Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced on Wednesday her choice for lieutenant governor will be former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as the state’s gubernatorial primary picks up steam.
“I picked a New Yorker from Southeast Queens. Someone who grew up in a union household, just like I did. A fighter who knows how to deliver for New York,” she posted on X. “Welcome to the team my friend – and our next Lieutenant Governor.”
The Democratic Party ticket marks the first one in New York history to be led by two women. Hochul previously made history when she became the state’s first female governor in 2021. At the time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) resigned due to sexual harassment allegations.
Hochul is seeking a second full term as Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado (D-NY) aims to unseat her this year. The two ran together in 2022, but Delgado broke from Hochul this election cycle because he believes the state needs new leadership. Delgado leans further to the left of Hochul.
Before Hochul’s announcement, Delgado selected former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton as his running mate.
Adams ran for New York City mayor last year, but she didn’t make it past the ranked choice voting process following the mayoral primary. She is now running for the state’s top executive office.
The Democratic Governors Association released a positive statement on the Hochul-Adams ticket.
“In Adrienne Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul has selected a Lieutenant Governor who shares her deep commitment to fighting for New York families and making life more affordable in the Empire State,” DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper said.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for New York governor as a Republican, sharply criticized Hochul’s running-mate choice: “Leave it to Kathy Hochul to select a radical running mate that welcomed the migrant crisis, defunded the [New York City Police Department] by a billion dollars, and chased away thousands of jobs to other states.”
Blakeman has not announced his pick for lieutenant governor yet. He is considered Hochul’s likely Republican opponent after Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) dropped out of the state race in December 2025. Shortly thereafter, President Donald Trump endorsed Blakeman for governor.
“As Donald Trump relentlessly attacks New York and Bruce Blakeman cheers him on, Governor Hochul and Adrienne Adams are the right leaders to defend New Yorkers’ freedoms, communities, jobs, and businesses,” Meehan-Draper said. “The Democratic Governors Association is all in for this historic ticket and we couldn’t be more confident that Governor Hochul will defeat [Make America Great Again] acolyte Bruce Blakeman and win reelection.”
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Hochul is currently leading both Delgado and Blakeman by double digits, according to a new Siena Research Institute poll. The Democratic incumbent is also polling more favorably among New Yorkers as she seeks reelection.
The state’s primary election is scheduled for June 23.