Lt. Col. Antonio Delgado announced in a fiery speech that he would not run with Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026 in light of his next move, “leadership” and “power.” “We issued a strong word about it.
“There are a lot of people in politics who wake up every day about everything but damn people,” Delgado told Schenectady on Tuesday night in a packed room full of dozens of Democrats.
“They are thinking about getting power. They are thinking about people putting money in the pockets of donor class, and they are thinking about some kind of lobby, special interest groups that have access to their power. They think about the party and who is in charge at the party. Who is going to do what? Delgado doesn't think about the damn people.
The former House member later told reporters that he “he wasn't talking about other people,” but the overtones of his comments couldn't help but sound like they were being collected in Hochur.
“You're not there. Do this and think about how the wind is blowing,” Delgado said with a finger in the air.
“You're not a poll test, you're thinking about what others think, not leadership, you're responding, you're navigating how to survive in the name of taking power. , triangulation and trying to grasp it,” he added.
Born and raised in Schenectady, Delgado made a speech at a party celebrating the reelection of incumbent MP Angelo Santabarbara (D-schenectady).
Hochul did not call one Delgado to resign when asked Tuesday.
“It's clear to me that he's not happy that he is the lieutenant governor, but I really wish him anything he chose to do,” Hochul said.
The governor's comments follow a furious statement from her communications director last night, accusing Delgado of ignoring “responsibility” as LG.
When asked, Delgado told reporters he had no intention of resigning.
