Democrat Antonio Delgado will be sworn in on Wednesday as New York's lieutenant governor, a move that will trigger a special election for his Hudson Valley congressional seat later this summer. 

Delgado will replace former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, who resigned in April following his indictment on bribery and fraud charges. He has represented a Hudson Valley House seat since 2019.

"Antonio Delgado is a phenomenal leader and public servant with a record of getting things done for New Yorkers, and he will serve as a trusted partner as New York's Lieutenant Governor," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "I look forward to working together on critical issues including education, affordable housing, economic development and infrastructure, and his experience in Washington will make him a key liaison to our Congressional Delegation. I am grateful to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her service during the transition and for our continued partnership."

Hochul selected Delgado to replace Benjamin as the lieutenant governor after state lawmakers changed New York's election law that enabled Benjamin's removal from the statewide primary ballot. Delgado is also running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and will face activist Ana Maria Archila and former New York City Council member Diana Reyna.  

"It has been an honor to serve in Congress, delivering results and fighting for the constituents of the 19th District. Now, I am ready to put my years of experience and ability to connect people to work for the entire State of New York," Delgado said. "New York needs an experienced leader with a history of getting things done. I am more than ready to step into this role as Lieutenant Governor and work tirelessly, every day, to improve the lives of New Yorkers."  

Delgado's congressional seat will be filled in a special election on Aug. 23, the same day as the state's U.S. House and state Senate primares, moved from June after a state court rejected the lawmaker drawn-maps for those chambers as unconstitutional. 

Republican Marc Molinaro and Democrat Pat Ryan are expected to face each other for that district and then run in new and differently configured congressional districts in the Hudson Valley this November.