SNUBBING HIS BOSS: Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado won’t commit to endorsing his own boss, Gov. Kathy Hochul, for reelection in 2026. “My focus right now isn’t on the election,” Delgado told Playbook when asked if he would support Hochul’s reelection in 2026. “My focus is on governing right now. That’s the focus.” He spoke to Playbook at an unrelated event outside Albany, where he was reading a children’s book to elementary school students. Delgado’s comments come about two months after he snubbed Hochul by releasing an op-ed in The New York Times where he called for Democrats to dispose of “the same politicians telling the same old stories” and said the party needed new leadership without mentioning Hochul’s name. Delgado’s defiance is notable for someone in his position as lieutenant governor, a largely ceremonial job that normally includes traveling around the state to tout the governor’s policies and promote her administration. And once in a while that person assumes the top role, as Hochul did after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation. Delgado also broke with Hochul last year when he called on Joe Biden to exit the presidential race even though Hochul was one of Biden’s most adamant defenders. He also would not substantively characterize his relationship with Hochul right now, or answer if it’s evolved at all since his defiant op-ed. “We always communicate,” he said, when asked to describe their relationship. “We always have the ability to communicate with each other, whether those are difficult discussions or not, like we've always been able to communicate, and I appreciate that.” “It’s been the same,” he said of their relationship. Hochul’s office would not say if she has disciplined Delgado for his repeated streaks of independence. “Governor Hochul agrees: this isn’t the time for politics, and we’re focused on governing,” spokesperson Sam Spokony said in a statement. In July, the governor was asked if she plans to keep Delgado on her ticket. “He is doing a phenomenal job traveling the state, promoting some of his signature initiatives,” Hochul said of Delgado. “I'm very happy with what we're doing now. 2026, it may be a long way off. I'm running, I'm preparing for that race, but my focus right now is this November.” The LG would not say today if he plans to run for another office. “Whatever happens in the future right now, I think is too distant of a matter,” he said of his ambitions. “Think about what's going on right now, both at the national level and across our state. My focus is on governing.” — Jason Beeferman | 
