New York Governor Kathy Hochul has stripped Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado of key office spaces and reassigned much of his staff following increasing tensions. This comes after Delgado announced that he would not seek reelection alongside Hochul in 2026, fueling speculation that he may challenge her in the Democratic primary.
Hochul removed Delgado from his office on the same floor as hers in the state Capitol, removed his state-issued electronic devices, and eliminated his offices in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Though he remains lieutenant governor, his role within the administration has been significantly reduced.
The friction between Hochul and Delgado has been building for months. Delgado publicly split from Hochul on political issues, including his call for former President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 race, while Hochul remained a strong supporter. He also urged New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign as Hochul took a more measured approach. In a recent interview, Delgado emphasized his commitment to representing New Yorkers independently.
“For me, it’s very, very important for New Yorkers to know that I am their voice, that I want to be their voice and that is the only thing that I am beholden to, is the people,” Delgado said during an interview with CBS6 Albany.
Hochul’s office responded by downplaying Delgado’s departure. “Today, Antonio Delgado finally said out loud what has been obvious for quite some time: he is simply not interested in doing the job of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York,” Hochul’s communications director, Anthony Hogrebe, said. He added that the governor’s office had already begun shifting Delgado’s responsibilities elsewhere to prevent any disruption in the administration.
Delgado, who previously served as a congressman in the Hudson Valley, was appointed Lieutenant Governor by Hochul in 2022 after Brian Benjamin resigned following a federal indictment. Since taking office, Delgado has remained mainly out of the spotlight. Still, his recent comments, including an op-ed calling for new leadership within the Democratic Party, have fueled speculation about his political future.
“All options are on the table, and I will be exploring them,” Delgado said.
