NY Governor Kathy Hochul names U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado new Lt. Governor

After her running mate and former Lieutenant Governor, Brian Benjamin, was arrested on corruption charges last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul named United States Representative Antonio Delgado the new Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday.

“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.

“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.”

Delgado has served as a US Representative for New York’s 19th Congressional District since 2019. He is the first person of color to represent upstate New York in Congress and serves on the Black and Hispanic Congressional Caucuses.

“With Antonio Delgado by my side serving as Lieutenant Governor, we will both make history – and make a difference,” Hochul said in her statement.

Responding to his appointment, Delgado said, “New Yorkers deserve a Lieutenant Governor who’s working day and night to make lives better for working people and their families. 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.”

Delgado replaces Benjamin, who is facing charges of “bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit those offenses,” according to the Department of Justice, for using his  “official authority while a New York state senator to direct a state-funded grant to an organization controlled by a real estate developer … in exchange for campaign contributions made and procured by [the real estate developer].” 

The appointment comes just in time for Hochul to put Delgado on the ballot with her for the June primary election. State lawmakers made a change on Monday to allow candidates to decline their spots on the ballot if they have been charged with or convicted of crimes since filing for candidacy.