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Newsweek
5 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Kathy Hochul's Chances of Losing New York Primary to Antonio Delgado: Polls
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing a primary challenge from her own second-in-command, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado, with polls showing the incumbent with an early lead more than one year out from the election. Newsweek reached out to the Delgado and Hochul campaigns for comment via email. Why It Matters The New York gubernatorial race will be a key contest for Democrats in a reliably blue state that shifted toward Republicans in last year's presidential race as the party lost ground with key voter groups such as Latino, Asian American and young voters. Delgado and Hochul will offer competing visions for the state and party on the campaign trail in hopes to win over the party's primary voters and woo back those voters to secure a convincing win against a Republican in the November general election. Despite the state's decades-long blue streak, Hochul's approval has struggled and fueled Republicans' hopes of flipping the governor mansion next year. Some Democrats believe another nominee such as Delgado could make a stronger candidate for the general election. One Democratic strategist told Newsweek Delgado is a "rising star" in the party, but that it will be difficult for him to unseat Hochul in the primary. New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado speaks at a Get Out The Vote rally on November 5, 2022 in New York City. New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a MTA board meeting in New... New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado speaks at a Get Out The Vote rally on November 5, 2022 in New York City. New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a MTA board meeting in New York City on February 26, 2025. More David;Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images What To Know Delgado, who has served as Hochul's top deputy since 2022, declared his bid on Monday, saying in a social media post he is "not here to play the game" but to "change it." Recent polls suggest that Hochul has an early lead over potential Democratic rivals. But the race is more than a year away, and there are still questions about whether other candidates, such as Representative Ritchie Torres, could jump into the race. The latest Siena College poll showed Hochul leading Delgado and Torres in a hypothetical matchup with 46 percent of the vote. Twelve percent said they would vote for Delgado and 10 percent said they would support Torres if he runs. A Data for Progress survey from March similarly found Hochul with an early lead. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they were inclined to vote for Hochul, while only 11 percent each said they would support Delgado or Torres. How Vulnerable Is Kathy Hochul? Experts Weigh In Jake Dilemani, a New York Democratic strategist and partner at Mercury, a public affairs firm, told Newsweek defeating Hochul would be no easy feat for Delgado or other Democrats. "It is incredibly difficult to beat an incumbent governor in a primary election. Antonio Delgado is a talented, rising star in the party, but Governor Hochul is a prolific fundraiser who has achieved real policy wins popular with Democrats, including in the state budget passed just last month," he said. Hochul's focus on affordability and public safety, especially heading into a midterm year, will make it "tough to dislodge her," he said. However, Laura Tamman, a professor of political science at Pace University, told Newsweek New Yorkers' feelings of restlessness and uncertainty make it a challenging environment for any incumbent. "Right now people are continuing to feel the pain of rising prices, and there is a lot of uncertainty about how President Trumps budget, potential tariffs and immigration policies are going to impact the economy," she said. "It's a ripe environment for a challenger—from the left or right. Delgado's entry to the race makes it clear she will have to put up a fight on both the primary and the general." Most Primary Voters Unfamiliar With Antonio Delgado, According to Polls New Yorkers are generally more familiar with Hochul than they are with Delgado, with a majority not knowing much about him, recent polls have found. Most New Yorkers—58 percent—said they were not sure how they felt about Delgado, according to the Siena College poll. Twenty-five percent of respondents said they viewed him favorably, while 18 percent viewed him unfavorably. Meanwhile, a plurality of New Yorkers viewed Hochul unfavorably, the poll found. Forty-four percent of respondents said they view her favorably, while 46 percent viewed her unfavorably; an additional 10 percent said they were not sure how they felt about Hochul. The Data for Progress poll found that 64 percent of respondents said they view Hochul favorably, while 31 percent viewed her unfavorably. Twenty-eight percent said they viewed Delgado favorably compared to nine percent who viewed him unfavorably. Still, 63 percent had not heard enough to have an opinion on Delgado, according to the poll. It also found that 32 percent of respondents viewed Torres favorably, compared to 17 percent who viewed him unfavorably. Fifty-two percent were unsure how they felt about him. The Siena College poll surveyed 805 registered voters from May 12 to May 15 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. The Data for Progress poll surveyed 767 likely Democratic primary voters from March 26 to March 31. It had a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points. Hochul and Delgado had found themselves at odds a few times in recent years. Delgado, during the 2024 campaign season, called for President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate, while Hochul endorsed the sitting president. Delgado also called for Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign after President Donald Trump's administration ended the corruption case against him. Hochul, however, has declined to remove the mayor. Delgado was first elected to Congress in 2018 to a competitive district located around the Hudson Valley and Albany area. What People Are Saying Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado said during his campaign announcement: "Let's not drop the ball on picking out what it is we're fighting for. We believe in facts, truth, liberty, the rule of law and justice for all. Listen, the powerful and well-connected have their champions. I'm running for governor to be yours. Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper wrote in a statement: "Governor Kathy Hochul is a proven leader with a strong record of delivering for New Yorkers: putting money back in their pockets, protecting reproductive rights, and keeping communities safe. The Governor knows how to take on big fights and win for New York families — and her agenda is overwhelmingly popular with New Yorkers on both sides of the aisle. 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. For years, Governor Hochul has been underestimated — and each time proved her critics wrong." Representative Tom Suozzi, a New York Democrat who challenged Hochul in 2022, wrote on X: "Antonio, you are a talented guy, with a great future. Based upon my experience this may not be the most well-thought out idea!" What Happens Next The New York Democratic gubernatorial primary is scheduled for 2026, with several months ahead for candidates to build support and increase voter engagement before the official nomination contest. Voters in New York City will head to the polls this year to vote in the mayoral election, a critical test of how voters are feeling in the Empire State ahead of the midterms.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Vote dispute: Akmal to file protest over Johor Baru PKR upset
JOHOR BARU: Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir will lodge an official protest with the PKR election committee following his unexpected defeat in the race for the Johor Baru PKR division chief post on Sunday. Akmal, who is also Johor Baru member of parliament, is challenging the official vote count, which recorded him receiving only 587 votes, compared to the 709 garnered by Johor Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Youth chief Mohamad Taufiq Ismail — who won with a majority of 122 votes. In a statement posted on Facebook today, Akmal asserted that he had in fact secured at least 949 votes and revealed that his team had submitted a statutory declaration to support the claim. "These numbers are not mere GOTV (Get Out The Vote) projections but are backed by Form 14s verified by polling station chiefs, signed voter rolls, and photographic evidence," he said. He urged all parties to remain calm as he prepares to submit a formal protest through the proper channels, stressing the importance of preserving party integrity. The defeat came as a surprise to many of Akmal's supporters, especially after he had hinted at victory in an earlier Facebook post, which featured an infographic purporting to show unofficial results indicating a simple majority in his favour. Akmal also criticised the final outcome, likening it to a "headless body" scenario, pointing out that 10 members elected to the division committee were from his team. He appeared to suggest that internal sabotage or manipulation might have influenced the election results. "A strange phenomenon occurred in the AMK (Youth Wing), where only the 'head' — the AMK chief — was 'cut off', while the deputy and the rest of the committee were elected. "A similar situation unfolded in the women's wing, where only the top two positions were disrupted," he added. Akmal previously held the Johor Baru division chief post and was widely viewed as the frontrunner in the contest.
