New York’s political scene just got spicier. According to the Washington Examiner, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado has thrown his hat into the ring, announcing his bid to unseat Governor Kathy Hochul in the 2026 Democratic primary. It’s a bold move, and the fallout promises drama.

In 2022, Delgado and Hochul ran as a team, but their partnership soured fast. Public spats and policy clashes have since turned allies into rivals. This primary challenge marks the climax of their deteriorating relationship.

The duo’s unity unraveled after the 2022 election. Months of public disputes exposed deep rifts. Delgado’s decision to go rogue signals a fracture too wide to mend.

Tensions Boil Over

Summer 2024 saw their feud go public. Delgado openly criticized Hochul’s support for then-President Joe Biden, urging Biden to exit the race after a shaky debate performance. Hochul, predictably, wasn’t thrilled with her lieutenant’s disloyalty.

Delgado doubled down in February 2025. He called for New York Mayor Eric Adams to resign, directly contradicting Hochul’s stance. The governor’s team swiftly distanced her, insisting Delgado never spoke for her administration.

Hochul’s response was icy. She stripped Delgado of his state-issued devices, slashed his staff, and yanked his office spaces in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Actions, it seems, have consequences.

Delgado’s Campaign Launch

On Monday, Delgado made it official. His campaign launch video pitched housing, child care, healthcare, economic opportunity, and a firm stand against President Donald Trump. Notably absent? Any nod to social issues like gay or transgender rights, perhaps a calculated sidestep.

“People are hurting and New York deserves better leadership,” Delgado told the New York Times. It’s a sharp jab at Hochul, implying she’s failed to deliver. But bold words need bold results to back them up.

“There’s an absence of bold, decisive, transformational leadership,” Delgado added. He’s painting Hochul as a visionless bureaucrat, a charge that stings in a state craving direction. Yet, his low profile may blunt the attack.

Hochul’s Camp Fires Back

Hochul’s allies aren’t sitting quietly. “Governor Kathy Hochul is a proven leader with a strong record of delivering for New Yorkers,” said Meghan Meehan-Draper, Democratic Governors Association Executive Director. The praise feels like a preemptive strike to shore up Hochul’s base.

Meehan-Draper doubled down: “The Governor knows how to take on big fights and win for New York families.” It’s a not-so-subtle reminder that Hochul has the establishment’s backing. Delgado, by contrast, risks being seen as a disloyal upstart.

The Democratic Governors Association is “100 percent behind Governor Hochul,” Meehan-Draper declared. That’s a clear signal: the party machine is gearing up to crush Delgado’s insurgency. Money and muscle still talk in Albany.

Polls and Perceptions

A May 2025 Siena College poll showed Hochul trouncing Delgado, 46% to 12%, in a hypothetical primary. Those numbers suggest Delgado’s got a mountain to climb. Name recognition and loyalty to Hochul remain formidable hurdles.

Delgado’s rising-star status gives him some shine, but it’s dimmed by perceptions of betrayal. Breaking ranks with Hochul and Adams has painted him as a maverick—admirable to some, reckless to others. Voters will decide which label sticks.

For now, New York’s Democratic primary is shaping up as a grudge match. Delgado is betting on voter frustration with Hochul’s leadership, but he’s swimming against the tide of party unity. In politics, as in life, timing and trust are everything.