Two major N.Y. unions endorse Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado ahead of his first debate appearance

Two of New York’s largest labor unions are endorsing Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s campaign just in time for his first and only debate performance before Election Day, the Daily News has learned.

The Hotel Trades Council and SEIU 32BJ, which combined represent some 120,000 hospitality and building workers across the state, were expected to unveil the Delgado endorsement Wednesday morning, hours before he’s set to meet his Democratic primary opponents, Ana Maria Archila and Diana Reyna, on the debate stage.

“With our state still recovering from COVID and the difficult economic challenges that lie ahead, the stakes for this year’s elections are sky high for our members and all New Yorkers. We need someone like Antonio Delgado fighting for working people as our lieutenant governor, and know that together with Gov. Kathy Hochul, we will have the right leaders to ensure that a worker-led recovery continues and grows,” Kyle Bragg and Rich Maroko, respectively the presidents of SEIU 32BJ and HTC, said a joint statement Tuesday previewing the endorsement.

Delgado, who was appointed Hochul’s No. 2 last month after the resignation of indicted ex-Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, called the joint labor endorsement “truly an honor.”

“Now more than ever, working families need partners at the state level that will have their back as we get back on our feet,” he said. “As Lieutenant Governor, I am committed to being a partner to HTC and 32BJ in the battle to make sure that every single worker is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.”

HTC and 32BJ, which have also endorsed Hochul, are the first major labor unions to officially support Delgado, who was a member of Congress before being picked lieutenant governor.

Delgado faced flak for skipping a lieutenant governor debate that was supposed to be hosted by WNYC on Tuesday, but ended up being canceled because of his refusal to participate.

Wednesday night’s debate hosted by NY1 is thereby voters’ only chance to see Delgado, Archila and Reyna slug it out before the June 28 election.