What They Are Saying: Congressman Antonio Delgado Appointed as Lieutenant Governor and Announced as Democratic Nominee

NEW YORK – Congressman Antonio Delgado today was appointed as lieutenant governor and announced as the Democratic nominee. Joining Governor Hochul on a history-making ticket, Congressman Delgado has the experience and work ethic to deliver for New Yorkers.

The congressman is a battle-tested campaigner who successfully won a competitive primary in 2018 and two general elections in New York’s 19th Congressional District – flipping the swing district from red to blue.

What New Yorkers are saying about this historic ticket:

• Associated Press: “Hochul touted fellow Delgado’s work in Congress on bills to help veterans, small business and those with student loan debt. Delgado, a Rhodes Scholar who briefly pursued a rap career after earning a Harvard law degree, had campaigned on universal access to Medicare, creating good jobs and eliminating tax loopholes for the rich.”
• CBS New York: “’I am proud to announce I am appointing Congressman Antonio Delgado, an outstanding leader and public servant, as Lieutenant Governor of New York. I look forward to working with him to usher in a new era of fairness, equity, and prosperity for communities across the State,’ Hochul wrote on Twitter.” 
• City & State: “Delgado would be the first Latino to hold statewide office in New York. 

A moderate who has largely stayed under the radar since his election, Delgado’s politics would compliment Hochul’s while racially and geographically balancing out her ticket. During his time in office, Delgado has prided himself in visiting every corner of his sprawling district. He has had 18 bills signed into law by presidents from both parties, which he has touted as proof of his bipartisan bonafides, with his most prominent accomplishments focused on aid to rural farmers, veterans and localities. Delgado has also focused on issues related to rural farmers, expanding broadband and green energy.”

• CNN: In Congress, Delgado serves as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit, and also has seats on the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Transportation and infrastructure. He has a record of bipartisanship, according to his biography, which said that in this Congress, nearly 90% of the legislation he’s co-sponsored is bipartisan.”
• Gothamist: “Gov. Kathy Hochul moved to fill the vacant lieutenant governor position on Tuesday, tapping Rep. Antonio Delgado to take the role. That appointment makes the congressman the second-highest ranking state official in New York. He is also expected to be her running mate in the upcoming election.”
• Newsday: “We share a belief in working together to get things done for New Yorkers, and Rep. Delgado has an incredible record of doing just that in Congress,” Hochul said. “With Antonio Delgado by my side serving as lieutenant governor, we will both make history — and make a difference.”
• New York Post: “Mayor Eric Adams labeled Delgado a ‘rising star.’ ‘Antonio Delgado is a rising star who knows how to fight for New Yorkers in our cities, suburbs and rural communities,’ he tweeted. ‘He’s an outstanding choice for Lieutenant Governor who will #GetStuffDone for our city and state.’”
• New York Times: “In his own remarks at the State Capitol, Mr. Delgado said he was well positioned to represent New York City and the entire state, adding that he wanted voters to hold him accountable. ‘Upstate, downstate, doesn’t matter,’ he said. ‘We all want the same things: security, family and opportunity.’”
• Spectrum: “He said in his new role he wants to contribute to the ‘need to reconnect’ and ‘need to heal’ after more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘and I want to be a part of that healing process.’ His selection was praised by labor organizations like the New York State AFL-CIO, whose president Mario Cilento said will strengthen the administration.”
• Telemundo: “Delgado, un demócrata, representa el distrito 19 del Congreso de Nueva York, que incluye Hudson Valley y Catskills. Afrolatino, es la primera persona de color en representar el norte del estado de Nueva York en el Congreso y es miembro de los Caucus del Congreso tanto negros como hispanos. Los latinos constituyen aproximadamente una quinta parte de la población, pero aún no han sido elegidos para un cargo estatal en Nueva York o para un cargo municipal en la Ciudad de Nueva York.”