Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 56th Governor of New York from 2011 until his resignation in 2021. The son of former Governor Mario Cuomo, he previously served as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton and as the Attorney General of New York. His tenure as governor was marked by significant legislative achievements but ended amid multiple scandals and investigations.

Early life and education

Andrew Cuomo was born in the Queens borough of New York City to Mario Cuomo, who would later become Governor of New York, and Matilda Cuomo. He was raised with his siblings, including his brother, journalist Chris Cuomo, in the New York City suburbs. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University in 1979. He subsequently received a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union University in 1982, after which he was admitted to the New York State Bar Association.

Early career

After law school, Cuomo worked as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan under District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau. He then entered the private sector before founding the nonprofit organization Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged. In 1990, he married Kerry Kennedy, a member of the prominent Kennedy family. He entered federal government in 1993 as an assistant secretary in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, rising to become its Secretary in 1997 under President Bill Clinton. In this role, he oversaw initiatives like the Moving to Opportunity program.

Governor of New York

Elected in 2010, Cuomo took office as Governor of New York in January 2011. His administration championed the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011, legalizing same-sex marriage in New York. He successfully pushed for the SAFE Act, a major gun control law, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Other signature policies included a statewide minimum wage increase and major infrastructure projects, including the rebuilding of LaGuardia Airport and the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement. His national profile rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic due to his daily press briefings, for which he received an International Emmy Founders Award.

Resignation and legacy

Cuomo's governorship unraveled in 2021 following multiple controversies. An investigation by New York State Attorney General Letitia James concluded he had sexually harassed multiple women, violating state and federal law. He also faced scrutiny over his administration's handling of COVID-19 nursing home data and the alleged use of state resources to write his book, *American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic*. Facing imminent impeachment by the New York State Legislature and pressure from leaders including President Joe Biden, Cuomo announced his resignation on August 10, 2021, effective August 24. He was succeeded by his lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul.

Personal life

Cuomo was married to Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, from 1990 until their divorce in 2005. The couple has three daughters: Cara, Mariah, and Michaela. His long-term relationship with television host and food writer Sandra Lee from 2005 to 2019 was widely publicized. His father, Mario Cuomo, served three terms as Governor of New York, and his brother, Chris Cuomo, was a prominent anchor for CNN.

Category:Andrew Cuomo Category:Governors of New York Category:New York (state) attorneys general Category:United States secretaries of Housing and Urban Development