HOCHUL CHOOSES DELGADO
19TH DISTRICT: Molinaro running for “an open seat.” Democrat Pat Ryan eyes run. GOP MINORITY LEADER: Democrats “shamelessly changed rules” to avoid stigma. Announcement follows law change allowing former lieutenant governor’s name to be removed from bal
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that she is appointing U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado as her lieutenant governor — a move that came a day after Democrats in the Legislature voted to change state election law to remove indicted former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin’s name from the primary ballot.
Hochul quickly signed the legislation into law late Monday after bills passed the Assembly and Senate enabling a nominated candidate to be removed from the ballot if they are charged with or convicted of crimes. That sequence brought fierce criticism from Republican lawmakers who accused the governor and Democrats in control of the Legislature of changing state law for the sole benefit of her campaign — a move they said would not have occurred if a GOP lieutenant governor candidate had dropped out of the race due to criminal charges.
As that controversy hung in the backdrop, the governor introduced Delgado as her lieutenant governor appointee during a news conference at the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon. She said the Committee on Vacancies approved adding his name to the
Democratic primary ballot hours earlier, but the timing of his resignation from Congress has not been determined.
“He is very dedicated to his constituents . ... There is work to be finished before he assumes these responsibilities,” she said, adding that his transition to lieutenant governor is expected to take place later this month.
The appointment of Delgado as lieutenant governor, including adding his name to the ballot as Hochul’s Democratic running mate, will enable the governor’s campaign to try and shed the stigma of having been tethered to Benjamin, who resigned last month following his indictment on federal bribery and campaign finance charges. Benjamin issued a statement Monday saying he would sign a declination in order to have his name removed from the primary ballot once the law was changed.
“I believe that New Yorkers deserve a government that is fully staffed, fully functioning and fully committed to serving New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “To do that I need someone by my side who I can rely on for guidance, wisdom ... advice . ... Most important, they must be someone who New Yorkers trust.”
Hochul added, “As we went down the list of candidates for this job, his name kept rising to the top . ... He’s a rising star.”
Delgado, whose wife, children, parents and extended family were present for the announcement, thanked Hochul for “giving me this opportunity. I truly appreciate it. And I am beyond excited to get out there and connect .... with the people of New York.”
“We need to reconnect and strengthen our collective bond,” he added. “We need to heal and put humanity back into our interactions with one another.”
Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay was among the GOP lawmakers who reacted harshly to the process used by Democrats to remove Benjamin from the ballot and allow a nominating committee to install Delgado in his place.
“N.Y. Democrats shamelessly changed the rules to help them avoid the shame of having a potential convicted felon on their ticket,” Barclay said on Twitter. “We now have our second lieutenant governor in a matter of months to hold the office without being elected by New Yorkers.”
Asked about that criticism, Hochul responded: “I say they’re wrong. I say it’s a subversion of democracy to allow the circumstance where voters are being asked to select someone who has actually said they’re not running for office, and that’s the situation we had.” She characterized Benjamin’s recent indictment as “a legal issue” that he “needs to deal with.”
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican, was challenging Delgado, D Rhinebeck, for the 19th Congressional District seat that Delgado won in 2018 and 2020. Molinaro had considered making a second run for governor this year, but last year filed paperwork to launch his congressional campaign.
“I wish him well. Congratulations to him,” Molinaro said of Delgado’s appointment to lieutenant governor. “Good luck cleaning up Albany.”
On the effect that it will have on the congressional race, Molinaro said: “Yes, the landscape changes; we’re running in an open seat.
“I’m looking forward to talking about the issues that are important to the folks in the district,” he added. “It does change the feel when you’re not running against an incumbent. ... We’ve built a good operation. We’ve got a good team. We’re generating good momentum and I’m working hard.”
The announcement by Hochul also stirred interest from Democrats who may seek to step into the Hudson Valley congressional race. Among them are Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, who previously ran against Delgado in a seven-way Democratic primary for Congress. Ryan netted the secondmost votes in that primary, and Delgado went on to win the general election.
Ryan is serving a four-year term and does not face reelection until next year, so he could
run for Congress without vacating his county position.
“My entire life has been oriented around service, and so I’m now seriously considering how best to continue serving my community and constituents,” Ryan said in a tweet on Tuesday. “It’s clear that now more than ever we need champions in Congress who’ll protect fundamental rights and freedom and fight back against Washington extremism. So, stay tuned.”
Hochul said her administration is still examining options on how to schedule a special election to fill Delgado’s congressional seat prior to the November election. That election would need to be scheduled within 10 days of his resignation from Congress.
The Congressional Leadership Fund issued a statement noting that Delgado will become the 33rd House Democrat to not seek reelection.
Benjamin had been appointed lieutenant governor by Hochul in September after undergoing a background check.
\But the criminal charges include allegations that Benjamin, who had been under investigation by the FBI before his appointment, had lied on the forms used by State Police to
review his background.
Hochul became governor in August following the resignation of former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who stepped down following an investigation by the state attorney general’s office that concluded he was a serial sexual harasser of women. Hochul is running for a full term this year and had said state laws governing the removal of a candidate from the ballot were “antiquated” and should be changed.
Benjamin resigned hours after his indictment was unsealed. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, whose office is prosecuting the case, said Benjamin had “repeatedly told lies” as part of a cover-up involving a bribery scheme intended to get him significant campaign donations in exchange for official acts.
Hochul’s Democratic challengers are U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, D -Long Island, whose lieutenant governor running mate is New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyna; and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, whose running mate is Ana Maria Archila, the former director of Make the Road New York, a grassroots advocacy group.
I say it’s a subversion of democracy to allow the circumstance where voters are being asked to select someone who has actually said they’re not running for office, and that’s the situation we had.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul