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After raising roughly $300,000 during an exploratory campaign phase, DutchessCounty Democrat Antonio Delgado is settoannounce on Monday that he is making his run for Congress in the 19th district official.

The move follows anatural progression for exploratory campaigns, but its a splash that comes as the Democratic field has swollen to six candidates who range in political and professional experience from a former press aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to a former U.S. diplomat turned school teacher.

Lining up on the left to challenge Rep. John Faso, a Kinderhook Republican who does not have a primary challenger at this time, are: Delgado, Brian Flynn of Greene County, Steven Brisee of Ulster County, Gareth Rhodes of Ulster County and Sue Sullivan of Ulster County.

Delgado, 40, said in an interview that while hes thought about running for office, the direction in which Washington has moved on myriad issues (Delgado specifically highlightedwage stagnation and decreasing business and job opportunities) has spurred him to become a candidate.

There are a lot of things about politics that I think people are tired of, he told CapCon. I would count myself as one of those individuals who has been tired of this process.

Tired of what about the process?

Ive been tired of the fact that we cant seem to figure out how to cooperate, Delgado said. Ive been tired of the fact that a lot of our leaders are going to Washington right now and theyre not listening to their constituents. Theyre going there just to maintain power. They are there just to preserve their seat.

Delgado has childhood roots in Schenectady and Guilderland in the 20th Congressional District, and his wife, Lacey, grew up in what is nowthe large 19th district, which stretches from Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Schoharie and Montgomery counties down into Ulster and Dutchess counties and west into Broome County. Delgado studiedphilosophy and political theoryat Colgate and Oxford before attending Harvard for law school.

Delgado spent time in Los Angeles as amusic company executive and hip-hop performer under the nameAD The Voice, an avenue through which he said he aimed to educate and inspire young people.

Thefather of twin 3-year-old boysis now an attorney with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Felds New York office, though he said most of his time is spent on campaign work now.

With his campaign has come a focus on job creation and education for both young people and the workforce so that they have skills for jobs that are available. Like most Democrats this year, he also has an acute focus on health care specifically womens health care and, related to that, womens rights in the wake of the Houses passage of the Republican replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Delgados campaign kickoff video is below:

Read more:
Democrat Antonio Delgado makes NY-19 bid official - Albany Times Union (blog)