Latest news with #DemocraticGovernorsAssociation
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Antonio Delgado lauches bid to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026 Democratic primary
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has launched a Democratic primary bid against Gov. Kathy Hochul just a few months after making a public break from her and laying the groundwork for a challenge. Delgado posted a video announcing his campaign just before 5 p.m. on Monday, June 2, giving viewers a quick sketch of his background and samples of his recent speaking appearances. Those state-crossing speeches he has made at Democratic rallies and protests had made it appear increasingly likely he would enter the 2026 race. "Listen, the powerful and well-connected have their champions," Delgado concludes in the video's voiceover, echoing the populist theme he has been sounding in his talks. "I'm running for governor to be yours." Delgado is a 48-year-old former lawyer and congressman who was serving his second House term when Hochul tapped him to be her running mate in 2022. He's a Schenectady native who had been working as a litigator when he moved back to upstate New York shortly before launching his successful bid to unseat Republican Rep. John Faso in the 2018 election. After nearly two years in the background as lieutenant governor, Delgado started carving out his own profile last July by calling for President Joe Biden to end his re-election bid, putting him at odds with Hochul. He made his break from her more explicit in February by announcing he would not run for re-election as lieutenant governor in 2026. He still holds that largely ceremonial office and will remain there until the end of next year unless he steps aside. Hochul, 66, is running for a second full term next year. She's a former lieutenant governor herself who ascended to the top office when Andrew Cuomo resigned in August 2021 amid sexual harassment claims that he denies. (Cuomo is now the frontrunner in a June 24 Democratic primary for New York City mayor.) Hochul's campaign responded on Monday by citing a pair of strong statements others made in her support after Delgado's announcement. One came from the Democratic Governors Association, which called her a "proven leader" and listed a string of priorities she accomplished in this year's budget, including an income-tax cut and ban on student smart-phone use during school. "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 up and down the ballot in 2026," the statement read. "For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong.' Hochul's poll numbers are lukewarm, but she has held huge leads over both Delgado and Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres in Siena College polls that asked about those three candidates competing in a hypothetical primary. Both Delgado and Torres — who has not entered the race — remain little known among Democratic voters statewide. Re-election prospects: Hochul is running for NY governor again in 2026. What are her biggest hurdles to winning? On the Republican side, Reps. Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik are both mulling bids for governor in 2026, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has been viewed as another potential candidate. Stefanik ripped Hochul in a statement after Delgado's announcement, saying it showed "she has lost support not just from Republicans and Independents, but Democrat New Yorkers as well." "It is time for new leadership to save New York from the decades of catastrophic failed policies of single-party Democrat rule," she said. Rep. Pat Ryan, the Ulster County Democrat who won Delgado's vacated House seat in a 2022 special election, quickly chimed in on social media with words of support for Hochul. "Governor Hochul has delivered over and over for the Hudson Valley — bringing down housing costs, bolstering public safety, cleaning up our drinking water, and more," Ryan wrote in his X post. "She's hard-working. She's a person of integrity. And she's a fighter." Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network. Reach him at cmckenna@ This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY governor election: Antonio Delgado announces Democratic primary bid
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
First he snubbed her, now he wants her job. Hochul's deputy launching bid for governor.
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's No. 2 — Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado — has long had designs on her job and plans to launch his long-shot bid to unseat her Tuesday, his spokesperson told POLITICO. Delgado previewed the announcement in a video released Monday that includes images of him in New York City speaking with people and calling for 'universal health care' and 'universal pre-K.' He also pledged to fight 'the Trump administration's attacks' on deep blue New York. 'The powerful and well connected have their champions,' he said in the video. 'I'm running for governor to be yours.' A Hochul campaign spokesperson declined to comment. The Democratic Governors Association in a statement praised Hochul's record and pledged to support her. '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 up and down the ballot in 2026,' DGA executive director Meghan Meehan-Draper said. 'For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong.' The Hudson Valley Democrat has been reaching out to Black elected officials to make his pitch, including leaders in Harlem and Brooklyn, four people familiar with his plans told POLITICO. One Democrat said Delgado is presenting Hochul as a weak top-of-the-ticket candidate who would hurt down-ballot contenders. Delgado is formalizing his campaign for governor four months after declining to endorse Hochul's reelection bid. But he snubbed her well before then, breaking with her last year by calling for President Joe Biden and then New York City Mayor Eric Adams to step down. Delgado, a moderate former House member who briefly had a rap career, holds a largely ceremonial role as Hochul's deputy. The responsibilities have conventionally included lower-stakes appearances to boost the governor while presiding over the state Senate. But Delgado has been on a de facto campaign tour of the state in recent months, hosting town halls and visiting churches to get his name out. He didn't reference Hochul once when he spoke Sunday from the pulpit of a predominantly Black church in Brooklyn. 'If we don't have moral leadership in a democracy, what do you think is going to happen to the democracy? It will collapse on itself,' Delgado told the congregation at Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. 'If you can't tell, I'm ready to make a change,' he went on to light applause, 'and I just want to ask you to pray for me.' Challenging a sitting governor is a difficult task. Hochul ascended to the office in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo's resignation. She quickly inherited the trappings of power that fall to chief executives in New York, including support from politically influential labor unions and a long line of donors eager to contribute to her campaign. Despite her middling poll numbers, Hochul is a formidable fundraiser. The governor in January reported $15.5 million in her campaign account and has raised money throughout the year. During the 2024 election cycle, Hochul built up the state Democratic Party's infrastructure, which she is expected to leverage for her re-election next year. Delgado had $968,751 in cash on hand, according to his January filing. The next report is not due until July. Hochul handily defeated two Democratic primary challengers in 2022 when she ran for a full term. She received more than 67 percent of the vote; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi received less than 20 percent each. Delgado remains largely unknown to most voters, a common problem for anyone who serves in the low-profile lieutenant governor's post. A Siena College poll in May found 58 percent of voters had no opinion of him or didn't know him. A Schenectady native and resident of the exurban Hudson Valley region, he does not come from a population center like New York City or the immediate suburbs — often a prerequisite for statewide success. Delgado is part of a long line of lieutenant governors who have chafed in the powerless office. The last sitting No. 2 to challenge a sitting governor was in 1998, when Betsy McCaughey Ross launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat then-Gov. George Pataki. Delgado has spent much of the year in even more governmental irrelevance than is normal for the job. After announcing he would not run again with Hochul — and hinting he would challenge her — the Hochul administration stripped him of his Capitol office space, staff and email access. The lieutenant governor will be up against Hochul's name recognition and fundraising strength in the primary one year from now. The incumbent governor isn't highly popular but she's formidable enough. A Siena College poll from May showed 46 percent of Democrats would support Hochul in a gubernatorial primary, compared to 12 percent for Delgado and 10 percent for Rep. Ritchie Torres, another potential challenger who says he'll make his decision after the New York City mayoral primary this month. On the Republican side, potential candidates for governor next year include Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
First he snubbed her, now he wants her job. Hochul's deputy launching bid for governor.
NEW YORK — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's No. 2 — Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado — has long had designs on her job and plans to launch his long-shot bid to unseat her Tuesday, his spokesperson told POLITICO. Delgado previewed the announcement in a video released Monday that includes images of him in New York City speaking with people and calling for 'universal health care' and 'universal pre-K.' He also pledged to fight 'the Trump administration's attacks' on deep blue New York. 'The powerful and well connected have their champions,' he said in the video. 'I'm running for governor to be yours.' A Hochul campaign spokesperson declined to comment. The Democratic Governors Association in a statement praised Hochul's record and pledged to support her. '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 up and down the ballot in 2026,' DGA executive director Meghan Meehan-Draper said. 'For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong.' The Hudson Valley Democrat has been reaching out to Black elected officials to make his pitch, including leaders in Harlem and Brooklyn, four people familiar with his plans told POLITICO. One Democrat said Delgado is presenting Hochul as a weak top-of-the-ticket candidate who would hurt down-ballot contenders. Delgado is formalizing his campaign for governor four months after declining to endorse Hochul's reelection bid. But he snubbed her well before then, breaking with her last year by calling for President Joe Biden and then New York City Mayor Eric Adams to step down. Delgado, a moderate former House member who briefly had a rap career, holds a largely ceremonial role as Hochul's deputy. The responsibilities have conventionally included lower-stakes appearances to boost the governor while presiding over the state Senate. But Delgado has been on a de facto campaign tour of the state in recent months, hosting town halls and visiting churches to get his name out. He didn't reference Hochul once when he spoke Sunday from the pulpit of a predominantly Black church in Brooklyn. 'If we don't have moral leadership in a democracy, what do you think is going to happen to the democracy? It will collapse on itself,' Delgado told the congregation at Mt. Ollie Baptist Church. 'If you can't tell, I'm ready to make a change,' he went on to light applause, 'and I just want to ask you to pray for me.' Challenging a sitting governor is a difficult task. Hochul ascended to the office in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo's resignation. She quickly inherited the trappings of power that fall to chief executives in New York, including support from politically influential labor unions and a long line of donors eager to contribute to her campaign. Despite her middling poll numbers, Hochul is a formidable fundraiser. The governor in January reported $15.5 million in her campaign account and has raised money throughout the year. During the 2024 election cycle, Hochul built up the state Democratic Party's infrastructure, which she is expected to leverage for her re-election next year. Delgado had $968,751 in cash on hand, according to his January filing. The next report is not due until July. Hochul handily defeated two Democratic primary challengers in 2022 when she ran for a full term. She received more than 67 percent of the vote; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi received less than 20 percent each. Delgado remains largely unknown to most voters, a common problem for anyone who serves in the low-profile lieutenant governor's post. A Siena College poll in May found 58 percent of voters had no opinion of him or didn't know him. A Schenectady native and resident of the exurban Hudson Valley region, he does not come from a population center like New York City or the immediate suburbs — often a prerequisite for statewide success. Delgado is part of a long line of lieutenant governors who have chafed in the powerless office. The last sitting No. 2 to challenge a sitting governor was in 1998, when Betsy McCaughey Ross launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat then-Gov. George Pataki. Delgado has spent much of the year in even more governmental irrelevance than is normal for the job. After announcing he would not run again with Hochul — and hinting he would challenge her — the Hochul administration stripped him of his Capitol office space, staff and email access. The lieutenant governor will be up against Hochul's name recognition and fundraising strength in the primary one year from now. The incumbent governor isn't highly popular but she's formidable enough. A Siena College poll from May showed 46 percent of Democrats would support Hochul in a gubernatorial primary, compared to 12 percent for Delgado and 10 percent for Rep. Ritchie Torres, another potential challenger who says he'll make his decision after the New York City mayoral primary this month. On the Republican side, potential candidates for governor next year include Reps. Elise Stefanik and Mike Lawler and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul gets a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado
New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado launched a Democratic primary challenge against Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday, saying in a video announcing his campaign that the state needs 'bold, decisive, transformational leadership.' "Let's not drop the ball on figuring out what it is we're fighting for. We believe in facts, truth, liberty, the rule of law and justice for all," Delgado said. "Listen, the powerful and well-connected have their champions. I'm running for governor to be yours." Delgado did not mention Hochul by name in the video, but he told The New York Times, 'People are hurting and New York deserves better leadership.' Hochul selected Delgado to be lieutenant governor and her running mate in May 2022, after then-New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested on charges related to campaign finance fraud. Delgado fueled speculation he could challenge Hochul when he announced in February that he would not serve as Hochul's running mate as she seeks another term next year. Delgado and Hochul have had some high-profile disagreements, including when Delgado called on then-President Joe Biden to end his 2024 re-election bid and said embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams should resign. Delgado was first elected to the House in 2018, winning a crowded primary that year and going on to defeat GOP Rep. John Faso in a competitive district in the Hudson Valley. Democratic Governors Association executive director Meghan Meehan-Draper responded to Delgado's announcement by saying the DGA is "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 up and down the ballot in 2026." "For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong," Meehan-Draper said. Republicans are eyeing New York as a possible pickup opportunity next year, despite its Democratic lean. New York saw the largest swing towards President Donald Trump of any state in the country last year, as Trump made gains in other blue states. But the state is still an uphill climb for Republicans, as Trump lost New York by 13 points last year. GOP Reps. Mike Lawler and Elise Stefanik have been considering running for governor. Stefanik responded to Delgado's announcement Monday by saying in a statement that Hochul's "own Lieutenant Governor that she hand picked is now primarying her which shows she has lost support not just from Republicans and Independents, but Democrat New Yorkers as well." "It is time for new leadership to save New York from the decades of catastrophic failed policies of single-party Democrat rule," Stefanik added. Lawler also responded to Delgado's announcement in a post on X, writing in part that Hochul "must be defeated in 2026 and replaced with a Republican Governor who can restore balance and common sense to Albany."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Whitmer: Republican Medicaid cuts will be detrimental for Michiganders
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (at bottom), joined Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (top left) and New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham (top right) on a virtual press call organized by the Democratic Governors Association to discuss the effects of Medicaid cuts. May 21, 2025 | Screenshot Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday evening that the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives' budget bill – which passed Thursday morning – would have disastrous consequences for 2.6 million Michiganders. The dire message came during a virtual press call organized by the Democratic Governors Association on Wednesday. Whitmer was joined by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The call was meant to highlight the potentially damaging effects of making deep cuts to Medicaid, which has been a part of ongoing negotiations among Republican appropriators in the U.S. House of Representatives. Each member of Michigan's Republican congressional delegation voted for the bill, while the Democratic members of the delegation voted against it. Whitmer said that among the 2.6 million Michiganders who could lose access to their coverage if the cuts go through, nearly one million were children. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'They're our neighbors. They're people who are battling cancer, veterans who served our country, who are disabled, the family next door, and the GOP is rushing to terminate Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans as fast as possible,' Whitmer said. 'They don't want us to see all that is contained in that bill, and blasting through these cuts is going to hurt those who can least afford care, and won't do anything to lower our health care costs. In fact, they'll rise for everyone.' Whitmer said the Republican U.S. House budget currently in the works would make some of the largest cuts to Medicaid in the country's history. She added that the cuts would cause providers to close their doors, a potential lack of available rural health care and a reduction in the quality of medical service in Michigan – on top of the possibility of terminated coverage for children and post-partum women. 'Make no mistake, families in Michigan and all across the country are going to feel the effects of this bill in our day-to-day lives,' Whitmer said. 'I'm talking to Michiganders every day. I'm hearing their stories. … We should be working across the aisle to make health care better and easier to afford, kind of like we've done here in Michigan.' Whitmer touted the bipartisan effort to enact the Healthy Michigan Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid to more than a million people. Last year, the state also codified portions of the Affordable Care Act into Michigan. 'We wanted to protect Michiganders with pre-existing conditions and let kids stay on their parents' insurance until they're 26, and we wanted to guarantee essential services and insurance plans,' she said. If Republicans in Congress truly wanted to see improvements in health costs and help for more families to get coverage, Whitmer said she was all for it and was willing to work with them. But that's not what the budget bill does, she noted. 'It does the opposite,' Whitmer said. 'Families in my state and all across the country are going to pay the price for it, and that's why we're together, united, fighting for the people in our country and our ability to get health care.' Whitmer was asked about U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township), one of the front runners on the Michigan Republican side of the 2026 gubernatorial race to replace her. James voted to move the bill out of committee and voted for the bill on Thursday. The congressman has been steadfast in his belief that the bill and its cuts to Medicaid would help reduce fraud, waste and abuse. Michigan's governor was asked if voters from her state were willing to accept that argument. Whitmer said that she worked with Republican former Gov. Rick Snyder to expand the state's Medicaid program when she was the Michigan Senate minority leader before running for governor herself. She said Snyder, a self-professed 'nerd' for details, understood the math involved and what it meant to have access to these types of programs. 'It motivated him to work across the aisle. Almost a million people in Michigan got health care because of that work,' Whitmer said. 'It is shocking to me that we are in this moment where if there was one [Republican] congressperson with a backbone from each of our four states, they could single handedly stop this from happening by working together.' In that vein, she called on James to stand up to his caucus and be a hero. 'He says he wants my job. Well, you know what? I guarantee he doesn't want it if he's throwing 700,000 people off of health care in the state, running hospitals into the ground,' Whitmer said. 'He could be a hero here. … Michiganders expect and want leaders who are going to put their interests first. And so this talking point about fraud, we're all against fraud; 100 percent of us are against fraud, and we know there's always more ways that we can help find some savings and make government work better. But that's not what this bill is all about. This bill is about terminating healthcare for Americans in order to pay for a tax break for the ultra wealthy.'
