Hochul primary challenger Antonio Delgado drops out of NY governor race

New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado announced Tuesday that he is ending his campaign for governor of New York, saying he “concluded that there is simply no viable path forward.”

The withdrawal comes just days after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Delgado’s boss, Gov. Kathy Hochul, as she runs for office. Delgado reportedly challenged Hochul in the Democratic primary this year.

“I have decided to end my campaign for governor of New York. After careful consideration, I have concluded that there is simply no viable path forward,” Delgado said in a statement Tuesday.

“And even though my campaign is over, I fully intend to do everything I can in our efforts to build a more humane, more affordable and more equitable state that serves all New Yorkers. I will also support Democrats in our efforts to hold the line against Trump and take back our democracy,” he added.

MAMDANI SUPPORTS HOCHUL IN MOVE THAT COULD REFORM NEW YORK GOVERNOR’S RACE

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado celebrate their victory during an election night event on November 8, 2022 in New York. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Delgado ended his candidacy for governor of New York. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)

“I do not make this decision lightly, especially since so many people have invested their trust in our campaign and are desperate to have a voice,” Delgado also said, adding, “Ultimately, this decision for me comes down to my belief that walking with purpose is walking with love.”

Following Delgado’s announcement, Hochul campaign communications director Sarafina Chitika told Fox News Digital, “Governor Hochul has spent all year uniting her big tent party around a vision of affordability and safety for every New York family.”

“Thanks to his leadership, our campaign and our party are strong and ready to defeat Donald Trump and his supporters in the election, take back the House and deliver another defeat to Bruce Blakeman in November,” Chitika added. “Donald Trump and Bruce Blakeman are united in their efforts to raise costs on working families, send masked ICE agents onto our streets to terrorize innocent communities, and wage war on New York’s children. Our party is now just as united in stopping them.”

HOCHUL RUNNING MATE VOTED TO ALLOW NON-CITIZEN VOTING IN NYC ELECTIONS

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, left, endorsed Zohran Mamdani in his bid for mayor of New York. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Alejandro Granadillo/AP)

Last week, Delgado named former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, as his running mate in an effort to shore up his support among progressives.

Delgado launched his gubernatorial bid in June, a rare instance of a lieutenant governor taking on a sitting governor.

New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado is seen in New York on August 13, 2025. (Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Hochul supported Mamdani last September as the Democratic Party mayoral candidate faced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the general election mayoral showdown.