Antonio Delgado Wants a New Generation of Political Leaders

In a district that teeters between blue and red, NY-19 congressional candidate Antonio Delgado hopes to flip the Hudson Valley and Catskills region back to blue this November. Although the district supported Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, it has been represented by the GOP in the House since 2010 and voted for Donald Trump in 2016.

But Delgado believes the current Republican leadership no longer serves the constituents he hopes to represent. “My neighbors here know when they’re being hoodwinked. They know that health care should be universal, accessible, and affordable, and that [Republican incumbent] John Faso voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. They know the tax scam was passed with billionaires in mind rather than hardworking families.”

It is clear that voters across the country are eager for new representation, and the Hudson Valley and Catskills region is no different. Delgado says people are “ready for a new generation of political leaders,” and he is eager to step in and be a part of that.

“[Americans] want politicians who are authentic and inspire people to do good. That’s what I’m here to do — to stand up for a better future for all Americans. The ideas of the past won’t get us there.”

A New York native, Delgado was born and raised in Schenectady where his parents worked for the industrial company General Electric, jobs that helped move their family into the middle class. He attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York and Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship before studying law at Harvard. It was at Harvard where he met his wife, Lacey. They currently reside in Rhinebeck, New York with their two sons.

If elected, Delgado’s work in Congress would be motivated purely by what is best for his home region, a place he says made him who he is today.

“I intend to do one thing in Congress: serve the Hudson Valley and Catskills. This region formed me. There’s only one thing that will guide my decisions — does this help folks back home? Can I go back home and explain this vote to them?”

Uninterested in partisanship and adhering to party labels, he is willing to work with any individual who stands with him on issues that will benefit the Hudson Valley and Catskills.

“I’m willing to work with anyone who wants to help our region. That can’t happen if you dismiss anyone based only on the ‘D’ or ‘R’ next to their name.”

Delgado’s congressional agenda includes important issues like health care, the environment, immigration, gun safety, and what he considers to be one of the most pressing issues of our time, criminal justice reform.

While the United States tends to favor criminalization and incarceration when it comes to drug use, Delgado wants to see policies that will treat, not criminalize, drug addiction. He says he will fight to increase funding for treatment programs, drug courts, and mental health courts.

Delgado states on his website that “It is time that we face this crisis head-on, with empathy, not animus; with ideas, not impulse; and with courage, not politics.”

Delgado also considers gun violence to be a public health crisis, and although he respects the rights of gun owners, he calls on the needs for universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole, and for a stop on the sales of bump stocks. Delgado wants laws that reflect the needs of real gun owners rather than the NRA’s agenda.

“The NRA and gun lobby have a choke hold on our Congress, and John Faso is no different. He’s just another politician who continues to brag about his lifetime ‘A’ rating from the NRA while taking thousands of dollars of their donations. But I won’t take a cent of their money.”

In response to the student protests that arose across the country in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting, Delgado said he is inspired by these young people.

“They are leading the way. They are smart, mature, and articulate, and they are responding to a failure of leadership. There should have been actions taken to solve the problem of gun violence a long time ago. This generation grew up with active shooter drills, lockdowns, and school shootings as facts of life. That’s not how it should be, and they know that. So I stand with these young people, and I’m proud to do it.”

While the Trump administration and much of Republican leadership pose an all-out assault on environmental protections, Delgado is committed to preserving the Hudson Valley and Catskills region. As a beautiful recreational area with a plethora of outdoor opportunities, tourism plays a significant role in the region and its economy. This is something Delgado fully acknowledges and wants to protect. Aside from tourism, protecting the environment is also critical for public health and safety. Delgado wants to ensure that the drinking water is never contaminated and that a water crisis like the one Hoosick Falls, NY faced is never repeated. He also wants it to be known that environmental conservation is useful for job creation, as clean energy is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy.

In contrast to what Delgado experienced growing up when his parents were able to work their way into the middle class, he now sees the American dream threatened.

“What pushes me and drives me every day is the level of inequality in our society. Whether it’s race, class, or gender — or wages, healthcare, and access to education. It’s everywhere. 70% of us share 7% of the wealth; three-quarters of full-time workers are living paycheck to paycheck; women are still fighting for equal pay for equal work.”

Delgado is committed to making that American dream a reality again. “It just gets to a point where you have to say to yourself, this is not who we are. This is not the promise of America. And I’m running for Congress to be a champion for solving these major issues of our time.”

Visit Antonio Delgado’s website to learn more about the issues he supports.