Delgado's bid for change

Politico

7 hours ago

MAMDANI MANIA: A little-known Albany politician leverages a laser focus on affordability and change for an upset victory in a Democratic primary.
It's what Zohran Mamdani did last week. Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado believes it can be replicated statewide.
'A big part of his success has to do with the fact that the public, New Yorkers, are thirsty and very hungry for change and are done with the status quo and politics as usual,' Delgado told Playbook recently. 'They want leadership that gives them the sense that something is going to change.'
On paper, Delgado and Mamdani are very different politicians.
The 33-year-old democratic socialist who won an upstart victory against Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral primary is unapologetically hard left. An Israel critic, Mamdani is a relative newcomer to elected office.
Delgado, 48, was elected to a purplish Hudson Valley House district in 2018 and staked out moderate positions befitting a swing-seat lawmaker. He's served in the thankless lieutenant governor post since 2022 and is now running against Hochul in a long-shot primary.
Given the opportunity to say where he differs politically from Mamdani, Delgado insisted on focusing on an area of potential agreement: raising taxes on rich people and corporations.
'There's no question in my mind that when it comes to raising revenue, addressing economic inequality in a meaningful way, there is really, really solid common ground between the two of us,' he said.
Delgado faces an uphill climb against Hochul in a political environment that's much different than the New York City mayoral primary.
A Siena College poll this week found Hochul with a commanding leader over her No. 2 and Rep. Ritchie Torres, who signaled this week he will not run for governor. (Hochul is below 50 percent in a hypothetical primary and potential general election matchups.)
And the Democratic governor has made affordability a central pitch this year. She successfully pressed for inflation-fighting rebate checks, expanded free school lunches and tripled the child tax credit.
Cuomo's listless campaign cast him as an incumbent with management experience, but was weighed down by his political baggage. In City Hall, Cuomo — adept at political maneuvering — would likely complicate Hochul's life just as she's preparing to run for a second full term.
It's easy to imagine that the across-the-spectrum schadenfreude over the ex-governor's loss was quietly felt on the second floor of the state Capitol.
Mamdani's potential mayoralty still stands to be a headache for Hochul. She opposes his push to raise taxes on rich New Yorkers, though she's broadly supported his affordability theme.
Delgado's recent efforts to draft off Mamdani's win has led to some eye rolling among Hochul allies. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs called it 'opportunistic.' Mamdani and Delgado have yet to speak post primary, and the LG sidestepped a question about whether he would want an endorsement from the nominee.
But if political change truly is the order of the day — and Mamdani's win is a coal mine canary — Delgado is buying in early. That theme will resonate statewide, he said.
'With a campaign that's rooted in taking on the status quo that's required to bring out genuine change, then absolutely there's a path,' he said. 'A message and a vision that's rooted in really taking on these challenges and not just glossing over them I think will resonate with folks all across New York.' — Nick Reisman
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From the Capitol
YES WE KHAN: Assemblymember David Weprin may get the first primary challenge inspired by Mamdani's win.
Mahtab Khan, a 28-year-old who volunteered on Mamdani's campaign, said in a Facebook post he's considering running against Weprin, 'who is a staunch zionist who endorsed Cuomo for Mayor.'
Mamdani beat Cuomo 47-42 in the eastern Queens Assembly district which stretches from Richmond Hill and Kew Gardens to Hollis Hills. Weprin not only endorsed Cuomo, but hosted a rally at Queens Borough Hall ahead of the election to denounce Mamdani.
'I am Khan-fident that I can win because I reflect the diversity of the district as a second generation immigrant + Bangladeshi Muslim American,' Khan wrote.
Khan told Playbook he was 'just starting conversations' about running, but said his community 'came out strong this election cycle, and there's a lot more work to be done.'
Khan challenged Weprin for district leader in 2020 and lost 46-54. Weprin has held office since 2001, following his father who was the Assembly speaker. Weprin didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. — Jeff Coltin
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
FOES TO CUO: NO GO: Al Sharpton and Bill Ackman don't agree on much — in fact the Trump-hating civil rights leader has organized a weekly protest outside the Trump-backing investor's office for his activism against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies.
But they both think Cuomo shouldn't run in the general election.
'My position currently stands that the best option for New Yorkers is a one-on-one race between Mayor Adams and Assembly Member Mamdani,' Sharpton said in a statement today, doubling down on his opposition to Cuomo even after 'a long, candid phone conversation with former Governor Cuomo.'
Ackman, too, posted on X that he'd spent an hour with both Cuomo and Adams and came away thinking 'Adams can win the upcoming election and that the Governor should step aside to maximize Adams' probability of success.'
'It was abundantly clear in (Cuomo's) body language, his subdued energy and his proposals to beat Mamdani, that he is not up for the fight,' Ackman added.
The billionaire investor was a huge booster of Cuomo's campaign, giving half a million dollars to a super PAC supporting him. And while Sharpton didn't formally endorse anyone in the primary, he welcomed Cuomo with open arms ahead of election day, along with other candidates.
Cuomo is scrambling to shore up backing for a general election run as the pillars of his support crumble, POLITICO reported Wednesday.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi directed Playbook to an X post from another investor, the former Trump adviser Anthony Scaramucci, who is sticking with Cuomo, and to an American Pulse poll showing Cuomo 15 points up on Adams.
'Everyone is entitled to their own political opinion,' Azzopardi said in a statement. 'We will continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York. — Jeff Coltin
ANOTHER WAY: Oft-forgotten mayoral candidate Jim Walden, who's running on an independent line in November, made a pitch to Adams, Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa today: let's team up and back the front-runner.
Walden suggested that all the other non-Mamdani candidates agree to support whoever is leading according to 'a rigorous, independent poll conducted weeks before the race.'
The plan would set up a two-person race, and takes a page out of mayoral candidate Brad Lander's playbook, who effectively threw support behind Mamdani in the final week before the primary.
Walden, an attorney, bills it as 'a Pledge for Our Free Market' against socialism. Candidates have four months to decide… but the opponents seem unlikely to oblige. — Jeff Coltin
IN OTHER NEWS
— LONG-WINDED: Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered the longest speech in House history today, holding the floor for well over eight hours to delay passage of Republicans' domestic policy megabill. (POLITICO)
— TODAY'S ASSIGNMENT: The United Federation of Teachers is expected to announced its endorsement of Mamdani, after the teachers union declined to back anyone in the primary. (New York Post)
— THE VIEW FROM THE WEST COAST: San Francisco progressives are eying Mamdani's rise with envy. (POLITICO)
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