New York Governor Kathy Hochul Faces Democratic Primary Challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado
Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul confronts primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado amid New York's escalating 2026 political battle.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is set to face an unexpected and rare primary challenge from within her own administration as Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado declared his intention to run for governor in 2026. Delgado’s decision, announced Monday, marks a significant turning point in New York Democratic politics, reflecting both personal and policy rifts that have emerged between the state’s top two executives.
Delgado, 48, launched his campaign with a sharp message aimed directly at his current boss: “New York, I’m not here to play the game. I’m here to change it. I’m running to be your next Governor.” In a campaign video, Delgado called for “bold, decisive, transformational leadership,” implicitly criticizing Hochul’s tenure. He further emphasized in a public interview that “people are hurting and New York deserves better leadership,” signaling that his campaign will focus on change and addressing voter concerns about the direction of the state.
Delgado, who made history in 2018 as the first person of African-American or Latino descent elected to Congress from Upstate New York, was appointed by Hochul in 2022 to fill the vacant lieutenant governor’s office. That appointment also made him the first Latino to hold statewide office in New York. However, the initially cooperative relationship between Hochul and Delgado has visibly deteriorated over the past year, culminating in his decision to launch a gubernatorial campaign against the sitting incumbent.
Governor Hochul, who ascended to office in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation amid scandal, narrowly won a full term in 2022, defeating Republican challenger Lee Zeldin by just over six percentage points—a closer margin than Democrats had seen in New York gubernatorial races in decades. Since then, she confirmed her intention to seek re-election in 2026. Yet, questions about her political strength abound, with recent polling indicating persistent vulnerabilities. In a Siena College poll conducted in May, while 36% of registered voters said they would support Hochul for another term, a majority—55%—expressed preference for a different candidate, representing a slide in support compared to previous months.
Notably, even among Democrats, Hochul faces skepticism. According to the same poll, just over half of Democratic voters said they’d back her re-election, while 38% preferred “someone else.” Despite those warning signs, the data showed Hochul maintaining a commanding lead over both Delgado and rumored challenger Rep. Richie Torres in the primary field, with Hochul at 46%, Delgado at 12%, and Torres at 10%.
The unusual intra-party challenge prompted swift responses from across the political spectrum. The Democratic Governors Association offered strong support for Hochul, praising her record and emphasizing party unity: “Governor Kathy Hochul is a proven leader with a strong record of delivering for New Yorkers…The Democratic Governors Association is 100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans in 2026.”
However, skepticism toward Delgado’s move was voiced by other Democrats, including Rep. Tom Suozzi, who lost a primary bid against Hochul in 2022. Suozzi publicly cautioned Delgado, suggesting his decision might not be well-timed. On the Republican side, potential gubernatorial contenders quickly seized on the spectacle, with Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Mike Lawler both labeling Hochul “the worst Governor in America” and arguing that Democratic infighting is a sign of her weakening grip on power. Both hinted at their own ambitions to win back the governor’s mansion for the GOP in 2026.
With more than two years until Election Day, this early primary challenge signals a potentially volatile and closely watched race ahead. As Hochul seeks to defend her record and rally her base, and Delgado positions himself as a bold alternative promising transformational change, the next phase of New York’s political saga is set to test the unity and resilience of the state’s Democratic Party.
