Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul
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Name	Kathy Hochul
Office	57th Governor of New York
Term start	August 24, 2021
Lieutenant	Brian Benjamin, Antonio Delgado, Andrea Stewart-Cousins (acting)
Predecessor	Andrew Cuomo
Order2	77th
Office2	Lieutenant Governor of New York
Term start2	January 1, 2015
Term end2	August 24, 2021
Governor2	Andrew Cuomo
Predecessor2	Robert Duffy
Successor2	Brian Benjamin
State3	New York
District3	26th
Term start3	June 1, 2011
Term end3	January 3, 2013
Predecessor3	Chris Lee
Successor3	Chris Collins
Birth name	Kathleen Courtney
Birth date	27 August 1958
Birth place	Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Bill Hochul, 1984
Education	Syracuse University (BA), Catholic University of America (JD)

Kathy Hochul is an American politician serving as the 57th Governor of New York since August 2021, following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 77th Lieutenant Governor of New York from 2015 to 2021 and represented New York's 26th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. Her tenure as governor has focused on issues including economic recovery, public safety, and expanding access to child care.

Early life and education

Kathleen Courtney was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in the nearby town of Hamburg. Her early political interest was sparked by her grandmother, a local Democratic committee member. She attended Syracuse University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and was involved with the student government. Following her undergraduate studies, Hochul earned a Juris Doctor from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C..

Early political career

Hochul began her career as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and later as an attorney for a prominent Buffalo law firm. She entered elected office as a member of the Hamburg Town Board, later serving as Erie County Clerk from 2007 to 2011. In a 2011 special election, she won New York's 26th congressional district, a traditionally Republican seat, by campaigning against a Paul Ryan-backed plan to overhaul Medicare. She served in the 112th United States Congress but lost her re-election bid in 2012 after redistricting.

Lieutenant Governor of New York

Selected as Andrew Cuomo's running mate in 2014, Hochul was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York and took office in January 2015. During her two terms, she chaired numerous statewide initiatives, including the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force and the Women's Suffrage Commission. She also served as the state's liaison to ten regional Economic Development Councils, traveling extensively to all 62 counties in New York. Her role expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she helped coordinate the state's public health response.

Governorship of New York

Hochul assumed the governorship on August 24, 2021, becoming the first woman to hold the office in New York history. Her early tenure focused on managing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, addressing a crisis at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and restoring stability to the Executive Chamber. Key legislative achievements include securing a record investment for child care, passing a state budget with tax relief for the middle class, and strengthening gun control laws following the 2022 Buffalo shooting. She won a full term in the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee Lee Zeldin.

Political positions and public image

Hochul is considered a pragmatic centrist within the Democratic Party, with a record that includes support for labor unions, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has championed significant state investments in advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production with companies like Micron Technology, and green energy infrastructure. Her public image was tested during the 2022 campaign over issues of crime and bail reform, leading to a closer-than-expected election. She maintains strong ties to political figures like Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton.

Personal life

Hochul is married to Bill Hochul, a former United States Attorney for the Western District of New York who later served as general counsel for Delaware North, a global hospitality company based in Buffalo, New York. They have two adult children. The family maintains a residence in Buffalo and the governor is known for her frequent travel across Upstate New York. An avid Buffalo Bills fan, she has actively supported state funding for the team's new stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of New York Category:Democratic Party governors of New York