transformational leadership” for the state.
Quick Looks
- Lt. Gov. Delgado formally launches 2026 gubernatorial campaign
- Campaign video calls for “bold, decisive transformational leadership”
- Delgado has publicly clashed with Hochul on major political issues
- Declined to run for reelection as Hochul’s running mate
- Hochul sidelined Delgado’s role following his public dissent
- Delgado previously urged Biden to step aside for 2024
- Also called for Mayor Eric Adams’ resignation over corruption probe
- Hochul defended Adams and distanced herself from Delgado’s comments
- Delgado served in U.S. House before becoming lieutenant governor
- Rep. Elise Stefanik responds, signaling GOP readiness for 2026 challenge
Deep Look
Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado has officially launched his campaign to unseat New York Governor Kathy Hochul, setting the stage for a dramatic and deeply personal Democratic primary in 2026. The announcement, made via a brief but pointed campaign video on Monday, marks the culmination of months of mounting tension between the two state leaders.
In the video, Delgado positioned himself as a bold alternative to the status quo, introducing himself to voters by highlighting his background and calling for sweeping changes in state leadership. “What we need right here in New York is bold, decisive transformational leadership,” he said. “The powerful and well-connected have their champions. I’m running for governor to be yours.”
Delgado, a former U.S. Representative from upstate New York, was appointed by Hochul as lieutenant governor in 2022 following the resignation of her previous deputy due to federal corruption charges. But what began as a strategic partnership quickly soured, and by early 2024, Delgado had made clear he would not join Hochul on the reelection ticket. His decision, and increasingly independent political stance, led Hochul’s office to gradually sideline him from official duties.
Tensions between Delgado and Hochul have been brewing in the open for over a year. A key flashpoint came during the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election when Delgado broke ranks with much of the Democratic establishment by calling on President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid. Hochul, in contrast, was one of Biden’s most vocal and loyal surrogates. Their opposing positions became a clear reflection of a larger ideological and generational divide within the Democratic Party.
After the election, Delgado penned an op-ed in The New York Times, writing that Democrats were “ready for the next generation” and insisting the party could not move forward “with the same politicians telling the same old stories.” Though he didn’t name Hochul directly, the implications were unmistakable.
Their rift widened further in early 2025 when Delgado openly called for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a now-dismissed federal corruption investigation. Hochul, on the other hand, took a far more reserved approach, refusing to publicly pressure Adams. In a rare rebuke, Hochul’s office issued a statement clarifying, “Lieutenant Governor Delgado does not now and has not ever spoken on behalf of this administration.”
These public breakaways from the governor’s platform and inner circle laid the foundation for Delgado’s challenge. Now that it’s official, the primary contest is expected to test not only personal loyalty within the state Democratic Party, but also its ideological direction.
Hochul, who made history as the first woman elected governor of New York in 2022, faces her own set of political vulnerabilities. Despite pushing forward on issues such as gun control and housing reform, she has battled criticism from progressives and centrists alike over crime, economic policy, and political alliances. Her decision to tap Delgado as her lieutenant governor was initially seen as an attempt to shore up support in upstate regions and among younger, more diverse voters.
But now, that move may backfire as Delgado presents himself as the very change agent those same constituencies crave. While he has never directly attacked Hochul by name, his campaign message draws a stark contrast. His messaging speaks to voters disillusioned with establishment politics and seeking generational renewal within the party.
The political ramifications of Delgado’s entry into the race were felt immediately. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican weighing her own bid for governor, released a blistering statement: “Let’s FIRE HOCHUL in 2026. Her own lieutenant governor that she handpicked is now primarying her—which shows she has lost support not just from Republicans and Independents, but Democrat New Yorkers as well.”
Delgado’s campaign launch now sets up a potential three-way battle between himself, Hochul, and a yet-to-be-confirmed Republican challenger. Analysts expect the Democratic primary to be especially bruising, as Delgado tries to consolidate progressive and youth support while Hochul leans on institutional backing and endorsements from the party’s old guard.
Meanwhile, Delgado’s political experience—serving in Congress and statewide office—gives him credibility, while his rhetorical focus on “transformational leadership” reflects an effort to tap into national frustrations with political stagnation.
For New York voters, the 2026 gubernatorial race promises to be more than just a referendum on Kathy Hochul—it may become a defining moment for the future of the Democratic Party in the nation’s fourth most populous state.
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