Antonio Delgado

Last updated

Lacey Schwartz
​
(m. 2011)​
Antonio Delgado
LG Antonio Delgado Portrait.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Lieutenant Governor of New York
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 25, 2022
Children2
Education

Antonio Ramon Delgado (born January 28, 1977) is an American attorney and politician serving as the lieutenant governor of New York since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Delgado served as the U.S. representative from New York's 19th congressional district from 2019 to 2022. He is the first person of either African–American or Latino descent to be elected to Congress from Upstate New York [1] and the first Latino to hold statewide office in New York. [2]

Contents

On May 3, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she had appointed Delgado to the then-vacant office of lieutenant governor of New York. Delgado was sworn in on May 25, 2022. On November 8, 2022, Delgado was elected to a full term as lieutenant governor. In February 2025, following public disagreements with Hochul, Delgado announced he would not seek re-election as lieutenant governor in 2026.

Early life, education, and early career

Delgado was born on January 28, 1977, in Schenectady, New York, [3] to Tony Delgado and Thelma P. Hill. [4] He is African American and has Cape Verdean and Latino ancestry. [5] Delgado has three younger brothers and grew up in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood. [6]

Delgado attended Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School and played for the school's basketball team. In his senior year, The Daily Gazette named Delgado to its all-area second team. He then enrolled at Colgate University and played for the Colgate Raiders men's basketball team alongside future Golden State Warriors player Adonal Foyle. [7] [8] Delgado graduated from Colgate in 1999 [7] and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at The Queen's College, Oxford, from which he received a Master of Arts in 2001. [9] In 2005, Delgado graduated from Harvard Law School. [10]

After law school, Delgado moved to Los Angeles in 2005 and worked in the music industry. [10] In 2007, he released a socially conscious rap album under the stage name "AD the Voice". [11] [12] He then worked as a litigator in the New York office of the law firm Akin Gump. [13]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

In the 2018 elections, Delgado ran for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 19th congressional district . He defeated six other candidates in the Democratic primary election and faced incumbent Republican John Faso in the November 6 general election. [14]

During the campaign, Delgado criticized Faso for voting against the Affordable Care Act. [15] Faso, alongside the Congressional Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee, attacked Delgado's former rap career, [16] [17] calling Delgado as a "big-city rapper". [18] The New York Times Editorial Board condemned the attacks as "race-baiting". [19]

Delgado won the general election with 132,001 votes to Faso's 124,408. [20] [21] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2019. [22]

2020

Delgado ran for a second term in 2020. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican nominee Kyle Van De Water, an attorney and former trustee of the village of Millbrook, New York, [23] in the general election with 192,100 votes to Van De Water's 151,475. [24]

Tenure

Delgado with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Rensselaer County after 2021 flooding 20210715-OSEC-AD-0003 (51315765648).jpg
Delgado with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Rensselaer County after 2021 flooding

Delgado is the first person of either African–American or Latino descent to be elected to Congress from Upstate New York. [1]

Delgado had 18 bills signed into law as a member of Congress, including the Small Business Relief Accessibility Act, the Strengthening Financial Aid for Students Act, the Improving Benefits for Underserved Veterans Act, and the Direct Support for Communities Act. [25] He voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2019 [26] and again in 2021. [27]

During his congressional tenure, Delgado voted in line with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. [28]

Delgado left office in May 2022 to become lieutenant governor of New York. [29]

Committee assignments

Lieutenant Governor of New York

Delgado speaking at one of his first events as Lieutenant Governor of New York MTA Worker Assault Legislation (52176492607).jpg
Delgado speaking at one of his first events as Lieutenant Governor of New York

On May 3, 2022, Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigned from office after being indicted on federal bribery and wire fraud charges. Later that day, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Delgado lieutenant governor of New York. [31] [32] [33] He was sworn in on May 25. [34] Delgado is the first Latino to hold statewide office in New York. [2]

Delgado won the Democratic primary election for lieutenant governor with 58% of the vote and appeared with Hochul on the general election ballot. [35] Hochul and Delgado won the general election, defeating the Republican ticket of Lee Zeldin and Alison Esposito. [36]

On July 2, 2024, Hochul announced that she would run for reelection in 2026 with Delgado as her running mate. [37]

On July 10, 2024, Delgado called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election. [38] His position on this issue conflicted with Hochul's, as she continued to support Biden's candidacy. [39]

On February 13, 2025, Delgado called for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign from office. Following Delgado's statement, Hochul's office said that Delgado "does not now and has not ever spoken on behalf of this administration". City & State New York reported that the "legal and leadership crisis in New York City" was "exposing the rift" between Hochul and Delgado. [40]

On February 24, 2025, Delgado announced that he would not seek re-election as lieutenant governor in 2026 and would explore other options. Hochul's office responded that Hochul "had already begun taking steps to identify a new running mate for 2026". [41]

Electoral history

Democratic primary results, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Antonio Delgado 8,576 22.1
Democratic Pat Ryan 6,94117.9
Democratic Gareth Rhodes6,89017.7
Democratic Brian Flynn5,24513.5
Democratic Jeff Beals4,99112.9
Democratic David Clegg4,25711.0
Democratic Erin Collier1,9084.9
Total votes38,808 100.0
New York's 19th congressional district, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Antonio Delgado135,58247.1
Working Families Antonio Delgado9,2373.2
Women's Equality Antonio Delgado3,0541.1
TotalAntonio Delgado147,87351.4
Republican John Faso112,30439.0
Conservative John Faso16,9065.9
Independence John Faso3,0091.0
Reform John Faso6540.2
Total John Faso (incumbent)132,87346.1
Green Steven Greenfield4,3131.5
Independent Diane Neal 2,8351.0
Total votes287,894 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
New York's 19th congressional district, 2020 [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Antonio Delgado168,28148.0
Working Families Antonio Delgado22,9696.6
SAM Antonio Delgado8500.2
Total Antonio Delgado (incumbent) 192,100 54.8
Republican Kyle Van De Water151,47543.2
Libertarian Victoria Alexander4,2241.2
Green Steve Greenfield2,7990.8
Total votes350,598 100.0
Democratic hold
2022 New York gubernatorial election [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic
  • Kathy Hochul
  • Antonio Delgado
2,879,09248.77%−7.39%
Working Families
  • Kathy Hochul
  • Antonio Delgado
261,3234.43%+2.55%
Total
3,140,41553.20%−6.42%
Republican
  • Lee Zeldin
  • Alison Esposito
2,449,39441.49%+9.89%
Conservative
  • Lee Zeldin
  • Alison Esposito
313,1875.31%+1.15%
Total
2,762,58146.80%+10.59%
Total votes5,788,802 100.0%
Turnout 5,902,99647.74%
Registered electors 12,124,242
Democratic hold

Personal life

Delgado married Lacey Schwartz in 2011. [4] They have twin sons and live in Rhinebeck, north of Poughkeepsie. [7]

Delgado self-identifies as Afro-Latino. [43] He is African American and has Cape Verdean and Latino ancestry. [5] Delgado has said that he has Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan ancestry on his mother's side. [43] [44]

Delgado is 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall. [45]

See also

Explanatory notes

    References

    1. 1 2 Solender, Andrew. "Democrat Antonio Delgado has defeated Republican incumbent John Faso". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    2. 1 2 Price, Michelle L. "Delgado becomes 1st New York Lt. governor with Latino roots". ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
    3. ↑ "Candidate Conversation - Antonio Delgado (D) | News & Analysis". Inside Elections. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
    4. 1 2 "Lacey Schwartz, Antonio Delgado: Weddings". The New York Times. September 25, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    5. 1 2 "Hispanic Heritage: Antonio Delgado's road to politics". news10.com. October 4, 2023.
    6. ↑ Jake Lahut (July 29, 2018). "Humble roots to the 'big tent' - Schenectady native Delgado has his eyes on Congress". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    7. 1 2 3 Jim Schiltz (May 16, 2018). "Congressional candidate Delgado played basketball, too". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    8. ↑ Solender, Andrew. "Antonio Delgado clinches Democratic nomination, makes history in NY19". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    9. ↑ Washington, K. C. (August 4, 2019). "Antonio Delgado (1977- ) •" . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
    10. 1 2 Hamilton, Matthew (June 5, 2017). "Democrat Antonio Delgado makes NY-19 bid official - Capitol Confidential". Blog.timesunion.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    11. ↑ "He's a Rhodes Scholar. The G.O.P. Keeps Calling Him a 'Big-City Rapper.'". The New York Times. October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    12. ↑ Grady, Constance (September 12, 2018). "Republican TV ad criticizes Antonio Delgado's rap career". Vox. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    13. ↑ Bragg, Chris (May 12, 2018). "Faso opponent new to the 19th District". Times Union . Albany, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
    14. ↑ Audrey Russo (June 27, 2018). "Rhinebeck lawyer Antonio Delgado declares victory in 19th District Democratic primary". Utica, N.Y.: WKTV. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
    15. ↑ Pramuk, Jacob (November 6, 2018). "Democrat Delgado projected to unseat GOP Rep. John Faso in New York House district". CNBC. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
    16. ↑ "House candidate's 'offensive' rap lyrics called out in attack ad". New York Post. August 17, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    17. ↑ "A new attack ad says Antonio Delgado's rap career is "offensive"". Vox. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    18. ↑ Degraffinried, Natalie. "Republicans Lose NY House Seat to Democrat They Called a 'Big-City Rapper,' Which Is Now a Slur, I Guess". The Root. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    19. ↑ "Opinion | John Faso Is Race-Baiting His Opponent". The New York Times. July 19, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
    20. ↑ "NY Election Night Results". www.elections.ny.gov.
    21. ↑ "Rhodes Scholar Antonio Delgado is Headed to Congress". Ebony. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
    22. ↑ Zangla, Ariél (January 3, 2019). "Delgado sworn in as Mid-Hudson Valley congressman, says ending partial shutdown is of 'utmost importance'". Daily Freeman. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
    23. ↑ Kirby, Paul. "Republican Kyle Van De Water of Millbrook joins race for 19th Congressional District seat". Daily Freeman. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
    24. 1 2 "2020 Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
    25. ↑ "U.S. Rep Antonio Delgado Is NY's New Lieutenant Governor, Hochul Says". nbcnewyork.com. May 3, 2022.
    26. ↑ Cai, Weiyi; Lai, K. K. Rebecca; Parlapiano, Alicia; White, Jeremy; Buchanan, Larry (December 18, 2019). "Impeachment Results: How Democrats and Republicans Voted" – via NYTimes.com.
    27. ↑ Spector, Joseph (January 13, 2021). "How New York House members voted on impeaching Donald Trump". Democrat and Chronicle.
    28. ↑ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (January 3, 2023). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
    29. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (June 20, 2022). "Delgado quit Congress to be Hochul's No. 2. Now he actually needs to win". POLITICO.
    30. ↑ "Committees and Caucuses". U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado Representing the 19th District of New York. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
    31. ↑ Mahoney, Bill; Gronewald, Anna (May 3, 2022). "Hochul picks Delgado to be New York lieutenant governor, taking him out of House race". Politico.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
    32. ↑ DeLine, Jamie (May 4, 2022). "Congressman Antonio Delgado Chosen to Be Next Lieutenant Governor". WTEN . Retrieved May 4, 2022. Although an exact date has not been set, Governor Hochul said he will be sworn in sometime this month.
    33. ↑ Hochul, Kathy (May 3, 2022). "Governor Hochul Announces Appointment of Representative Antonio Delgado as Lieutenant Governor". Governor of New York . Retrieved May 3, 2022.
    34. ↑ Reisman, Nick. "Antonio Delgado will be sworn in as New York lieutenant governor on Wednesday". Spectrum News. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
    35. ↑ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (June 29, 2022). "Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado Fends Off Challenge From Left in N.Y. Primary". The New York Times.
    36. ↑ Lewis, Rebecca (November 8, 2022). "2022 New York governor's race general election results". City & State NY.
    37. ↑ "Hochul says she's running for another term as New York governor in 2026". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
    38. ↑ "New York Lt. Governor Delgado says Biden should end his campaign". Reuters. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
    39. ↑ Lewis, Rebecca (July 10, 2024). "In split with Hochul, Delgado calls on Biden to drop out". City & State NY.
    40. ↑ Jefferson, Austin (February 15, 2025). "Split over Adams highlights rift between Hochul and Delgado". City & State NY.
    41. ↑ Mahoney, Bill (February 24, 2025). "Delgado won't seek another term as lieutenant governor". POLITICO.
    42. ↑ "2022 General Election Governor and Lt. Governor Results". NY State Board of Elections.
    43. 1 2 Mays, Jeffery C.; Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (May 21, 2022). "Hochul's Lt. Governor Pick Says He Is Afro-Latino. Some Latinos Object" – via NYTimes.com.
    44. ↑ Williams, Zach; Campanile, Carl (May 5, 2022). "Hochul running mate Antonio Delgado clarifies his 'Afro-Latino' roots after criticism". New York Post.
    45. ↑ Bragg, Chris (May 21, 2018). "NY-19 candidate inducted into Upstate Basketball Hall of Fame". Times Union . Archived from the original on January 8, 2019.
    U.S. House of Representatives
    Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
    from New York's 19th congressional district
    2019–2022    		Succeeded by
    Political offices
    Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of New York
    2022–present    		Incumbent
    Party political offices
    Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New York
    2022     		Most recent
    U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
    Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
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