Antonio Delgado

Antonio Delgado

Democratic

Antonio Delgado is New York’s lieutenant governor and a former member of Congress from the Hudson Valley. He launched a 2026 Democratic primary challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul before later ending his campaign.

Positions on Key Issues

Healthcare

high

Supports universal healthcare in New York through a single-payer system (New York Health Act) that guarantees coverage for every New Yorker with no premiums, co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs; includes comprehensive benefits (primary care, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health, reproductive and gender-affirming care, dental, vision, long-term care) and eliminates private insurance middlemen.

Economy

high

Antonio Delgado’s economic plan centers on building an economy that works for all New Yorkers: raise the minimum wage to $30 by 2030 (indexed to inflation), ensure the ultra-wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, strengthen paid family and medical leave, empower workers and small businesses, and reform New York’s budget process to improve transparency and reduce backroom deals.

Climate/Energy

medium

Delgado would strengthen and enforce New York's climate laws by finalizing cap-and-invest rules under the CLCPA and expanding public renewables to at least 15 GW by 2030. He would expand public utilities, reform the Public Service Commission to protect ratepayers, and back the NY HEAT Act and the Livable New York Act to lower utility costs and boost energy-efficient, affordable housing.

Abortion & Reproductive Health

high

Supports protecting abortion rights and expanding access to reproductive health care in New York, including backing the New York Health Act to guarantee universal coverage that includes reproductive services.

Immigration

high

Delgado supports expanding protections for immigrant New Yorkers by backing the New York For All Act to prohibit ICE 287(g) agreements and curb local cooperation with ICE. He also supports banning ICE from wearing masks (MELT Act), ending private immigration detention (Dignity Not Detention Act), and increasing access to legal representation for immigrants facing deportation.

Firearms & Second Amendment

high

Delgado supports strong, comprehensive gun-safety reforms in New York. He has backed expanding background checks, closing loopholes in private transfers, strengthening red-flag laws, improving gun-trace reporting, and raising the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles to 21.

Civil Rights & Equality

high

Antonio Delgado's Social Justice stance centers on expanding protections for immigrant New Yorkers, including supporting the NY For All Act, opposing ICE raids via the MEL Act, ending private immigration detention, and funding immigrant legal services. He also champions LGBTQ+ rights and criminal justice reform to reduce disparities and promote fair treatment in New York.

Education

high

Delgado supports universal pre-K funding and universal childcare in New York, viewing early childhood education as the foundation of the state's education system and affordability agenda; he proposes fully funding Pre-K and universal childcare to improve access and outcomes.

Election Policy

medium

Delgado says he wants to reimagine and professionalize the New York State Democratic Party to improve year-round engagement, expand grassroots organizing, and strengthen party infrastructure.

Local Issues

medium

Delgado's Local Issues plan prioritizes housing: he would build 800,000 new homes over the next decade and protect and expand rent stabilization, including passing the NY REST Act. He also calls to end developer giveaways, curb private equity in housing, create statewide down payment assistance, invest in public housing and a permanent rental assistance program, and crack down on corporate landlords.

Foreign Policy

low

No public position found on foreign policy in the campaign materials reviewed.

Tech & AI

low

No public position found on tech and AI in the campaign materials reviewed.

Background

Career History

Lieutenant Governor 2022 – Present
State of New York

Appointed in 2022 and later elected to a full term.

Member of Congress 2019 – 2022
U.S. House of Representatives, New York's 19th Congressional District

Represented a largely rural Hudson Valley district in Congress.

Attorney 2005 – 2018
Private practice

Worked as a lawyer before entering elected office.

Hip-hop artist 2000 – 2005
Independent

Worked as a recording artist before his legal and political career.

Education

Harvard Law School J.D. in Law (2005)
University of Oxford M.Phil. in Philosophy (2003)
Colgate University B.A. in Philosophy and political science (1999)

Top Donors

OpenSecrets’ congressional profile shows Antonio Delgado’s historical fundraising was driven by individual donors and PAC support typical of a House campaign, with his 2021–2022 federal cycle profile available for detailed industry and contributor breakdowns. For his 2026 statewide run, reporting and campaign disclosures cited by news outlets put him at roughly $1.5M raised in one recent filing period and about $3.1M total contributions on Transparency USA; his campaign also said more than 80% of donations were small-dollar. Sources: OpenSecrets, Transparency USA, and campaign/news reporting.

View full campaign finance data →

Voting Record

Delgado is a former member of Congress, so he does have a legislative voting record. Vote Smart and congressional coverage describe him as relatively moderate-to-progressive within the Democratic caucus, and his public statements note he co-sponsored and voted for the Equality Act; GovTrack and Congress.gov confirm his House service from 2019 to 2022. Sources: Vote Smart, GovTrack, and Congress.gov.

View full voting record →

Data Analysis Information

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated 4/29/2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.

© 2026 Smarter.vote. Analyzing public information to help voters make informed decisions.

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