(The Center Square) – A congressman from the Albany area will be New York’s next lieutenant governor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday morning that U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado will be her pick to replace Brian Benjamin, who resigned last month after federal authorities arrested him on bribery charges connected to previous political campaigns.
By Steve Bittendbender | The Center Square contributor
The Roosevelt Island Daily News

About Antonio Delgado
“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,” she said in a statement on Twitter.
Delgado, a 45-year-old Democrat from Rhinebeck, was first elected to Congress in 2018, becoming the first Black person to represent upstate New York. He was born in Schenectady to parents with African and Latino roots, played college basketball at Colgate and became a Rhodes Scholar.
After leaving Oxford, he graduated from Harvard Law School.
In a statement, Delgado said New Yorkers deserve someone who will work around the clock for them.
“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.”
It’s expected that Delgado will also replace Benjamin on the ballot for lieutenant governor. If so, in the June 28 primary he would face two Latino women: progressive activist Ana Maria Archila and former New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyes.
The news came one day after the New York Legislature passed a bill Hochul requested to remove Benjamin’s name from the Democratic primary ballot in June. That bill was filed Friday evening.
It was a contentious vote, with several Democrats joining Republicans in voting against the bill. In the state Senate, where Democrats hold 43 of 63 seats, the bill passed by just a 33-29 vote.
“Every legislator who supported this pathetic deal should be embarrassed,” Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, said after the vote.
Earlier in the afternoon, Benjamin posted a video statement saying the charges against him were unfounded and that he expected to be exonerated. Despite that, the former state senator from Harlem said he would sign a statement to remove himself from the ballot.
“Until I have the opportunity to clear my name, I will not be able to serve,” he said. “Therefore, making it unfair to the voters of this great state for me to remain on the ballot.”
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- The Most Beautiful Oak Tree in New York CityThe most beautiful oak tree in New York City crowns a hill in Sunset Park. Our early spring photo catches the majestic architecture of this landmark before millions of leaves obscure it. Others may claim
- “How can he stay on?” a Reader Asks about RIOC CEO HaynesAfter reading about the latest in an avalanche of bad RIOC news, “How can he stay on?” he asked. Our reader asked about RIOC President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes, and his question echoed others bouncing around
- COVID Cases Soaring, Why Is RIOC PSD Still Snoring?COVID cases are soaring across New York City. The Health Department sounds alarms, pleading for face masks in all public places. But on Roosevelt Island, where positivity rates are 50% higher than the city average,
- RIOC Board Meeting, May 2022: A New Exercise in Bunker ModeBunker mode fits as well with New York’s Open Meetings Law as a whale on a shrimp boat. They’re antithetical. One reveals things; the other hides them. But controlled by an irresponsible governor and a
- Sunset Park, Brooklyn: A Neighborhood, History and a FutureSunset Park in Brooklyn is a neighborhood located in the western part of the borough. It has a rich history that can be traced back to the 1800s. What makes Sunset Park unique is its
One thought on “Meet Antonio Delgado, the State’s New Lieutenant Governor”