Detailed summary
- Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado has ended his campaign for Governor of New York, stating that there is no viable path forward for his long-shot challenge to unseat Gov. Kathy Hochul, and he intends to support efforts to build a more humane, affordable, and equitable state.
- Delgado’s exit from the governor’s race was not surprising, despite his initial intention to petition to get on the ballot, and it is seen as a way to unite the Democratic Party, with State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins welcoming the decision and stressing the importance of unity.
- Delgado had limited support from some left-leaning members of the state Legislature, including Assemblymember Emily Gallagher and State Sen. Jabari Brisport, but failed to gain traction among big-name progressives, who instead endorsed Gov. Hochul, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- The departure of Delgado from the race clears the way for Gov. Hochul, who is now at the top of her game, with a unified state Democratic Party, strong fundraising, and a significant lead over her opponent Bruce Blakeman in the polls, according to Democratic strategist Trip Yang.
- However, Yang cautioned that while Gov. Hochul is favored to win, she cannot let progressive support slip if she wants to help Democrats take back the U.S. House of Representatives, as the winning margin in the governor’s race will have an impact on down-ballot congressional races.
- Gov. Hochul’s campaign responded to Delgado’s exit by emphasizing her leadership and vision for affordability and safety for every New York family, and expressing confidence in her ability to defeat her opponents and help Democrats take back the House, without directly mentioning Delgado’s departure from the race.
