In the 24 hours since Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado announced he would be taking his cratering relationship with Gov. Kathy Hochul to the long-expected next level, challenging her for the state’s top job, the sitting governor hasn’t been short on positive sentiment.
Rep. Pat Ryan posted on X Monday that he is “all in” for Hochul, a year out from the June 2026 primary.
The Democratic Governors Association swiftly backed Hochul.
“The Democratic Governors Association is 100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026," a statement from Director Meghan Meehan-Draper read.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared praise on X, but didn’t officially weigh in, and State Sen. Jeremy Cooney of Rochester offered a full endorsement.
“I believe Kathy Hochul is the best choice to keep moving forward,” he told Spectrum News 1 in an interview Thursday. “I know her commitment to the people of New York, the people certainly in my district in Rochester, and I think her record reflects that.”
Cooney said that ability to deliver for his constituents is the basis for the full-throated support.
“When I need something for the people I represent, I can pick up the phone and call Gov. Hochul, and not only do I know she will do the best to help us, but she knows the issues we’re facing,” he said, citing concerns about federal uncertainty. “She knows about childhood poverty, she knows about job loss, she knows about transportation infrastructure. These are things where we need a governor who can get to work right away.”
But not everyone was so quick to jump on the Hochul train. State Sen. Pat Fahy of Albany is ready to let the primary play out.
“No one is getting my endorsement,” she said. “I think there is plenty of time.”
Fahy stressed that a primary is a healthy exercise for a Democratic Party that she argued desperately needs to find its way if there is a chance of taking on Republicans in Washington in 2026 and 2028.
“I think in the short term this is healthy, because we need to sharpen that message. We know the message last year fell flat. We lost Congress, we lost the presidency,” she said.
Fahy said she feels that Hochul could benefit from the challenge of convincing over her own party. She said the governor has proven herself to be a champion in areas like mental health, but has raised concerns when it comes to 'implementation' of policy, including controversial changes to a $9 billion home care program for individuals with disabilities.
“In the end, assuming she continues to prevail, she will be a stronger candidate as a result,” she said. “I think it will sharpen her message.”
Other lawmakers declined to weigh in when asked by Spectrum News 1.
When it comes to endorsements for Delgado, lawmakers seemed less ready to come forward. Democratic strategist Jack O’Donnell explained that will likely change given the broad ideological spectrum among the Legislature’s Democratic majorities, but some lawmakers may be reluctant for some time given that there is still three weeks remaining in the legislative session before another budget cycle next year.
“There is always going to be some who aren’t fans of the governor. There are always going to be some who are going to go in another direction,” he said.
In response, Hochul’s campaign pointed to her endorsements so far, while Delgado’s campaign claimed they were never looking for any in the first place.
“When someone challenges the status quo, the establishment pushes back, we expected that,” said Steven Ileka, press secretary for Delgado for New York. “Antonio Delgado isn’t running to win over insiders. He’s running to fight for everyday New Yorkers, not the powerful few.”
O’Donnell said one roadblock to Delgado netting endorsements could be the fact that even amid his announcement, his message and positioning relative to Hochul remain unclear.
“Where is the substance, a lot of people think that we do need big bold leadership — but what is he leading on?” he said.
Regardless, Republicans at the state Capitol are downright giddy.
Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay characterized Delgado’s challenge is the perfect follow up to Hochul’s closer-than-expected win against Republican Lee Zeldin in 2022.
“It shows that there is tremendous weakness,” he said of Hochul’s standing. “Now the fact that Democrats are jumping ship on the governor just illustrates that there is opportunity here, and nothing better for a political party than having a split contest on the other side.”