The race began with an incumbent designated by the Democratic State Party and two Latinas trying to unseat him, but things quickly turned rocky when Brian Benjamin was arrested on corruption charges and resigned.

Gov. Hochul quickly found a new running mate, Antonio Delgado, who’s now asking voters to keep him as their lieutenant governor at this important moment for the state.

“To set an example when it comes to the right to vote, when it comes to gun reform, when it comes to the right to choose,” Delgado said.

What You Need To Know

  • After her initial running mate was arrested, Hochul decided to pick a new candidate

  • Delgado hopes voters keep him in the position he was recently appointed to

  • Archila’s activism includes trying to stop Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from being confirmed

  • Reyna has been endorsed by Evangelical pastors opposing abortion rights

But when it comes to fighting for people, progressive candidate Ana María Archila thinks she’s done a better job.

Days after the new conservative majority at the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Archila wants voters to remember “that in 2018 I confronted Senator Jeff Flake during the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court to prevent this moment from happening."

Former Brooklyn Councilwoman Diana Reyna also expressed concern about the ruling.

“It is disappointing. We can see what is a reversal on this particular issue, what else are they going to reverse their decisions on,” Reyna said.

But her campaign for lieutenant governor has garnered the support of evangelical pastors like the former council member Rubén Díaz Sr., who has a long track record of fighting against abortion rights.

“This is not a race based on endorsement. This is a race based on voters,” Reyna said.

The role of lieutenant governor has traditionally been ceremonial, but one step away from becoming governor.

The winner of this Democratic Primary will face Republican Alison Esposito in November.