Kathy Hochul

Kathleen Mary Hochul ( ; ; born August 27, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer who has served since 2021 as the 57th governor of New York. A member of the Democratic Party, she is New York's first female governor.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Hochul graduated from Syracuse University in 1980 and received a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1984. After serving on the Hamburg Town Board and as deputy Erie County clerk, Hochul was appointed Erie County clerk in 2007. She was elected to a full term as Erie County clerk in 2007 and reelected in 2010. In May 2011, Hochul won a four-candidate special election for New York's 26th congressional district. She became the first Democrat to represent the district in 40 years. She served as a U.S. representative from 2011 to 2013, and was narrowly defeated for reelection in 2012 by Chris Collins following redistricting.

In the 2014 New York gubernatorial election, Governor Andrew Cuomo selected Hochul as his running mate; after they won the election, Hochul was inaugurated as lieutenant governor. Cuomo and Hochul were reelected in 2018. Hochul took office as governor of New York on August 24, 2021, after Cuomo resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. She won a full term in the 2022 election against Republican U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin in the narrowest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

Early life and education Kathleen Mary Courtney was born in Buffalo, New York, the second of the six children of John Patrick "Jack" Courtney, a clerical worker, and Patricia Ann "Pat" Courtney (née Rochford), a homemaker. Her family is Irish Catholic. The family struggled financially during Hochul's early years and for a time lived in a trailer near a steel plant. She was politically active during her college years at Syracuse University, becoming a student government vice president. She led a boycott of the student bookstore over high prices and an unsuccessful effort to name the university stadium after alumnus Ernie Davis, a star running back who died of cancer before he could join the National Football League. In the spring of 1979, the student newspaper The Daily Orange awarded her an "A", citing the campus changes as evidence for the grade. On January 3, 1994, the Hamburg Town Board voted to appoint her to the vacant seat on the board caused by Patrick H. Hoak's resignation to become town supervisor. She was elected to a full term in November 1994, on the Democratic and Conservative lines, and was succeeded by former state assemblymember Richard A. Smith. While on the board, she led efforts to remove toll booths from parts of the New York State Thruway system. On November 6, 2007, Hochul was elected to fill the remainder of Swarts's term.

In 2010, New York Democrats proposed mandating that all New York drivers obtain new license plates. The proposal was expected to bring the state government $129 million in revenue. Hochul opposed the proposal, and it was withdrawn.

In November 2010, Hochul ran for reelection on four ballot lines (Democratic, Conservative, Independence, and Working Families), defeating Republican Clifton Bergfeld with 80% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2013) Elections 2011 special

Hochul ran in the May 24, 2011, special election to fill the seat in New York's 26th congressional district left vacant by the resignation of Chris Lee. She was the Democratic Party and Working Families Party nominee.

The campaign featured a number of negative television ads. FactCheck accused both sides of "taking liberties with the facts". In particular, FactCheck criticized the Democrats' ads for claiming that Corwin would "essentially end Medicare", even though the plan left Medicare intact for current beneficiaries.

2012

Before the 2012 election, Hochul's district was renumbered the 27th during the redistricting process. The district was redrawn in a manner that caused it to be more heavily Republican. Hochul was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.

Tenure

In Hochul's first few weeks in office, she co-sponsored bills with Brian Higgins to streamline the passport acquisition process. She also met with then-President Barack Obama about the economy and job creation and introduced a motion to restore the Republican cuts to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. She looked for ways to reduce the federal budget deficit and expressed support for reducing Medicaid spending as long as the reductions would not be achieved in the form of block grants offered to states, as proposed in the Republican budget blueprint. She also spoke with Obama about ending tax breaks for oil companies and protecting small businesses.

While campaigning for Congress, Hochul called herself an "independent Democrat". Later in 2012, Hochul "trumpeted" her endorsement by the NRA and noted that she was just one of two New York Democrats to receive its support.

Committee assignments Committee on Armed Services Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications

Lieutenant governor of New York (2015–2021)

Elections

2014

In 2014, Robert Duffy announced that he would not run for reelection as lieutenant governor. Incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo was running for a second term. After Duffy's announcement, Cuomo named Hochul—who had been working as a government relations executive for M&T Bank—as his choice for lieutenant governor. On May 22, 2014, the delegates to the state Democratic convention formally endorsed Hochul for lieutenant governor.

In September, Cuomo and Hochul won their Democratic primary elections, with Hochul defeating Timothy Wu. They were also the Working Families Party nominees. (In New York, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are nominated separately, but run as a ticket in the general election.) In November, the Cuomo/Hochul ticket won the general election. Hochul was sworn in as lieutenant governor on January 1, 2015.

2018

In the 2018 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of New York, Hochul defeated Jumaane Williams, a member of the New York City Council, 53.3%–46.7%. In the November 6 general election, the Cuomo-Hochul ticket defeated the Republican ticket of Marc Molinaro and Julie Killian, 59.6%–36.2%.

Tenure Cuomo tasked Hochul with chairing the 10 regional economic development councils that were the centerpiece of his economic development plan. He also appointed her to chair the Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Abuse and Addiction. In this capacity, she convened eight outreach sessions across New York State to hear from experts and community members in search of answers to the heroin crisis and worked to develop a comprehensive strategy for New York.

Hochul spearheaded Cuomo's "Enough is Enough" campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses beginning in 2015, hosting and attending more than 25 events. In March 2016, Cuomo named her to the New York State Women's Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission.

In 2018, Hochul supported legislation to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, a policy she had opposed as Erie County Clerk in 2007. While Hochul had said in 2007 that she would seek to have any such applicants arrested if the proposal was implemented, in 2018 she said circumstances had changed.

On May 30, 2018, State Senate Democrats hoped to force a vote on an abortion rights bill known as the Reproductive Health Act. Hochul was prepared to cast a tie-breaking vote on a hostile amendment; with one Republican senator away from Albany on military duty, the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Democratic conference each had 31 members in the chamber. But Senate Republicans "abruptly shut down business and pulled all the bills for the day" when Hochul entered the Senate chamber. She called the GOP's actions "reprehensible" and "cowardly", adding, "The governor and I are offended by the actions taken here today in the Senate."

Hochul presided over the Senate chamber on June 5, 2018, when Senate Republicans called for the override of Cuomo's veto of a bill relating to full-day kindergarten classes. The override passed by a large margin, and was the first veto override of Cuomo's gubernatorial tenure.

At a July 2018 rally with Planned Parenthood, Hochul called upon the Republican-led State Senate to reconvene in Albany to pass the Reproductive Health Act. She asserted that the potential confirmation of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh made this necessary. The Act was reintroduced in January 2019 and passed that month with wide margins in the state House and Senate.

Governor of New York (2021–present) 2021 swearing-in

In a press briefing on August 10, 2021, Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation as governor, effective August 24. Cuomo was accused of multiple instances of sexual misconduct. Hochul said that New York Attorney General Letitia James's report on Cuomo documented "repulsive and unlawful behavior" and praised his decision to resign. Of her time as lieutenant governor and relationship with Cuomo, Hochul has said: "I think it's very clear that the governor and I have not been close."

Hochul was sworn in as governor at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on August 24 by New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in a private ceremony. A public ceremonial event was held later that morning at the State Capitol's Red Room. Hochul is the state's first female governor. She is also the first New York governor from outside New York City and its immediate suburbs since 1932 (when Franklin Delano Roosevelt left office). On August 12, Hochul confirmed that she planned to run for a full term as governor in 2022. She was the first Democrat to announce a 2022 gubernatorial candidacy after Cuomo said he would resign.

2022 election

On February 17, 2022, the New York State Democratic Convention endorsed Hochul for governor. As of that month, she had raised $21 million in campaign funds. Hochul won a full term in office, defeating Republican nominee Lee Zeldin in the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994 and the closest Democratic victory since 1982. Hochul's election marked the first time a woman was elected governor of New York.

Tenure In August 2021, The Daily Beast and The Buffalo News reported on a potential conflict of interest between Hochul's role as governor and the high-level executive position held by her husband, William Hochul, at Delaware North, a Buffalo-based casino and hospitality company. Delaware North has stated that William Hochul will be prohibited from working on any matter that involves state business, oversight, or regulation. A spokesman for Kathy Hochul has said that she had a recusal process as lieutenant governor and would maintain that process as governor.

On August 26, 2021, Hochul appointed State Senator Brian Benjamin to the position of lieutenant governor of New York. Benjamin was sworn in on September 9, 2021. Hochul also appointed Karen Persichilli Keogh to be secretary to the governor and Kathryn Garcia to be director of state operations. In October 2021 Houchul endorsed Eric Adams in the 2021 New York City mayoral election.

In November 2021, Hochul pushed to end remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic and to return workers to offices. That same month, Hochul offered her plans to redevelop Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station and the surrounding neighborhood. In her plans, she called for reducing density in the area.

In December 2021, Hochul announced the reinstatement of an indoor mask mandate amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

In January 2022, she expanded an existing vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to include a booster shot requirement. Also in January 2022, Hochul confirmed that New York's eviction moratorium would expire on January 15. She announced that she would sign on to a letter with other governors to the federal government asking for more rent assistance, after New York received only $27.2 million of its nearly $1 billion request. Tenant advocates and other politicians have pushed her and state lawmakers to pass the good cause eviction bill, which would give tenants the right to a lease renewal in most cases, cap rent increases, and require landlords to obtain a judge's order to evict tenants.

In March 2022, Hochul reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills to have taxpayers pay $850 million for the construction of a new stadium, as well as commit to maintain and repair the stadium. It was set to be the largest taxpayer contribution ever for a National Football League facility.

On April 12, 2022, Brian Benjamin resigned as lieutenant governor after having been indicted earlier that day on federal charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and falsification of records. The crimes of which Benjamin is accused were allegedly committed during his State Senate tenure. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On May 3, 2022, Hochul selected U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado to serve as lieutenant governor of New York. Delgado was sworn in on May 25.

On June 22, 2022, Hochul announced a $300 million plan to rebuild infrastructure in western New York communities with public and private funding.

In 2022, a citizens' group called Uniting NYS and a group of state legislators sued Hochul in the New York State Supreme Court in George M. Borrello et al. v. Kathleen C. Hochul et al. to prevent implementation of a recently created state department of health policy enabling health practitioners to refer even asymptomatic patients suspected of having been exposed to a contagious illness for possible involuntary detention backed by law enforcement, with the option of holding detainees incommunicado. The policy had been created without consulting the state legislature and did not require an emergency to be implemented. New York Supreme Court Justice Ronald Ploetz ruled against Hochul on the grounds of unconstitutionality under the separation of powers doctrine of both the state and federal constitutions, as well as on the grounds that the policy was cruel and lacked due process. The New York state attorney general and Hochul are filing an appeal to retain the regulations, and the appeal is being challenged.

In late 2022, Hochul delayed the signing of the Digital Fair Repair Act, a bill that received rare bipartisan support. The delay was allegedly due to major equipment manufacturers' lobbying efforts. On December 28, 2022, Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act (Senate bill 4104-A) into law, but not before adding an amendment that equipment manufacturers "may provide assemblies of parts rather than individual components". Independent repair analysts such as Louis Rossmann have claimed these amendments undermine the bill's purpose, and allege codification into law of "unethical practices".

First full term Hochul was inaugurated on January 1, 2023.

In 2023, Hochul nominated Hector LaSalle for the vacant position of chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals. LaSalle's nomination drew opposition from a wide variety of Democratic groups and constituencies, including numerous unions and trade groups, criminal justice advocates, elected officeholders, and local party affiliates, who raised concerns about his track record on issues relating to abortion, criminal justice, corporate interests, and the environment. Many also suggested that he would do little to stem, or could even accelerate, the Court of Appeals's rightward drift under the previous chief judge, Janet DiFiore. Despite an extensive lobbying campaign by Hochul's allies, including support from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected LaSalle's nomination by a 10–9 vote. Hochul subsequently sued to demand a full floor vote. Democratic leadership then held a full Senate floor vote, which overwhelmingly rejected LaSalle's nomination. Hochul proceeded to nominate associate judge Rowan D. Wilson as chief judge and Caitlin Halligan as the replacement associate judge for Wilson. The New York Senate confirmed the nominations on April 19, 2023.

Hochul has employed consulting firms Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group in preparing her State of the State address, an arrangement that The New York Times in April 2023 called "unusual, and possibly novel". In December 2023, Hochul vetoed legislation to ban non-compete agreements. Business interests lobbied her to veto it while labor supported it, arguing that non-compete agreements harm workers' interests.

In February 2024, during the Israeli invasion of Gaza, Hochul was the keynote speaker at a United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York event. During her speech, she made remarks implying that Israel had a right to destroy Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel: "If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I'm sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day." Following angry responses from a wide range of parties—including public officials and the Buffalo chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace—Hochul apologized for her "inappropriate analogy". In May 2024, Hochul was criticized for saying at a business conference that minority children growing up in the Bronx "don't even know what the word 'computer' is." She later apologized, saying she misspoke and regretted her remark.

In June 2024, Hochul indefinitely halted implementation of a congestion pricing plan in the most congested parts of Manhattan just weeks before it was to go into effect. The plan was approved in 2019 and was expected to bring in $1 billion in revenue per year, making it the MTA's largest source of funding. At the time of the cancellation, the MTA had already purchased $500 million for equipment needed for congestion pricing and earmarked $15 billion for projects it expected to fund with the revenue. which New York lawmakers declined to consider. Her decision received widespread backlash, especially from state lawmakers, business leaders, and climate activists. Hochul defended her sudden decision to block the congestion pricing plan based in part on conversations with New Yorkers, particularly from a Manhattan diner, and said the plan would "suck the vitality out of this city when we're still fighting for our comeback". Lawmakers said her plan to raise payroll taxes to cover the lost revenue ran contrary to her reason for halting the program and that the sudden tax hike would incapacitate the city's post-COVID-19 economic recovery. Democratic Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris condemned how the program was derailed "at the last possible moment" before giving lawmakers less than 48 hours to create an alternative funding plan, calling it "irresponsible" and "inconsistent with principles of good governance". Senator Zellnor Myrie called it "incomprehensible" that Hochul claimed to care about cost of living while proposing a tax hike. In November 2024, Hochul revived the congestion pricing plan with the charge for most passenger vehicles reduced from $15 to $9; it was implemented on January 5, 2025.

In June 2024, Hochul proposed banning face masks on the New York City Subway in response to groups of protesters she said were conducting antisemitic acts and confronting people while covering their faces. Organizations such as the New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the proposal as a means to target protesters who hide their identities to avoid legal or professional repercussions, saying it would be selectively used to "arrest, doxx, surveil, and silence people of color and protesters the police disagree with".

In July 2024, Hochul said she intends to run for reelection as governor in 2026.

In September 2024, Hochul signed The Retail Worker Safety Act. In December 2024, Hochul vetoed a bill sponsored by Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. that would speed up the licensing of three new casinos in Queens and signed a law capping out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens at $100 yearly.

In January 2025, Hochul announced a proposal to provide free tuition for specific associate degree programs at State and City University of New York schools. In February, she refused an extradition request from Louisiana for a New York doctor who had been indicted in Louisiana after mailing abortion pills to a woman in Louisiana, who allegedly forced her pregnant minor daughter to take them. Also in 2025, Hochul directed CUNY to take down a job listing for a Palestinian studies teaching position at Hunter College. In December 2025, Ontario premier Doug Ford and Hochul signed a memorandum of understanding that made the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation work together to advance nuclear energy technology.

Hochul did not endorse anyone in the 2025 New York City Democratic mayoral primary. On September 14, 2025, she endorsed Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in the general election. On January 8, 2026, Mamdani and Hochul announced a plan to increase spending by $1.7 billion to provide universal pre-kindergarten statewide and universal 3K care in New York City, create a free childcare program for two-year-olds in New York City, and expand childcare subsidies.

Time magazine listed Hochul as one of its top 100 climate leaders in its "Time100 Climate 2025". Hochul wrote in Time that New York will not wait for the federal government to ensure a cleaner and greener environment, saying: "Since I took office in 2021, we have seen once-in-a-century storms become routine. It is up to all of us to work together to reverse this for the good of all of us, our children, and their children. Time is running short. But we must address this critical situation in a way that ensures affordability for those paying the rates and grid reliability so the lights and heat stay on."

In January 2026, Hochul signed an executive order allowing hospitals to break the 2026 New York City nurses strike by hiring staff in their place. Travel nurses said that during this period they worked $9,000 week-long contracts, and hospitals spent $100,000 hiring strikebreakers. Striking nurses marched on Hochul's office in protest, but she extended her order several times, citing patient safety issues. Many nurses criticized her for alleviating pressure on hospitals during the strike. Nurses at the Mount Sinai and Montefiore systems reached a three-year contract agreement on February 9. Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital reached a three-year contract agreement on February 20.

In June 2026, Hochul launched an exploratory committee to study a potential joint New York City-Lake Placid bid for the 2042 Winter Olympics.

Political positions Energy During her 2011 congressional campaign, Hochul favored offering incentives to develop alternative energy.

In July 2023, in response to a statewide workforce shortage, Governor Hochul waived exam application fees for all New York State civil service exams through the end of 2025 to make it easier to join the state workforce.

Health care Hochul expressed support for the Affordable Care Act passed by the 111th Congress and said during her 2011 campaign that she would not vote to repeal it.

Immigration In 2023, Hochul advocated that the federal government expedite work permits to migrants to address a surge of immigration to New York, writing to President Joe Biden, "For me, the answer to these two crises—a humanitarian crisis and our workforce crisis—is so crystal clear and common sense. Let them get the work authorizations; let them work; legally, let them work."

On February 12, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice was suing Hochul and other New York officials, such as Letitia James, over their handling of immigration issues. On April 16, 2026, the Associated Press reported that New York would lose nearly $73 million for refusing to revoke over 33,000 commercial driver's licenses flagged by the Department of Transportation.

Trade On September 17, 2011, Robert J. McCarthy noted that Hochul and her election opponent Jack Davis both opposed free trade. "We saw what happened with NAFTA; the promises never materialized", Hochul said of the North American Free Trade Agreement. "If I have to stand up to my own party on this, I'm willing to do so." She opposed new free trade agreements then under consideration, saying, "We don't need to look any further than Western New York to see that these policies do not work." She believes that free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA have suppressed U.S. wages and benefits and caused job loss in the United States.

Hochul has vocally opposed tariffs imposed during Donald Trump's second term, especially those directed at Canada. She said the tariffs amount to a 21% tax on imported goods and cost New York families $4,200 a year while reducing Canadian tourism by 400,000 visitors from 2024 to 2025. In April 2025, New York and 11 other states sued the federal government to block the tariffs. On June 16, Hochul and other Northeastern governors convened with five Canadian premiers in Boston to discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs on their economies. Hochul stressed the need for U.S. governors and Canadian premiers to work together and forge new alliances against Trump's tariffs, to ensure economic growth for both countries.

On June 29, 2026, Hochul announced a $30 million state relief program aimed at insulating New York farmers from the effects of federal tariffs.

Guns The Niagara Frontier reported that, during her time as County Clerk, gun rights advocates noted Hochul's expedited approval for gun permits. She was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) with an "A" rating in 2012. Her stance has evolved since then and New York has been called a leader on gun control by Everytown for Gun Safety. Hochul signed legislation in 2022 that raised the age for buying a semiautomatic rifle and prohibited the carrying of handguns in many public spaces in response to the Bruen Decision. Most of the law was upheld in 2023, when a federal court ruled New York may ban guns in parks, schools, and other areas public officials deem high-risk. Hochul's critics have accused New York of Soviet-style gun control, especially with regard to 3D printing.

Personal life Kathy Hochul with her husband William J. Hochul Jr., Vice President Kamala Harris, and Mayor Eric Adams in September 2023 Hochul is married to William J. Hochul Jr., the former United States Attorney for the Western District of New York,

Hochul is a founder of Kathleen Mary House, a transitional home for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. She has served on the organization's board. She underwent surgery to remove it in the same year.

Electoral history