Hochul to appoint new lieutenant governor, a congressman from Hudson Valley

Representative Antonio Delgado

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she is appointing Congressman Antonio Delgado to serve as lieutenant governor of New York.

This follows the resignation of Brian Benjamin from the position last month after he was charged with bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records. Benjamin is accused of securing campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin using his influence as a state senator to $50,000 in state funds for the developer.

The State Legislature on Monday agreed to have Benjamin removed from this year’s ballot. State Sen. Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said the Legislature’s actions on Monday were “pathetic.” Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, also opposed the Legislature being involved with removing Benjamin from the ballot.

Delgado currently represents New York’s 19th Congressional District, which includes the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

Delgado 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, Hochul’s office said.

“I am proud to appoint Antonio Delgado, an outstanding leader and public servant, as Lieutenant Governor of New York, and I look forward to working with him to usher in a new era of fairness, equity, and prosperity for communities across the State,” Hochul said in a statement this morning. “We share a belief in working together to get things done for New Yorkers, 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.”

Delgado grew up in Schenectady and lives in Rhinebeck in Dutchess County with his wife, Lacey, and their twin 8-year-old sons, Maxwell and Coltrane. He attended Colgate University and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Then, he received a law degree from Harvard Law School, where he met Lacey. He lived in New York City for several years as a young lawyer.

“New Yorkers deserve a Lieutenant Governor who’s working day and night to make lives better for working people and their families,” Delgado said. “Upstate, downstate, doesn’t matter. 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.”