Delgado Challenges Hochul in 2026 Gubernatorial Primary, Emphasizing Afro-Latino Identity and Working-Class Roots

Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado officially launched his campaign Monday to unseat Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2026 Democratic primary, bringing simmering tensions between New York’s top two Democrats into full view.

A still from Antony Delgado's video announcement on X that he is running for Governor of New York. 

In a campaign video released across social media, Delgado pledged to bring “bold, decisive, transformational leadership” to Albany, highlighting his identity as an Afro-Latino, a former hip-hop artist, and a man of faith. The message struck a populist tone, rooted in Delgado’s working-class upbringing.

“The powerful and well-connected have their champions,” Delgado said. “I’m running for governor to be yours.”

Delgado’s announcement follows months of political friction with Hochul. Earlier this year, he declared he would not run for reelection on her ticket, prompting speculation about a primary challenge. Tensions intensified when Delgado publicly called on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a federal investigation—something Hochul declined to echo. He also broke ranks with her by urging President Joe Biden to step aside for the 2024 election, while Hochul has remained a staunch Biden ally.

Born in Schenectady to a multicultural family, Delgado, 48, proudly identifies as Afro-Latino, tracing his heritage to African American, Cape Verdean, Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan roots. Throughout his political career, he has emphasized the importance of representation and diversity in leadership.

Delgado made history in 2018 as the first person of African American or Latino descent elected to Congress from Upstate New York. In 2022, Hochul appointed him as New York’s first Latino statewide officeholder when she selected him as lieutenant governor.

His resume includes a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, where he played Division I basketball, a master’s from The Queen’s College at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and a law degree from Harvard. Before politics, Delgado pursued a career in socially conscious hip-hop under the stage name “AD the Voice” and later worked as a litigator in New York City.

As the 2026 race unfolds, polls show growing discontent with Hochul’s leadership, with many New Yorkers indicating a desire for new voices. Republican contenders—like U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik—are also positioning themselves for a heated general election.

Delgado’s candidacy now sets the stage for a potentially bruising Democratic primary, reflecting growing generational, ideological, and cultural divides within the party—and raising the stakes for Hochul’s hold on power.