NEW YORK – At the Democratic convention held in Syracuse on February 6, New York State Democratic Committee members chose current Gov. Kathy Hochul to run on the gubernatorial line this November. 

At the time of the convention, current Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado was also vying for the ballot, but only received 14.7 percent of the vote. Candidates must receive 25 percent of the weighted vote to automatically advance to the primary ballot. 

Delgado would have had to garner signatures to enter the primary in June, but a few days after the convention he announced he was dropping out of the race.

“After much consideration, I’ve concluded that there simply is no viable path forward,” he said in a statement.

Delgado, who served as Sullivan County’s congressman from 2019 to 2022, was appointed by Hochul to lieutenant governor in 2022. 

In his recent statement, Delgado said he will “continue to serve the people of New York as Lieutenant Governor.”

In the upcoming November election, Hochul will run alongside Adrienne Adams, a New York City Councilmember.

This is the first time two women have run for governor and lieutenant governor in the state.

The Democratic convention also selected Thomas DiNapoli to run for Comptroller with 89.99 percent of the vote (against Drew Warshaw with ten percent) and Letitia James as Attorney General with 100 percent of the vote. 

Local State Committeewoman Lori Orestano-James was on hand representing Sullivan County Assembly District 100. “Being part of the process and representing my community and its constituents at this Convention was an honor,” she said. “The positive energy in the Convention Hall was palpable as each nominee was voted on and confirmed.” 

This convention marked the first time that the city of Syracuse hosted the event since 1982.

Hochul will face a challenge from Republican Bruce Blakeman, who was nominated at the GOP convention on Long Island last Wednesday with running mate Todd Hood, Sheriff of Madison County.

Blakeman, the County Executive for Nassau County on Long Island, quickly received an endorsement from President Donald Trump, saying Blakeman will “make New York safe, strong, honest and prosperous.” 

Hochul, on the other hand, has taken a hard stance against Trump, actively opposing the Trump administration on multiple fronts, including legal action over withheld funding for the Gateway Tunnel project, and speaking out against the violent actions of federal immigration agents.

Blakeman faces an uphill battle in a Democrat-leaning state but has mentioned optimism based on Lee Zeldin’s bid for governor during the last election in 2022 when he came close to defeating Hochul. Zeldin is now Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, nominated by Trump.

Blakeman also sees a favorable path forward by not having any primary challenges, after Elise Stefanik dropped out of the race in December, only weeks after announcing her campaign. She cited wanting to spend more time with her family and said she will not seek re-election to her current Congressional seat.