Hochul Chooses Hudson Valley Congressman For Lt. Gov.

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Gov. Kathy Hochul has chosen a second-term congressman from the Hudson Valley as her lieutenant governor, replacing Brian Benjamin, who resigned following a campaign finance indictment.

Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, currently represents New York's 19th Congressional District, which includes the Hudson Valley and the Catskills.

Hochul said in a news release that she was proud to appoint Delgado and looks forward to working with him.

"We share a belief in working together to get things done for New Yorkers," she said, "and Representative Delgado has an incredible record of doing just that in Congress.

"With Antonio Delgado by my side serving as Lieutenant Governor, we will both make history — and make a difference," Hochul said.

Delgado, 45, is Afro-Latino, the first person of color to represent upstate New York in Congress and a member of both the Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucuses, according to a spokesperson.

In a prepared statement, Delgado said New Yorkers deserve a lieutenant governor who works day and night to make lives better for working people and their families.

"Upstate, downstate, doesn't matter," he said. "We all want the same things, security, family and opportunity. The key is to listen to New Yorkers from all walks of life and then be their voice to get the job done."

The congressman grew up in Schenectady and lives in Rhinebeck with his wife, Lacey, and their twin 8-year-old sons. He attended Colgate University and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford.

Delgado received a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he met Lacey, and lived in New York City for several years working as a lawyer.

First elected to Congress in 2018, he is the chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit. He also serves on the House Small Business and Transportation Infrastructure Committees.

In his district, Delgado has held more than 65 town halls across all 11 counties. He created four bipartisan, locally based advisory committees on the priorities important to the 19th Congressional District, including Small Business, Agriculture, Health Care and Veterans.

The 19th Congressional District is currently comprised of Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster counties and parts of Broome, Dutchess, Montgomery and Rensselaer counties.