Common Cause/NY & WNYC Forced to Cancel Upcoming Lt Gov Debate Due to Delgado's Failure to Participate

NEW YORK, NY (06/08/2022) (readMedia)-- Today, Common Cause/NY and WNYC canceled their planned upcoming debate on June 14 for the candidates running in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of New York after Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado refused to participate. The Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers and Asian Pacific Americans Voting & Organizing to Increase Civic Participation (APA VOICE) also co-sponsored the event.

In response, Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY issued the following statement:

"As of now the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado, is refusing requests to participate in a candidate debate sponsored by Common Cause/NY, WNYC, the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers, and Asian Pacific Americans Voting & Organizing to Increase Civic Participation (APA VOICE). Democracy is a verb and that means showing up and engaging in unscripted discussion and debate, not just commercials and canned talking points. Delgado's failure to confirm his participation is unacceptable. It's not only arrogant considering the circumstances under which he assumed this incredibly important yet under-scrutinized role, but a dagger in the heart of our already fragile democracy. New Yorkers deserve to hear directly from their sitting Lieutenant Governor as they decide who to vote for in the upcoming primary for the Democratic nominee for the office he currently holds."