Here is this week's Hudson Valley Congressional Report from WGXC, tracking the votes, statements, positions, and campaigns of the representatives of the Hudson Valley in Congress and the candidates who want to replace them. Current Democrat Reps. Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko, and Sean Maloney vote with the positions of President Joe Biden 100 percent of the time, according to the fivethirtyeight.com website. Republican Elise Stefanik voted with Biden's positions 18 percent of the time. Click here to listen to this report.

Mid-Hudson News reports that Rep. Antonio Delgado is now a representative in name only. At the beginning of May Governor Kathy Hochul picked him to be her new lieutenant governor, but he did not immediately resign the seat. And Delgado has not been voting in person in the Capitol since at least May 10, just over a week after Hochul tapped him for the new job. In a May 10 letter to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Delgado invoked a House of Representatives resolution that allows him to designate a proxy to vote in his absence. “I write to notify you of the designation of a proxy to cast my vote. I am unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency,” Delgado wrote, adding “I hereby grant the authority to cast my vote by proxy to the Honorable Joe Neguse (CO), who has agreed to serve as my proxy.” Apparently Delgado is using COVID-19 as an excuse, although he has made no public announcement about contracting the virus recently. Rep. Neguse represents the Second Congressional District in the State of Colorado, and will now be casting votes for the 19th Congressional District in the Hudson Valley. Delgado’s office did not respond to requests from Mid-Hudson News seeking additional comments regarding the proxy votes. Delgado announced May 23 that he will resign on May 25, allowing a special election to fill his seat on the same day as the state's congressional and state Senate primaries, Aug. 23. Read more about this story at Mid-Hudson News.

MidHudson News is reporting that Hudson resident Osun “O” Zotique, 30, has announced their intention to be the “nation’s first openly transgender, non-binary congressional candidate for the new NY-19 Congressional District." In a statement, Zotique said, “I am running for U.S. Congress because, as a strong transformative community artist/leader who is neither man nor woman, I embody the unity that this country needs right now." They praised current U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado who is stepping down to become the state's lieutenant governor. Zotique is a teacher, community leader, and Ph.D. candidate. Zotique has served as director of OutHudson since February. They were a write-in candidate in the recent Hudson school board election. Zotique finished sixth in the field of six candidates. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

Luke Parsnow is reporting for Spectrum News the Antonio Delgado was sworn in as lieutenant governor on May 25, becoming Gov. Kathy Hochul’s second in command and the state’s third lieutenant governor in less than a year. The former Democratic congressman replaces Brian Benjamin who resigned in April following his indictment on bribery and fraud charges. Delgado was selected by Hochul to fill the vacancy earlier this month. “We have enough politicians. We really do. What we need are more public servants," Delgado said, adding that the work he's done in Congress "is work of unity." Delgado was born in Schenectady attended Colgate University and eventually graduated from Harvard Law School. He leaves the 19th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives without representation. "I am incredibly humbled, beyond words, and truly grateful to be your partner, Gov. Hochul, and every New Yorker around this journey," Delgado said. Going forward, Delgado will face two opponents in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, less than a month from now. He is running against activist Ana Maria Archila and New York City Council member Diana Reyna. Hochul is also looking to prevail in her primary contests over former New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi [SWAH-zee]. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in primary elections, which will be held June 28. In August, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, a Democrat, faces Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican, in a special election, to serve the remainder of Delgado's term. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Patricia Doxsey is reporting for the Daily Freeman former state Sen. Jen Metzger has added her name to the list of Democrats who have declared their intention to run for Ulster County executive, should Pat Ryan win election to Congress. Metzger, from Rosendale, now sits on the state Cannabis Control Board. She announced her candidacy in a tweet May 25, stating: “Should Pat Ryan represent us in Congress, I will run for Ulster County executive. The opportunities for our county to be a model of a people-centered, sustainable economy are incredibly exciting, and I would welcome the chance to bring my experience to this important job.” County Comptroller March Gallagher and Deputy County Executive Marc Rider have also announced their plan to seek the Democratic Party endorsement to become county executive if Ryan is elected to Congress. Gallagher announced her candidacy almost immediately after Ryan announced his plans. In her statement, she said she has worked with the executive and Legislature to implement “important changes” in county government. Ulster County Democratic Elections Commissioner Ashley Dittus said that under state election law, the parties will choose who will be on the ballot for the special election at party conventions. No Republicans have yet announced their plan to run for county executive. Ryan is running in a special Aug. 23 election against Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for the 19th congressional district seat vacated by now lieutenant governor Antonio Delgado. The winner of the special election will serve in Congress through the end of the year. If Ryan wins, a second special election would be held, this one in late December to fill the remainder of Ryan’s term as county executive, which expires Dec. 31, 2023. Win or lose in August, Ryan will run again in November for election to the newly drawn 18th congressional district, and Molinaro will run in November for in the newly drawn 19th congressional district. But if Ryan loses in August and wins in November, he would remain county executive through the end of December and a special election would be held in April to fill the remainder of his term. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.