Exclusive | Hochuls estranged lieutenant plans to announce hell challenge her in NY governors race: sources

ALBANY – Lt.Gov.
Antonio Delgado is planning to announce a bid for governor as soon as this weekend, The Post has learned.Delgado is telling allies that he will make public his plans to unseat his estranged boss, Gov.Kathy Hochul, very soon according to a Democratic party source who’s spoken with the lieutenant governor. A rep for Delgado wouldn’t comment, but also didn’t deny that he was planning on getting into the race.The former Hudson Valley congressman formally split from Hochul earlier this year following significant public disagreements between the two.Delgado first attracted the governor’s ire last summer when he publicly called for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race.Hochul, at the time, was an outspoken voice in the chorus of Democrats still cheering on the dithering president despite clear evidence of his failing health.Delgado also got out in front of Hochul earlier this year when he called for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid his swirling corruption scandals. While sources familiar with the two’s declining relationship said they were heading towards a public breakup for months, Delgado made it “social media official” on Feb.
24, suddenly announcing that he wouldn’t run for re-election as her No.2 next year.“There are a lot of folks in politics who wake up every single day thinking about everything but the damn people,” Delgado told a room full of Democrats in his hometown of Schenectady a day later in what unmistakably resembled a campaign speech.The abrupt announcement prompted Hochul to take away many of Delgado’s state perks, like his capitol office and even official email, according to the sources.Since then, Delgado has been using an email address set up for him by the state Senate, which he technically presides over as lieutenant governor, according to a source familiar with the situation.He has spent the last few weeks traipsing around all corners of the state hosting town hall events.Delgado wo...