Antonio Ramon Delgado (born January 28, 1977) is an American attorney and politician serving as the lieutenant governor of New York since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, Delgado served as the U.S. representative from New York's 19th congressional district from 2019 to 2022. He is the first person of either African–American or Latino descent to be elected to Congress from Upstate New York,[1] and the first Latino person to hold statewide office in New York.[2]
Antonio Delgado | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| Assumed office May 25, 2022 | |
| Governor | Kathy Hochul |
| Preceded by | Andrea Stewart-Cousins (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 19th district | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – May 25, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Faso |
| Succeeded by | Pat Ryan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Antonio Ramon Delgado January 28, 1977 Schenectady, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
On May 3, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she had appointed Delgado to serve as lieutenant governor after Brian Benjamin resigned; Delgado was sworn in on May 25, 2022. On November 8, 2022, Delgado won a full term as lieutenant governor, on Hochul's ticket.
Early life and career
editDelgado was born on January 28, 1977, in Schenectady, New York,[3] to Tony Delgado and Thelma P. Hill.[4] He is of African American,[5] Cape Verdean,[6] Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan ancestry.[7] Delgado has three younger brothers. He grew up in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood.[8]
Delgado attended Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School and played for the school's basketball team. In his senior year, The Daily Gazette named Delgado to its all-area second team. He then enrolled at Colgate University and played for the Colgate Raiders men's basketball team alongside future Golden State Warriors player Adonal Foyle.[9][10] Delgado graduated from Colgate in 1999[9] and earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at The Queen's College, Oxford, from which he received a Master of Arts in 2001.[11] In 2005, Delgado graduated from Harvard Law School.[12]
After law school, Delgado moved to Los Angeles in 2005 and worked in the music industry.[12] In 2007, he released a socially conscious rap album under the stage name "AD the Voice".[13][14] He then worked as a litigator in the New York office of the law firm Akin Gump.[15]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2018
editIn the 2018 elections, Delgado ran for the United States House of Representatives in New York's 19th congressional district. He defeated six other candidates in the Democratic primary election and faced incumbent Republican John Faso in the November 6 general election.[16]
During the campaign, Delgado criticized Faso for voting against the Affordable Care Act.[17] Faso, alongside the Congressional Leadership Fund and the National Republican Congressional Committee, attacked Delgado's former rap career,[18][19] calling Delgado as a "big-city rapper".[20] The New York Times Editorial Board condemned the attacks as "race-baiting".[21]
Delgado won the general election with 132,001 votes to Faso's 124,408.[22][23] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2019.[24]
2020
editDelgado ran for a second term in 2020. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican nominee Kyle Van De Water, an attorney and former trustee of the village of Millbrook, New York,[25] in the general election with 192,100 votes to Van De Water's 151,475.[26]
Tenure
edit
Delgado voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[27]
Committee assignments
editLieutenant governor of New York
edit
On May 3, 2022, Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin resigned after being indicted on federal bribery and wire fraud charges, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Delgado lieutenant governor of New York.[29][30] He was sworn in on May 25.[31] He appeared on the Democratic primary ballot in the 2022 election for lieutenant governor.[32] He won the primary election with 58% of the vote and appeared with Hochul on the general election ballot.[33] Hochul and Delgado won the election and were sworn in on January 1, 2023. On July 2, 2024, Hochul announced that she will run for reelection in 2026 and keep Delgado on the ticket.[34] On July 10, 2024, Delgado called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.[35]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Antonio Delgado | 8,576 | 22.1 | |
| Democratic | Pat Ryan | 6,941 | 17.9 | |
| Democratic | Gareth Rhodes | 6,890 | 17.7 | |
| Democratic | Brian Flynn | 5,245 | 13.5 | |
| Democratic | Jeff Beals | 4,991 | 12.9 | |
| Democratic | David Clegg | 4,257 | 11.0 | |
| Democratic | Erin Collier | 1,908 | 4.9 | |
| Total votes | 38,808 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Antonio Delgado | 135,582 | 47.1 | |
| Working Families | Antonio Delgado | 9,237 | 3.2 | |
| Women's Equality | Antonio Delgado | 3,054 | 1.1 | |
| Total | Antonio Delgado | 147,873 | 51.4 | |
| Republican | John Faso | 112,304 | 39.0 | |
| Conservative | John Faso | 16,906 | 5.9 | |
| Independence | John Faso | 3,009 | 1.0 | |
| Reform | John Faso | 654 | 0.2 | |
| Total | John Faso (incumbent) | 132,873 | 46.1 | |
| Green | Steven Greenfield | 4,313 | 1.5 | |
| Independent | Diane Neal | 2,835 | 1.0 | |
| Total votes | 287,894 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Antonio Delgado | 168,281 | 48.0 | |
| Working Families | Antonio Delgado | 22,969 | 6.6 | |
| SAM | Antonio Delgado | 850 | 0.2 | |
| Total | Antonio Delgado (incumbent) | 192,100 | 54.8 | |
| Republican | Kyle Van De Water | 151,475 | 43.2 | |
| Libertarian | Victoria Alexander | 4,224 | 1.2 | |
| Green | Steve Greenfield | 2,799 | 0.8 | |
| Total votes | 350,598 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |
|
2,879,092 | 48.77% | −7.39% | |
| Working Families |
|
261,323 | 4.43% | +2.55% | |
| Total |
|
3,140,415 | 53.20% | −6.42% | |
| Republican |
|
2,449,394 | 41.49% | +9.89% | |
| Conservative |
|
313,187 | 5.31% | +1.15% | |
| Total |
|
2,762,581 | 46.80% | +10.59% | |
| Total votes | 5,788,802 | 100.0% | |||
| Turnout | 5,902,996 | 47.74% | |||
| Registered electors | 12,124,242 | ||||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Personal life
editDelgado married Lacey Schwartz in 2011.[4] They have twin sons and live in Rhinebeck, north of Poughkeepsie.[9]
Delgado is 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall.[37]
See also
editExplanatory notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Solender, Andrew. "Democrat Antonio Delgado has defeated Republican incumbent John Faso". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Price, Michelle L. "Delgado becomes 1st New York Lt. governor with Latino roots". ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
- ^ "Candidate Conversation - Antonio Delgado (D) | News & Analysis". Inside Elections. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b "Lacey Schwartz, Antonio Delgado: Weddings". The New York Times. September 25, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado: Race and Identity in Politics". Race at Work with Porter Braswell. Harvard Business Review. December 9, 2020.
- ^ "REPS. JEFFRIES & DELGADO REQUEST COVID-19 ASSISTANCE FOR CABO VERDE". Office of U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. U.S. House of Representatives. May 14, 2021.
- ^ Williams, Zach; Campanile, Carl (May 5, 2022). "Hochul running mate Antonio Delgado clarifies his 'Afro-Latino' roots after criticism". New York Post.
- ^ Jake Lahut (July 29, 2018). "Humble roots to the 'big tent' - Schenectady native Delgado has his eyes on Congress". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c Jim Schiltz (May 16, 2018). "Congressional candidate Delgado played basketball, too". The Daily Gazette. Schenectady, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ Solender, Andrew. "Antonio Delgado clinches Democratic nomination, makes history in NY19". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Washington, K. C. (August 4, 2019). "Antonio Delgado (1977- ) •". Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Hamilton, Matthew (June 5, 2017). "Democrat Antonio Delgado makes NY-19 bid official - Capitol Confidential". Blog.timesunion.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "He's a Rhodes Scholar. The G.O.P. Keeps Calling Him a 'Big-City Rapper.'". The New York Times. October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ Grady, Constance (September 12, 2018). "Republican TV ad criticizes Antonio Delgado's rap career". Vox. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ Bragg, Chris (May 12, 2018). "Faso opponent new to the 19th District". Times Union. Albany, N.Y. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ Audrey Russo (June 27, 2018). "Rhinebeck lawyer Antonio Delgado declares victory in 19th District Democratic primary". Utica, N.Y.: WKTV. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ Pramuk, Jacob (November 6, 2018). "Democrat Delgado projected to unseat GOP Rep. John Faso in New York House district". CNBC. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ "House candidate's 'offensive' rap lyrics called out in attack ad". New York Post. August 17, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ "A new attack ad says Antonio Delgado's rap career is "offensive"". Vox. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ Degraffinried, Natalie. "Republicans Lose NY House Seat to Democrat They Called a 'Big-City Rapper,' Which Is Now a Slur, I Guess". The Root. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ "Opinion | John Faso Is Race-Baiting His Opponent". The New York Times. July 19, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ "New York State Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results".
- ^ "Rhodes Scholar Antonio Delgado is Headed to Congress • EBONY". Ebony. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ Zangla, Ariél (January 3, 2019). "Delgado sworn in as Mid-Hudson Valley congressman, says ending partial shutdown is of 'utmost importance'". Daily Freeman. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- ^ Kirby, Paul. "Republican Kyle Van De Water of Millbrook joins race for 19th Congressional District seat". Daily Freeman. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ a b "2020 Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- ^ Bycoffe, Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Committees and Caucuses". U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado Representing the 19th District of New York. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ DeLine, Jamie (May 4, 2022). "Congressman Antonio Delgado Chosen to Be Next Lieutenant Governor". WTEN. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
Although an exact date has not been set, Governor Hochul said he will be sworn in sometime this month.
- ^ Hochul, Kathy (May 3, 2022). "Governor Hochul Announces Appointment of Representative Antonio Delgado as Lieutenant Governor". Governor of New York. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Reisman, Nick. "Antonio Delgado will be sworn in as New York lieutenant governor on Wednesday". Spectrum News. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Mahoney, Bill; Gronewald, Anna (May 3, 2022). "Hochul picks Delgado to be New York lieutenant governor, taking him out of House race". Politico.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (June 29, 2022). "Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado Fends Off Challenge From Left in N.Y. Primary". The New York Times.
- ^ "Hochul says she's running for another term as New York governor in 2026". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "New York Lt. Governor Delgado says Biden should end his campaign". Reuters. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "2022 General Election Governor and Lt. Governor Results". NY State Board of Elections.
- ^ Bragg, Chris (May 21, 2018). "NY-19 candidate inducted into Upstate Basketball Hall of Fame". Times Union. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019.
External links
edit
- Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado official government website