New York State’s Number Two Politician Is Calling It Quits

Government workers, Correctional Officers, Department Commissioners, Directors, and elected officials in and around the Empire State have been in the news a lot lately. If it's not the dangerous and continuing prison strikes, it's officials on the federal and state levels arguing with each other, and now it appears that members of the state leadership are having issues.

In a rather shocking announcement, New York State Lieutenant Governor Antonio Ramon Delgado notified the people of New York that he was not going to seek reelection for the number two job in Albany in 2026.

Delgado, who was born in Schenectady, New York, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for three years before being selected to serve as the state's Lieutenant Governor in 2022. This week, he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to make his intentions known.

Many around the state questioned Delgado's dedication to the job as he was not seen at many events and rarely visited places outside of New York City during his tenure as Lieutenant Governor. In response to Delgado's announcement, Governor Kathy Hochul's office released a statement that seemed to say what several folks in state government had already been thinking.

... Delgado finally said out loud what has been obvious for quite some time: he is simply not interested in doing the job of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York. Governor Hochul had already begun taking steps to identify a new running mate for 2026...
-Anthony Hogrebe, Communications Director for Governor Kathy Hochul

Governor Hochul, who had already announced her intention to run for reelection in 2026, is now looking for a new number 2.

While speaking with reporters this week in Albany, Hochul herself said that it was clear to many that Delgado was not happy with the job of Lieutenant Governor and wished him well in whatever he chooses to do after he leaves office.

According to the New York State Archives, the office of the Lieutenant Governor was established in 1777. The duties of the office are spelled out in the New York State Constitution, which includes serving as President of the New York State Senate, assuming the power of the governor if the Governor is removed from office and other duties.