New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said he's still up for the job a day after announcing he will not seek reelection alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026. 

Hochul told reporters Tuesday morning she didn't think her former running mate was happy in the role.

"Oh, I'm very interested," Delgado said when asked at a political event Tuesday night in Schenectady. "I love being out there with the people, being the voice that I can be for New Yorkers, connecting with folks all across the state in a real, meaningful way."

Earlier in the day, Delgado registered with the state Board of Elections as a statewide candidate for an undeclared office. Delgado didn't specify any particular reason for the split with Hochul, but there has been speculation he may mount his own run for governor. 

In the meantime, Delgado is not specifying his intentions. 

"Because what I'm doing right now is connecting with the people of New York, not voters," Delgado said. "There's a lot going on right now in New York and across the country, and what people I believe are looking for are voices that can cut through the noise, that can remind us of our values and our principles, that can bind us to love, that can bind us to our values like honesty and decency and compassion and integrity. These things have to matter again, and so for me, that's where the focus needs to be and that's where my focus is."

A Hochul administration spokesperson put out a critical statement after Delgado announced his departure from the campaign saying Hochul "had already begun taking steps to identify a new running mate for 2026." Delgado said Hochul has not asked him to step down.

With all the messaging around a need for better leadership, Delgado was quick to dismiss the thought he's criticizing Hochul. 

"I'm not speaking on anybody else," Delgado said. "I'm speaking about me and how I want to connect with the people and what I believe based on my connections with the people, that they're looking for. That to me is what I'm trying to articulate."